CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Chico State athletic department has notched another year among the nation’s top Division II athletic programs. The Wildcats logged their sixth straight top-25 finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, coming in 22nd in the 2008-09 campaign. The prestigious award is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Learfield Sports and USA Today to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III and the NAIA.

“I’m very proud of our entire athletic department for another outstanding year,” said Chico State Athletic Director Anita Barker. “Once again we have proved that our department is not only one of the strongest in the West Region, but also one of the strongest in the nation.”

Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State (Michigan) claimed the title for the sixth straight season with 1,014.5 points. The Lakers were followed in the standings by Minnesota State Mankato, Central Missouri, Abilene Christian (Tex.) and Indianapolis (Ind.).

UC San Diego, which scored 587 points and finished seventh, was the lone California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) school to finish ahead of the Wildcats, who tallied 442 points. 

Seven of Chico State’s 13 intercollegiate athletic programs advanced to the NCAA Championships. The men’s cross country team finished third in the nation and garnered 85 points behind Scott Bauhs’ individual national title. The women’s cross country team finished seventh and garnered 69. The women’s golf team earned 64.5 points for its 12th-place showing, while the men’ s team finished 21st and earned 51.5 The men’s track team scored 69 points for finishing ninth in the nation as Michael Wickman brought home a pair of third-place individual trophies. The women’s track team scored 53 points for coming in 21st. The Chico State volleyball team made its third straight appearance in the NCAA Championships, garnering a 17th place finish and 50 points.

Since joining the CCAA for the 1998-99 athletic campaign, the Wildcats have grown into one of the strongest Division II athletic programs in the nation. They earned their first top-20 finish by finishing 17th in 2001-02, and followed that up with finishes of 28th, fifth, third, eighth, 17th, 25th, and 22nd, respectively.

Over 280 institutions participate in NCAA Division II athletics.

Chico State Athletics – A Decade-Plus of Dominance...
79 NCAA Championship berths
32 CCAA titles
21 West Region titles
13 National titles
Seven top-25 Directors’ Cup finishes
...Since joining the CCAA in 1998-99.