General | 6/9/2026 3:00:00 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Gannon University Athletics continued its rise among the nation's elite NCAA Division II athletic departments during the 2025-26 athletic year, finishing tied for 20th in the final Learfield Directors' Cup standings. 

The Golden Knights totaled 527.00 points, recording the second-highest finish in program history while tying for the highest finish among Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference institutions. Gannon's 20th-place finish came among 251 NCAA Division II institutions recognized in the final standings.

Grand Valley State captured the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup with 1,089.75 points, while Wingate finished second with 892.50 points. Indianapolis (832.00), West Texas A&M (737.75) and Minnesota State (705.00) rounded out the top five institutions in the final standings.

The Learfield Directors' Cup, commonly known as the all-sports trophy, is presented annually to the top athletic department in the country. Separate Directors' Cup champions are crowned in each NCAA division, with institutions earning points based on their success in NCAA postseason competition. 

The scoring system is based on an institution's top 15 national finishes in men's and women's sports and must include men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and women's volleyball in the final point totals.

The Golden Knights earned points across nine sports throughout the 2025-26 athletic year, highlighted by the first team national championship in school history, one individual national championship, two Elite Eight appearances and NCAA postseason success across numerous programs.

The 2025-26 athletic year was headlined by the Gannon men's basketball team capturing the NCAA Division II National Championship, the first team national title in Gannon Athletics history.

Men's wrestling also celebrated a historic season as Dorian Crosby became the program's first individual national champion in 25 years while leading the Golden Knights to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Volleyball and men's soccer each advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, while women's basketball reached the second round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional.

Gannon accumulated 196.00 points during the fall season, tying the program record established during the 2023-24 athletic year. The fall total was led by volleyball and men's soccer, which each contributed 73 points after advancing to the Elite Eight, while women's soccer added 50 points following its NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Golden Knights followed with 270.00 points during the winter season, the highest winter total in program history. Men's basketball led the way with 100 points after capturing the NCAA Division II National Championship, while men's wrestling contributed 69 points behind Dorian Crosby's individual national title and the program's ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Women's wrestling added 51 points and women's basketball contributed 50 points following their NCAA postseason appearances.

Gannon added 61.00 points during the spring season. The spring total was fueled by Scott Stano's golf programs, as men's golf earned 56 points after winning the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional Championship and placing 18th at the NCAA Division II Championships while qualifying for nationals for the third consecutive season. Women's golf contributed five points following its NCAA postseason appearance.

Gannon's 527.00 points trailed only the program-record 537.50 points earned during a 19th-place finish in 2023-24. The achievement came during the first year of Meghan Morphy's tenure as Director of Athletics. Under Morphy's leadership, Gannon captured the first NCAA Division II team national championship in school history. 

The 2025-26 athletic year also featured the first PSAC Tournament title in men's soccer program history and a seventh consecutive conference championship for the women's golf team.

Among PSAC institutions, Gannon's tie for 20th place matched East Stroudsburg for the highest finish in the conference, as both schools totaled 527.00 points. West Chester ranked third among league schools with 455.50 points and a 33rd-place finish, followed by Indiana (Pa.) in 44th with 400.50 points and Kutztown in 48th with 384.50 points.