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Stanford won the 2018-19 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup, extending its streak to 25 consecutive seasons of winning the award, presented to the most successful intercollegiate athletic department in the nation.
Deputy Athletics Director Patrick Dunkley accepted the latest trophy during the annual National Association of Collegiate Directors of America conference in Orlando, Fla.
Stanford compiled a record 1,567.75 points, with Michigan (1,272.25), Florida (1,156.75), Texas (1,148.50) and USC (1,075.75) rounding out to the top five.
The Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. In the second year of an updated scoring system, all scores were counted for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and women’s volleyball.
Additionally, only up to 15 other of the highest scores were included in the final score. Points were awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA championships.
Of Stanford’s seven national championships in 2018-19, six were NCAA titles, tying its own record set in 1996-97 for the most by one school in a season.
The Cardinal has won at least one NCAA championship during each of the last 43 school (not calendar) years, dating to 1976-77. In total, Stanford varsity teams have won a record 123 NCAA championships (66 men, 57 women) and 149 national titles overall.
Stanford won an unprecedented eighth women’s volleyball national championship last December, defeating Nebraska in a tense five-set thriller.
The Cardinal finished 34-1 to set a program record for wins, was the first Pac-12 team to go undefeated in conference play since 2003 and featured six All-Americans, including AVCA Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer.
The 2018 season marked Stanford’s 38th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance and the Cardinal is one of only two programs in the nation, with Penn State, to have appeared in every tournament since the NCAA championship began in 1981.
Stanford won its third consecutive NCAA women’s swimming and diving championship in March, despite losing two Olympic gold medalists. The Cardinal had 18 different All-Americans combine for 51 All-America honors, including individual titles by Ella Eastin and Broke Forde.
Stanford, which clinched the title with depth and several big finishes, has won 11 NCAA championships, the most all-time.
Fueled by a dominant effort from freshman Brody Malone, Stanford men’s gymnastics captured the 2018 NCAA title and dethroned four-time defending champion Oklahoma in a meet that was decided in the final rotation.
The championship was Stanford’s sixth overall and first since 2011. Including Malone’s three NCAA titles, nine different athletes secured 15 All-America honors and head coach Thom Glielmi was named NCAA Coach of the Year.
Playing in its home pool and led by Makenzie Fischer’s hat trick, No. 2 Stanford scored a 9-8 victory over No. 1 USC in the NCAA women’s water polo final last month. Freshman Ryann Neushul scored the game winner with 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Stanford has won four of the last six NCAA championships and seven overall, tied for the most in the nation. Dunlevie Family Director of Women’s Water Polo John Tanner was named national coach of the year for the sixth time.
Closing the year on a dominating 23-match win streak and avenging its only loss of the season, the No. 3-seeded Cardinal captured its 20th NCAA championship with a 4-0 victory over No. 1 Georgia.
Showcasing its depth and experience, Stanford won its second straight championship and third in the last four years. The Cardinal improved to 50-5 in the month of May since 2010, winning five NCAA titles during that stretch.
Closing the year winning five consecutive tournaments, the 12th-ranked men’s golf team captured its ninth NCAA championship, and first since 2007, by defeating Texas, 3-2.
Led by seniors Isaiah Salinda and Brandon Wu, both of whom went 3-0 in match play, Stanford beat two higher seeds in dramatic 3-2 finishes to get to the final match. Director of Men’s Golf Conrad Ray was selected as national coach of the year.
Led by victories from its varsity eight and varsity four boats, Stanford lightweight rowing produced its fifth consecutive Intercollegiate Rowing Association Team National Championship earlier this month.
The Cardinal as claimed nine IRA National Team Championships overall, the most in history. Head coach Kate Bertko has guided Stanford to the title in each of her three seasons.
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics