USF Athletics
C.J. Selner
JOLIET, Ill. — The University of St. Francis is regularly among the top all-around NAIA athletic departments in the nation. That success has led to many high finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup NAIA standings. The difficult 2020-21 school year was no different. USF finished 22nd overall in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings this year, the highest since finishing 10th in 2016-17. Additionally, the Saints finished third in the CCAC All-Sports Cup.
“Through all that transpired last year, our student-athletes and coaches continued their long-standing tradition of being one of the top programs in the playing arena at both the conference and national levels as evidenced by their high rankings in both the Learfield and CCAC All-Sports Cup standings,” said USF Director of Athletics Dave Laketa. “I couldn’t be more proud of all that the student-athletes accomplished both academically and athletically this year with all they had to balance.”
The point totals are based on national championships qualifications and national finishes. The Learfield IMG 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.”
The CCAC All-Sports Cup is awarded annually to the institution that earns the most points from a total of 12 sports (6 men, 6 women) out of the 18 sponsored by the conference (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, baseball, and softball). The Saints claimed CCAC titles in Men’s and Women’s Cross Country this year.