Vanguard 12th in NAIA Directors Cup standings

Lions’ best effort

Vanguard University finished 12th, its best showing ever, in the NAIA Directors Cup standings that gauge the overall performance of a school’s athletic program for 2013-14.

Led by the men’s basketball team’s unprecedented run to the national championship, the Lions accumulated 546.5 points, which ranked second among Golden State Athletic Conference representatives.

Concordia, which finished seventh with 608.5 points, was the only other California school in the top 17.

Oklahoma Baptist finished on top with 907.5 points, ahead of Oklahoma City (763.25) and Lindsey Wilson of Kentucky (756).

The Lions’ men’s basketball team earned the maximum 100 points for its NAIA Division I crown, while men’s tennis earned 83 points for its third-place national finish.

Women’s basketball, women’s soccer and women’s tennis all collected 53 points for finishing ninth in the nation, while baseball posted 37.5 points for a 26th-place showing in the NAIA Tournament.

“One of our athletic department goals each year is to finish in the top 25 of the Director’s Cup standings,” Vanguard Athletic Director Bob Wilson said. “The best that we have ever placed prior to this year was 19th. The 12th–place finish is a credit to our outstanding coaches and our quality student-athletes.”

The Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Assn. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 12 sports, six women’s and six men’s.

— From staff reports