NEWBERRY, S.C. — Newberry College Athletics recorded the highest finish in program history in the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup standings, placing 76th among NCAA Division II institutions, the program announced.
The finish marks a significant milestone for the Wolves, surpassing the previous best finish of 116th achieved in the 2006–07 academic year. This year's result reflects sustained excellence across multiple sports and underscores the department's continued growth as a broad-based, competitive NCAA Division II program.
A total of 292 NCAA Division II institutions sponsor athletics programs, with 251 schools earning points in this year's standings. The Directors' Cup recognizes institutions that achieve competitive success across a wide range of men's and women's sports, awarding points based on postseason participation and national finishes.
Newberry's record-setting placement was fueled by standout performances across several programs. Field hockey led the way with a national runner-up finish, while football reached the NCAA Division II national semifinals. Men's lacrosse captured the South Atlantic Conference championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, and women's tennis posted a 15–5 record while securing an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament.
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), in partnership with USA Today, administers the Directors' Cup program, which recognizes institutions maintaining broad-based athletic success across men's and women's sports. Originally launched for Division I in 1993–94, the program expanded to include Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior/community colleges.
The Directors' Cup standings are determined by awarding points in a pre-determined number of sports for each institution, with final rankings based on total accumulated points. The institution with the highest point total in each division is named the overall champion.
Newberry's 76th-place finish represents a continued upward trajectory for the department and highlights the competitive success of multiple programs during the 2025–26 academic year.
