Jumbos Finish Fourth Nationally in Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings

Out of more than 300 NCAA Division III colleges and universities, Tufts is again in the top five

Tufts’ two NCAA national championships this spring helped the Jumbos to a fourth-place finish among more than 300 NCAA Division III schools in the national Learfield Directors’ Cup competition, chalking up their fifth all-time top five finish.

Seven Tufts teams competed in NCAA events in May to combine for 468.50 spring Directors’ Cup points. That point total was by far the most of any Division III school, boosted by the 100 points for the national titles earned by the women’s rowing and men’s lacrosse squads. Overall, Tufts finished the season with a total of 992.50 points. The Jumbos trailed only Johns Hopkins University (1090.50), Williams College (1026.08), and Emory University (1009). 

The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s NCAA tournament finishes in up to 18 sports, including mandatory sports of men’s and women’s soccer and basketball. 

The Jumbos’ fourth-place finish was the 11th consecutive season that Tufts has posted a top 10 ranking, and the 14th since 1995-96. Tufts earned its first Directors’ Cup title in 2021-22, and finished second in 2022-23. 

For the spring sports season, the women’s lacrosse team also added points, with its fifth-place national finish. Men’s golf tallied Directors’ Cup points for the first time with its 34th place finish at the NCAA championships, and softball tied for fifth in its competition. Men’s tennis was tied for fifth in the nation after making another NCAA championships site appearance, and men’s track and field added points thanks to Alex Lemieux scoring in the long jump at the NCAA championships. 

In the winter season, men’s basketball advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, the men’s swimming and diving teams were ninth at the NCAA championships, and the women’s swimming and diving teams were 10th overall. 

In the fall, women’s soccer posted four NCAA tournament victories on their way to a semifinal finish. The field hockey squad chalked up wins over Southern Maine and Rowan in the NCAA tournament to finish in the quarterfinals. 

The men’s soccer squad earned a spot in the NCAA third round, and the men’s cross country team finished 24th overall at the NCAA championships, while Carly Rinko and Meghan Davis helped women’s cross country finish 33rd at the NCAA championships. Volleyball also earned a spot in the NCAA championships, picking up valuable points for the Jumbos heading into the winter season. 

See the final 2023-24 Learfield Directors’ Cup final standings here [PDF].

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