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STEPHENVILLE (June 4, 2015) – With the highest ranking in school history, Tarleton State cracked the top 25 of the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings and finished the year as the No. 23 ranked athletic department in the nation.
“The Learfield Cup epitomizes the hard work of all of our coaches and student-athletes,” said Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Lonn Reisman. “It wouldn’t be possible without the support of our fans and our boosters – the members of the Texan Club. When you’re ranked No. 23 in the nation, it shows what type of support and talent we have here.
“We’re always looking to improve on that ranking, but it’s still a great milestone for this athletic department and the university,” he continued.
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 14 sports – seven women’s and seven men’s – and Tarleton State finished the season with 485.25 total points, including 50 in the fall, 172 in the winter and 263.25 in the spring.
This marks the third time Tarleton State has finished in the top 50 and the first time in the top 25 after improving 17 spots from last year’s record finish of 40th place in the nation. The first top 50 finish came in 2002-03 when the Purple and White checked in at No. 44.
Tarleton finished second among Lone Star Conference schools in the standings behind West Texas A&M (9th; 576.25) and ahead of Angelo State (25th; 476.00) to give the LSC three schools in the top 25. Rounding out the LSC standings was Midwestern State (60th; 299.00), Texas A&M-Commerce (89th; 224.00), Texas A&M-Kingsville (91st; 220.50), Cameron (104th; 195.00), and Texas Woman’s (237th; 25.00).
Grand Valley State claimed its second consecutive Directors’ Cup title and 10th overall while Ashland, Central Missouri, Lewis and Minnesota State-Mankato rounded out the top five in the nation.
About Learfield Sports: Since 1972, Learfield has developed trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of collegiate athletics. Learfield Sports currently manages the exclusive multimedia rights to nearly 100 collegiate properties in the country and has prominence in all of the major conferences. Additionally, Learfield Sports offers its university partners with licensing and trademark consulting, web solutions, concessions and hospitality services, and professional ticket sales. The 2014-15 athletic season marks the company’s seventh consecutive year to title the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. For more about its history and complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
Tarleton State Directors’ Cup Finishes: 1996-97 (182nd); 1997-98 (106th); 1998-99 140th; 199-2000 (81st); 2000-01 (96th); 2001-02 (63rd); 2002-03 (44th); 2003-04 (55th); 2004-05 (62nd); 2005-06 (64th); 2006-07 (90th); 2007-08 (81st); 2008-09 (112th); 2009-10 (81st); 2010-11 (81st); 2011-12 (105th); 2012-13 (103rd); 2013-14 (40th); 2014-15 (23rd).
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