Athletic excellence continues at Grand Valley as it was named the Division II winner of the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup, the national all-sports awards program.
Grand Valley was runner-up in both 2001-02 and 2002-03. GVSU is the first university or college from Michigan to win the Directors' Cup in any NCAA division. Developed by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today, the Directors' Cup is the first cross-sectional all-sports recognition award for men and women. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women's sports and seven men's.
The Lakers totaled 810 points, beating runner-up University of California-San Diego, which had 663 points. Truman State (Mo.) and North Dakota finished third and fourth, respectively. Stanford University won among Division I universities, Williams College (Mass.) won the Division III award and Simon Fraser (British Columbia, Canada) won the NAIA Division.
The trophies will be presented during the NACDA Convention at the USSA Directors' Cup Awards Luncheon on Sunday, June 13, in Dallas. Grand Valley Athletic Director Tim Selgo will accept the award.
"I think this says we have a well-rounded sports program that is strong across the board with outstanding coaches and student-athletes," Selgo said. "Success breeds success and that has helped us build a tradition within our athletic programs to compete nationally and win championships."
Grand Valley won the national football title in December, and was runner-up in baseball, third in women's cross country, tied for third in women's volleyball, sixth in women's golf and tied for ninth in women's basketball. Sixteen of 19 Laker teams advanced to NCAA Division II postseason play.
GVSU is the first Division II university east of Colorado to win the Directors' Cup. Also, the Lakers won their sixth straight GLIAC Presidents' Cup Award.
