University of St. Thomas athletes ranked among the best in the nation with a 10th place finish in the 2009-10 NACDA Division III Directors Cup all-sport standings. Finishing just nine points out of seventh place, it was the Tommies best showing since a fourth-place finish in 2000.
The final scoring was announced last week by the National Association of Collegiate Athletics Directors (NACDA). The Directors Cup seeks to recognize the top overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.
Three other MIAC institutions finished in the top 75: Gustavus, 20; Carleton, 50; and St. Olaf, 70. St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn., was 117. UST has placed in the top 40 in Division III all 15 years of the competition, including 11 top 25 finishes.
Williams (Mass.) took first for the 14th time in 15 seasons of the competition.
The NACDA website includes the Division III scoring. See Tommie Sports for a more detailed look at the successes enjoyed by St. Thomas teams during the past academic year.
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Steve Fritz named West Region AD of the Year
Steve Fritz has served as St. Thomas' athletic director for 19 years and men's basketball head coach for 30 years.
The success of St. Thomas athletics was not solely on the fields and in the arenas and pools. The “front office" shared in that success last week when Steve Fritz was named the 2009-10 Under Armour Division III West Region Athletics Director of the Year. The award is sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Athletics Directors (NACDA).
Four regional winners from among 400-plus Division III institutions receive this annual award. Fritz has served as St. Thomas' athletics director for 19 years and men's basketball head coach for 30 years.
