BUIES CREEK — Campbell earned a top-100 finish and led all Big South Conference schools in the final standings of the 2017-18 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. With 194.0 total points, Campbell finished 97th among 292 Division I members ranked, the highest mark for the Camels since the Directors’ Cup program was started in 1.993-94.
Campbell ranked fifth among the 18 NCAA Division I schools from the state of North Carolina — and tops among non-Power 5 members. Only Duke (11), North Carolina (13), N.C State (15) and Wake Forest (48) placed higher than Campbell in the Directors’ Cup standings among North Carolina Division I members.
The Camels were 50.5 points ahead of No. 126 Liberty (143.5), the second-highest Big South Conference member in the ratings. Furthermore, Campbell was one of 20 non-Football Bowl Subdivision member institutions to gain a ranking in the top-100.
“This signifies the outstanding improvement and overall body of work our department has accomplished over the years,” said CU athletic director Bob Roller. “It’s especially gratifying to me because I was part of the group that helped create the Directors’ Cup with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics back in 1993, and to see Campbell in the Top 100 is very special.”
Campbell finished in front of three Power-5 Conference members — Rutgers (Big Ten), Pittsburgh (ACC) and Georgia Tech (ACC). Campbell’s previous best finish was a No. 119 ranking in 2016-17.
The Learfield 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 NCAA Championships.
During the 2017-18 year, Campbell advanced to NCAA postseason competition in cross country, wrestling, baseball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s tennis, plus men’s and women’s track & field.
Campbell won Big South Conference championships in men’s cross country, men’s tennis and baseball, as well as regular-season and tournament titles in baseball. Campbell’s men earned Big South runner-up finishes in golf as well as indoor and outdoor track & field.
CU’s women claimed a third straight women’s golf championship, while the Camels were runner-up in women’s cross country and indoor track and field.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
