GLIAC -- For the 16th time in the history of the award, Grand Valley State has won the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup for NCAA Division II.

Throughout 2023-24, GVSU amassed 983 total points in 20 total sports, including three of the four sports that must be counted. The Lakers took home the title in women’s cross country and tallied a runner-up finish in men’s indoor track and field. Grand Valley State was the only Division II school to score 300-plus points in each of the fall, winter and spring seasons.  

Ferris State finished in 34th place with 411 points folllowed by Wayne State (44th, 380) and Saginaw Valley State (45th, 378.5), giving the GLIAC four teams in the top 45 of the final standings. 

Davenport was 66th (279 points) while Northern Michigan (257.5 points) placed 74th, on the strength of a 228-point winter season. Parkside (146th, 122 points), Michigan Tech (163rd, 101 points), Lake Superior State (199th, 64 points) and Purdue Northwest (238th, 25 points) rounded out the GLIAC representation in the rankings. 

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.

Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final DII standings, four of which must be women’s volleyball and basketball and men’s basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.