SEWARD, Neb. – In yet another measure, Concordia University, Nebraska ranked as the GPAC’s top all-around athletics department during the 2023-24 academic year. In the final 2023-24 Learfield Directors’ Cup NAIA Standings released on Tuesday (June 11), Bulldog Athletics landed at No. 15 nationally and at No. 1 among GPAC institutions. The latest announcement adds to the past season’s list of achievements that includes a GPAC All-Sports Championship and 204 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup point totals are based on national championships qualifications and national finishes. The Learfield College Directors’ Cup Standings are designed to “honor institutions that maintain a broad-based program, achieve success in many sports, both men’s and women’s, in which all sports that the NAIA offers a championship, and all student-athletes that compete in those sports, are treated equally.”
Bulldog Athletics, guided by Director of Athletics Devin Smith and Associate Director of Athletics Angela Muller, accumulated 587.5 points towards the 2023-24 Directors’ Cup standings. Broken down by season, Concordia posted 162.0 points in the fall, 305.5 in the winter and 120.0 in the spring. Sports that contributed to the total based on success at the national level included women’s cross country, women’s track & field, men’s track & field, volleyball, baseball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.
Based upon data going back to 1996-97, Concordia’s highest ever finish in the NAIA Directors’ Cup standings was ninth in 2004-05. Since the start of 2014-15, the Bulldogs have landed inside the top 20 of the NAIA five times. The 2023-24 athletics season was highlighted by conference championships turned in by baseball (regular season and postseason), men’s basketball (regular season), women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and volleyball (regular season). Bulldog athletes appeared at 14 separate national championship events. That total includes powerlifting and weightlifting.
2023-24 Accomplishments
· GPAC All-Sports Champions (fifth time in school history)
· No. 15 in final Learfield Directors’ Cup NAIA Standings
· Six total team GPAC Championships
· 15 top-four GPAC regular season team placements
· Appearances in 14 separate national championship events
· 204 NAIA Scholar-Athletes
· 29 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District awards (as of June 11)
Concordia Learfield Cup finishes since 1997
2023-24: 15th
2022-23: 28th
2021-22: 22nd
2020-21: 14th
2019-20: No standings due to COVID-19
2018-19: 30th
2017-18: 45th
2016-17: 17th
2015-16: 16th
2014-15: 18th
2013-14: 29th
2012-13: 57th
2011-12: 34th
2010-11: 44th
2009-10: 27th
2008-09: 24th
2007-08: 39th
2006-07: 62nd
2005-06: 50th
2004-05: 9th
2003-04: 30th
2002-03: 12th
2001-02: 25th
2000-01: 34th
1999-00: 43rd
1998-99: 53rd
1997-98: 30th
1996-97: 16th
