For the second time in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup history, Catholic University's athletics program has finished in the top 50. The Cardinals placed 47th during the 2023-24 school year, totaling 369.50 points.
The points are the most in the history of the Directors' Cup for the Cardinals. The 47th-place finish is its second-best behind a 43rd-place finish in 2014-15. Catholic made a more than 100 spot jump after finishing 153rd in 2022-23.
Overall, up to 18 total sports may count towards the final Directors' Cup standings, four of which must be men's and women's basketball and men's and women's soccer, leaving the next 14 highest point-producing totals to be counted. For Catholic, nine programs earned points in 2023-24 with men's outdoor track & field adding 52 points, the most for any Catholic program thanks to junior pole vaulter Christian Di Nicolantonio's national championship in May.
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.
"What a testament to the hard work, energy, and commitment of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff," said Associate Vice President & Director of Athletics Kevin Robinson. "Also the support from the university, alumni, and Catholic community has helped with this accomplishment!"
The point scorers for Catholic included women's cross country (31.5), men's soccer (25), women's basketball (50), men's basketball (50), men's indoor track & field (39), baseball (50), women's golf (22), women's lacrosse (50), and men's outdoor track & field (52).
During the 2023-24 season, Catholic has steadily climbed up the standings, placing 86th in the fall and 57th in the winter before moving up to 47th in the final standings. Catholic has now finished in the top 75 two out of the last three seasons after only finishing in the top 75 once in the previous two decades.