Cal posts fifth straight top-10 Directors’ Cup finish

California extended its streak of top-10 finishes in the Directors’ Cup to five in a row with a ninth-place showing in the final standings released Thursday. The Golden Bears, along with Stanford and Florida, are the only three schools in the country to finish among the top 10 of the rankings of best overall collegiate athletic programs each of the last five years.

During the 2009-10 seasons, Cal’s programs recorded a pair of NCAA runner-up finishes in men’s swimming and women’s rowing. The Bears were also in the top five in women’s swimming (3rd), men’s gymnastics (5th) and women’s volleyball (5th). In all, 17 programs contributed to Cal’s total of 1,013.50 points. Cal’s top-10 run began in 2006 when the Bears placed seventh. The Bears were then ninth in 2007 and seventh in both 2008 and ’09. Cal first achieved top-10 status in 2003 and 2004, taking ninth both years.

For 2009-10, the Bears are third among Pac-10 institutions behind No. 1 Stanford and No. 4 UCLA. Other conference schools in the top 30 are USC (13th), Oregon (14th), Arizona State (22nd), Washington (24th) and Arizona (30th).

The Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 20 sports – 10 women’s and 10 men’s. Because they are not NCAA-sponsored sports, Cal’s national championship in rugby and runner-up team finish in men’s crew are not counted.

For a complete look at the 2009-10 Directors’ Cup standings, visit nacda.com.

Below is a year-by-year look at Cal’s finishes in the Directors’ Cup:

1. 2009-10 (9th)
2. 2008-09 (7th)
3. 2007-08 (7th)
4. 2006-07 (9th)
5. 2005-06 (7th)
6. 2004-05 (15th)
7. 2003-04 (9th)
8. 2002-03 (9th)
9. 2001-02 (20th)
10. 2000-01 (12th)
11. 1999-00 (15th)
12. 1998-99 (23rd)
13. 1997-98 (19th)
14. 1996-97 (26th)
15. 1995-96 (30th)
16. 1994-95 (13th)
17. 1993-94 (17th)

Cal scored Directors’ Cup points in the following sports in 2009-10:

1. Baseball, 49th (25 points)
2. Men’s Basketball, 17th (50 points)
3. Football, 44th (25 points)
4. Men’s Golf, 23rd (51 points)
5. Women’s Golf, 31st (42 points)
6. Men’s Gymnastics, 5th (73 points)
7. Women’s Rowing, 2nd (90 points)
8. Women’s Soccer, 17th (50 points)
9. Softball, 9th (64 points)
10. Men’s Swimming & Diving, 2nd (90 points)
11. Women’s Swimming & Diving, 3rd (85 points)
12. Men’s Tennis, 17th (50 points)
13. Women’s Tennis, 9th (64 points)
14. Men’s Indoor Track & Field, 17th (56.5 points)
15. Men’s Outdoor Track & Field, 21st (52.5 points)
16. Volleyball, 5th (73 points)
17. Women’s Water Polo, 3rd (72.5 points)

Final Directors’ Cup Standings

1. Stanford (1508.50)
2. Florida (1310.25)
3. Virginia (1253.25)
4. UCLA (1124.00)
5. Florida State (1087.50)
6. Texas A&M (1070.75)
7. North Carolina (1029.30)
8. Ohio State (1015.50)
9. California (1013.50)
10. Duke 9(82.75)