Lynn University Fighting Knights

CLEVELAND – Proving once again it is one of the top athletic programs in the nation, Lynn University finished 25th out of 281 NCAA Division II schools in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup standings.  The prestigious award is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletes and Learfield Sports to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country. 

This marks the seventh top-25 finish for the Fighting Knights since being eligible in 1997.  The Blue & White jumped 34 positions from the previous year, giving them their highest finish since 2008-09 when they placed 16th overall.  Lynn’s best ranking came in 1998 after it finished 7th overall.

The Fighting Knights saw seven of their 11 sports advance to the NCAA Tournament, of which four advanced past the regional stage.  Lynn’s men’s soccer team closed out the season as the national runner-up in its 10th national championship appearance.  The men’s tennis program were national semifinalists, women’s tennis reached the national quarterfinals and women’s soccer returned to the national stage after a 14-year absence to reach the Round of 16.  Baseball and men’s and women’s golf also received NCAA postseason bids.

All nine Sunshine State Conference institutions earned recognition with four schools finishing in the top-25.  Florida Southern led the way with a ranking of No. 14, followed by Rollins (20th) and Nova Southeastern (22nd).  Tampa just missed the cut at No. 27 while Barry finished 35th, Saint Leo No. 77, Florida Tech 110th and Eckerd at 143rd overall.

Standings for the 2011-12 Learfield Sports Directo’rs Cup are based on a school’s finish in up to 14 sports, seven women’s and seven men’s, in NCAA Championship competition and the size of the championship bracket in that sport.