Complete Standings
CLEVELAND - Following the completion of the spring NCAA Division III championships, Bethel has finished the 2008-09 year as one of six Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) schools in the top 100 of the Learfield Sports Academy Director's Cup standings.
Bethel accumulated 220.50 points over the course of the fall, winter, and spring seasons, putting them in 79th place out of 310 ranked NCAA Division III schools (top 26%). This marks the second year in a row that Bethel has finished in the top 100. The university has steadily risen in the standings over the past few years, placing in a tie for 248th just five years ago to finishing 86th last year.
Gustavus Adolphus College finished first among MIAC schools by placing 8th in the nation.
The Directors' Cup is a program that honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's, in which all sports that the NCAA or NAIA offers a championship, along with Division I-A football, and all student-athletes that compete in those sports, are treated equally. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports -- nine women’s and nine men’s.
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The prestigious competition is sponsored by NACDA and USA TODAY, and seeks to recognize the top overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.
Bethel University rankings
| Year |
Final Ranking |
| 1995-96 |
136 / 230 |
| 1996-97 |
210(t) / 235 |
| 1997-98 |
Did Not Rank |
| 1998-99 |
Did Not Rank |
| 1999-00 |
238(t) / 238 |
| 2000-01 |
247(t) / 247 |
| 2001-02 |
209(t) / 251 |
| 2002-03 |
Did Not Rank |
| 2003-04 |
248(t) / 280 |
| 2004-05 |
Unknown* |
| 2005-06 |
Unknown* |
| 2006-07 |
125 / 312 |
| 2007-08 |
86 / 306 |
| 2008-09 |
79 / 310 |
*Only top 100 are listed
