Article first posted June 30, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- America East had two schools place in the top five of the Division I Subdivision (formerly I-AAA) of the Directors' Cup standings, while a third placed in the top five of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). In addition, America East had three teams in the Top 100 in all subdivisions of Division I for the first time in conference history. America East and the Ivy League were the only non-Football Bowl Subdivision conferences with more than two teams ranked in the Top 100.
"This is a significant achievement for the America East Conference" said Commissioner Patrick Nero. "It builds on the positive momentum we have seen the past few years in our programs. Achieving such success in their peer rankings is a tribute to the commitment of all; Presidents, Athletic Directors, administrators, coaches and student-athletes.”
The Directors' Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Learfield Sports and USA Today to the best overall college sports programs in NCAA Division I, II, III, and the NAIA. There are 343 school in Division I alone.
Boston University was 68th overall, and second among all Division I schools in New England behind only Connecticut. The Terriers were the third-highest rated school in the nation in the Division I Subdivision. Boston University, which won the NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship, also received significant points in the standings from its America East Champion men's soccer, women's soccer, women's lacrosse and softball teams.
New Hampshire finished 78th, its highest final-season ranking since 2002-03 when the Wildcats were No. 73. New Hampshire ranked fifth among schools in the FCS.
Vermont cracked the Top 100 at No. 98, the highest finish ever for the Catamounts, whose point total was helped by the America East Champion women's basketball team. Vermont was ranked fifth in the Division I Subdivision.
Binghamton (No. 145), which won America East Championships in men's basketball, baseball and men's tennis, and Albany (No. 147), which won six titles, including volleyball and field hockey, helped America East place five teams in the Top 150.
America East: Developing Champions in Academics, Athletics and Leadership