The NACDA Learfield Directors' Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) to college athletics’ most successful institution. Points for the NACDA Directors' Cup are based on order of finish in championships sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The award originated in 1993 and was presented to NCAA Division I schools only. In 1995, it was extended to NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA institutions. Since 2011, junior colleges have also been represented, based on NATYCAA Cup standings.
The physical award is a Waterford Crystal trophy. The award was originally branded as the “Sears Cup,” as the honor was sponsored by retail merchandiser Sears. Beginning in the 2003-04 season, the sponsor was the United States Sports Academy. Learfield (formerly Learfield Sports and Lierfield IMG) has sponsored the award since 2007-08.
Directors' Cup standings were not published in 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest Directors’ Cup ranking by a MIAC institution was a No. 4 finish by St. Thomas in 1999-00. The 2024-25 academic year marked the first in conference history that all 13 MIAC institutions were ranked in the Directors’ Cup standings.
| Annual NACDA Directors' Cup Rankings |
| Year |
Augsburg |
Bethel |
Carleton |
Concordia |
Gustavus |
Hamline |
Macalester |
Saint Benedict |
St. Catherine |
Saint John's |
Saint Mary's |
St. Olaf |
St. Scholastica |
St. Thomas |
| 1995-96 |
110 |
136 |
28 |
34 |
10 |
211 |
T-169 |
178 |
-- |
66 |
-- |
20 |
N/A |
14 |
| 1996-97 |
105 |
T-210 |
83 |
60 |
14 |
151 |
112 |
132 |
-- |
43 |
176 |
26 |
N/A |
18 |
| 1997-98 |
T-25 |
-- |
T-149 |
T-101 |
T-18 |
T-101 |
T-84 |
T-57 |
-- |
T-84 |
T-167 |
T-66 |
N/A |
T-25 |
| 1998-99 |
T-47 |
-- |
T-114 |
T-133 |
T-25 |
|
T-31 |
T-47 |
-- |
T-34 |
T-155 |
T-45 |
N/A |
16 |
| 1999-00 |
95 |
T-238 |
149 |
T-122 |
39 |
125 |
T-57 |
234 |
-- |
31 |
126 |
19 |
N/A |
4 |
| 2000-01 |
T-128 |
T-247 |
104 |
64 |
18 |
176 |
-- |
T-215 |
-- |
32 |
T-136 |
33 |
N/A |
25 |
| 2001-02 |
T-141 |
T-209 |
T-76 |
233 |
10 |
T-168 |
T-177 |
T-175 |
-- |
46 |
T-251 |
37 |
N/A |
13 |
| 2002-03 |
T-92 |
-- |
41 |
T-278 |
6 |
230 |
T-180 |
T-211 |
-- |
48 |
T-278 |
37 |
N/A |
35 |
| 2003-04 |
T-106 |
T-248 |
T-140 |
T-173 |
10 |
-- |
232 |
T-248 |
T-200 |
46 |
-- |
116 |
N/A |
40 |
| 2004-05 |
-- |
-- |
49 |
-- |
17 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
79 |
-- |
T-91 |
N/A |
24 |
| 2005-06 |
-- |
-- |
54 |
76 |
10 |
-- |
83 |
-- |
-- |
75 |
-- |
91 |
N/A |
28 |
| 2006-07 |
172 |
125 |
140 |
169 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
300 |
-- |
22 |
261 |
95 |
N/A |
28 |
| 2007-08 |
T-185 |
85 |
104 |
164 |
22 |
-- |
T-264 |
T-224 |
-- |
40 |
-- |
132 |
N/A |
12 |
| 2008-09 |
126 |
79 |
35 |
122 |
8 |
221 |
229 |
139 |
-- |
62 |
-- |
85 |
N/A |
13 |
| 2009-10 |
T-177 |
87 |
50 |
98 |
20 |
176 |
T-177 |
T-267 |
-- |
117 |
T-205 |
70 |
N/A |
10 |
| 2010-11 |
127 |
T-194 |
71 |
117 |
21 |
97 |
217 |
-- |
-- |
74 |
T-317 |
75 |
N/A |
26 |
| 2011-12 |
T-165 |
185 |
109 |
80 |
39 |
T-117 |
-- |
T-187 |
-- |
184 |
-- |
41 |
N/A |
8 |
| 2012-13 |
230 |
207 |
80 |
76 |
36 |
T-176 |
T-271 |
T-232 |
-- |
98 |
-- |
45 |
N/A |
9 |
| 2013-14 |
130 |
157 |
52 |
107 |
93 |
-- |
172 |
T-209 |
-- |
225 |
T-282 |
31 |
N/A |
9 |
| 2014-15 |
108 |
T-231 |
59 |
106 |
86 |
245 |
T-226 |
T-279 |
-- |
200 |
-- |
35 |
N/A |
14 |
| 2015-16 |
74 |
T-213 |
86 |
240 |
105 |
221 |
212 |
T-278 |
T-236 |
103 |
-- |
36 |
N/A |
9 |
| 2016-17 |
95 |
157 |
74 |
158 |
53 |
T-189 |
T-289 |
T-176 |
109 |
146 |
-- |
126 |
N/A |
17 |
| 2017-18 |
97 |
115 |
68 |
-- |
43 |
95 |
T-271 |
T-177 |
T-281 |
171 |
T-321 |
152 |
N/A |
16 |
| 2018-19 |
T-111 |
89 |
T-39 |
T-338 |
81 |
97 |
181 |
T-199 |
227 |
83 |
-- |
120 |
N/A |
11 |
| 2019-20 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| 2020-21 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| 2021-22 |
116 |
53 |
98 |
T-269 |
38 |
T-284 |
-- |
127 |
119 |
97 |
-- |
71 |
219 |
N/A |
| 2022-23 |
T-139 |
50 |
60 |
281 |
30 |
-- |
-- |
T-136 |
196 |
118 |
-- |
64 |
T-286 |
N/A |
| 2023-24 |
T-173 |
40 |
68 |
209 |
70 |
-- |
-- |
105 |
T-173 |
185 |
T-275 |
61 |
234 |
N/A |
| 2024-25 |
95 |
67 |
78 |
148 |
57 |
T-323 |
260 |
T-289 |
188 |
75 |
T-206 |
105 |
205 |
N/A |
| 2025-26 |
113 |
46 |
79 |
123 |
50 |
174 |
121 |
135 |
274 |
144 |
180 |
68 |
152 |
N/A |