A banner year for Emory University Athletics culminated with Division III's highest honor as the Eagles were named the winners of the 2024-25 Learfield Directors' Cup as announced Tuesday afternoon in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention in Orlando, Florida.
This is the first time that Emory has claimed the mantle as Division III's most successful athletics program in its history and has become just the seventh institution to win the Cup at the DIII level since the award's inception during the 1995-96 athletic calendar. Emory is the first University Athletic Association program to win the Directors' Cup and joins the ranks of Williams College, UC-San Diego (now DII), Middlebury College, Tufts University and Johns Hopkins University as Cup winners.
"This is a significant achievement for Emory Athletics, one that could not have been done without the hard work and dedication displayed on a consistent basis from our coaches, student-athletes and support staff," said Keiko Price-Carter, Associate VP of Campus Life/Clyde Partin Sr., Director of Athletics. "I look forward to seeing us continue the success we showcased this season for years to come."
After securing a string of 21 appearances in the top 10 over the previous 22 Directors' Cups, including 11 consecutive showings, the Eagles bring home the illustrious title with 1,198.75 points. The Eagles have previously finished as high as second on three separate occasions (2013, 2004, 2003) and were third in the final edition of the 2023-24 standings. Emory's point total is the second straight year over 1,000 points scored and is the most in school history.
The Eagles snapped Johns Hopkins' winning streak as the two-time defending champions finished second in the 2024-25 Cup race with 1,147 points. Tufts claimed third with 1,069 points and fellow-UAA member WashU was fourth at 1,044.75 points. The UAA placed four schools inside the top 10 in the final standings with NYU taking eighth (880.50) and UChicago in ninth (856.50). A total of 324 schools out of the over 400 that represent Division III scored at least one point throughout the year.
After standing third overall following the winter, the Eagles were bolstered by a spring slate where each of Emory's six traditional spring sports made the postseason. The national championship by women's golf led the way with 100 points followed by third place finishes from men's golf and women's tennis helped amass 85 points each. The quarterfinal run by men's tennis netted 73 points while softball's trip to the Super Regionals carried 64 points. Women's outdoor track & field (11th place, 66 points), men's outdoor track & field (11th, 65.25) and baseball (17th, 50) padded the Eagles' total.
Emory's outstanding spring season saw it score 586.25 points – the most for any Division III program across any of the three seasons during the 2024-25 athletic calendar.
The Eagles scored points across 18 total sports, including three of the four required countable sports, and had 12 teams with top 10 NCAA finishes.
In addition to the Eagles' national pedigree, the 2024-25 athletic calendar featured seven UAA championships from men's & women's golf, men's soccer, volleyball, men's & women's swimming & diving, and men's outdoor track & field.
2024-25 Emory Athletics Breakdown
Women's Golf (100 Directors' Cup points) – National Champions
Men's Swimming & Diving (90) – National Runners-Up
Men's Golf (85) – Third place at NCAA Championships
Women's Tennis (85) – Final Four appearance
Women's Soccer (83) – Final Four appearance
Men's Basketball (73) – Elite Eight appearance
Volleyball (73) – Elite Eight appearance
Women's Swimming & Diving (73) – Fifth place at NCAA Championships
Men's Tennis (73) – Elite Eight appearance
Women's Cross Country (72) – Seventh place at NCAA Championships
Women's Indoor Track & Field (69) – Ninth place at NCAA Championships
Women's Outdoor Track & Field (66) – 11th place at NCAA Championships
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (65.5) – 11th place at NCAA Championships
Softball (64) – Super Regionals appearance
Men's Indoor Track & Field (52.5) – 20th place at NCAA Championships
Baseball (50) – NCAA Regional Final
Men's Cross Country (50) – 24th place at NCAA Championships (score omitted from final rankings)
Men's Soccer (33) – NCAA First Round
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today with points being awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships. Overall, 18 sports are counted in the final DIII standings, four of which must be men's and women's soccer and men's and women's basketball. The next highest (14 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.
Directors' Cup points accumulated can vary by sport based on the size of a team bracket or the number of teams that score points at a particular NCAA championship.
For the complete NACDA and Learfield release, please click here.
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