Denver Wins 12th I-AAA Directors’ Cup in Last 13 Tries

The University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation has won the Learfield Sports DI-AAA Directors' Cup for the eighth-straight time (was not awarded in 2019-20) and the 12th time in the last 13 years, finishing ahead of all DI non-football schools in the 2020-21 overall Division I standings, taking 51st place with a point tally of 408.25.

Denver has finished in the top 55 in the overall Directors' Cup in eight consecutive years of the award. Prior to Denver's first Directors' Cup in 2008, Denver had only finished in the top 60 once. The Pioneers also finished ahead of all non-FBS schools in this year's standings and finished as the top school in the state of Colorado.

The Pioneers had 10 of 16 possible sports contribute to the University's overall total.

Denver was 59th through the fall sports season, led by 50 points from the women's soccer program's trip to the second round of the delayed 2020 NCAA Tournament this spring.

The winter sports earned 151.75 points, split between Denver's performances in skiing and gymnastics. After having its championship halted halfway through in 2020, skiing finished third at the 2021 NCAA Championships to take 85 points, while the gymnastics program earned 66.75 for its third-place finish at the Athens Regional.

In the spring, women's lacrosse led Denver with 53 points after defeating Stanford to make it to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers also got 40 points from men's golf and 38.5 from women's golf for their finish at the Regionals. Denver got 25 points each for NCAA First Round appearances for men's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis.

The Learfield Sports 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 up to 20 sports — 10 women's and 10 men's. Denver only counts 16 sports towards the standings every year.

Denver's athletic programs also combined for a 96% graduation success rate, the highest rate in program history. DU had a school record 11 programs receive perfect GSR scores.

I-AAA Directors' Cup Champions
2021 – Denver (51 - 408.25)
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Denver (52 – 484.00)
2018 - Denver (47 - 529.25)
2017 - Denver (35 - 634.25)
2016 - Denver (52 - 433.00)
2015 - Denver (49 - 508.75)
2014 - Denver (43 - 519.25)
2013 - Denver (55 - 425.50)
2012 - Pepperdine (Denver - 85 - 227.50)
2011 - Denver (54 - 384.50)
2010 - Denver (65 - 306.80)
2009 - Denver (54 - 396.50)
2008 - Denver (47 - 434.25)
2007 - 74 - 267.25
2006 - Not in top-100
2005 - 68 - 250.50
2004 - 59 - 333.75
2003 - 75 - 214.75
2002 - 75 - 241.00
2001 - 87 - 180.00
2000 - Not in top-100
1999 - 74 - 110.00