Completed Event: General versus Arizona on January 18, 2002
Final Score
General
vs Arizona
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Achieves Highest Fall Ranking in Learfield IMG College Director’s Cup
1/17/2020 9:00 AM | Football, General, Soccer, Volleyball
Utes’ No. 18 ranking is best for the fall since inception of Director’s Cup in 1993-94
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah's fall sports programs in 2019 reached a collective level of success unprecedented since the inception of the Learfield IMG College Director's Cup in 1993-94. The Utes' No. 18 position in the final fall Division I Director's Cup rankings is the highest ever achieved for the fall period by the Utah athletics program, and ranks third among Pac-12 institutions.
Each of Utah's four fall sports programs received NCAA postseason or bowl game invitations, and one, Volleyball, finished in the Top 10 in the nation:
"I'm extremely proud of the performance by our athletics programs thus far in 2019-20," said Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. "They have set the bar high and continue to contribute to a championship culture that elevates expectations for the entire department. I'm grateful for our coaches and student-athletes who work so hard every day to set that standard and represent the University of Utah at the highest level."
Utah was one of just nine athletics programs in the nation—and one of two in the Pac-12—to have teams in all four of those sports reach the NCAA postseason or a bowl game. The Utes joined Washington as the only two Pac-12 schools in the group, along with Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Penn State, Florida State and BYU.
Individually, 26 student-athletes across the four sports earned some level of All-Pac-12 recognition and 11 earned All-America consideration. Academically, 45 student-athletes were named to the fall Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll and Utah Athletics produced a 94-percent figure in the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate report, released in October 2019.
The Utes' previous best ranking for the fall period was No. 20 in 2016-17, and prior to that two No. 30 finishes (2006-07 and 2008-09).
Known as the crowning achievement in college athletics, The Learfield IMG College Director's Cup honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's. Launched in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA. Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and women, and the overall champion is the institution that records the highest number of points in its division's Directors' Cup standings.
Each of Utah's four fall sports programs received NCAA postseason or bowl game invitations, and one, Volleyball, finished in the Top 10 in the nation:
- Cross-Country: Coach Kyle Kepler's team qualified for the NCAA championship meet and placed 16th, its highest finish in program history after placing fifth at the NCAA Mountain Regional.
- Football: Pac-12 Coach of the Year and Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year Kyle Whittingham's team won the Pac-12 South for the second year in a row, finished 11th in the final College Football Playoff ranking and earned an invitation to the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Utes' final AP ranking of 16th was the team's highest since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.
- Soccer: Coach Rich Manning's squad qualified for the NCAA Division I Soccer Championships and played at 12th-ranked Duke in a first-round matchup. Two Utes—Tavia Leachman and Carly Nelson—earned All-Pacific Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches.
- Volleyball: Pac-12 Coach of the Year Beth Launiere's team reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and finished 9th in the final AVCA rankings, the highest finish in program history.
"I'm extremely proud of the performance by our athletics programs thus far in 2019-20," said Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. "They have set the bar high and continue to contribute to a championship culture that elevates expectations for the entire department. I'm grateful for our coaches and student-athletes who work so hard every day to set that standard and represent the University of Utah at the highest level."
Utah was one of just nine athletics programs in the nation—and one of two in the Pac-12—to have teams in all four of those sports reach the NCAA postseason or a bowl game. The Utes joined Washington as the only two Pac-12 schools in the group, along with Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Penn State, Florida State and BYU.
Individually, 26 student-athletes across the four sports earned some level of All-Pac-12 recognition and 11 earned All-America consideration. Academically, 45 student-athletes were named to the fall Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll and Utah Athletics produced a 94-percent figure in the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate report, released in October 2019.
The Utes' previous best ranking for the fall period was No. 20 in 2016-17, and prior to that two No. 30 finishes (2006-07 and 2008-09).
Known as the crowning achievement in college athletics, The Learfield IMG College Director's Cup honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's. Launched in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA. Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and women, and the overall champion is the institution that records the highest number of points in its division's Directors' Cup standings.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
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