CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Following another standout academic year for the Captains in 2025-26, the Christopher Newport University Department of Athletics continued to excel among the nation's elite by closing out the year with a top-25 finish in the Learfield DIrectors' Cup. CNU ranks No. 21 after the conclusion of the final NCAA Division III national championship in the annual survey used to determine the top overall collegiate athletic programs in the country.
It marks the sixth top-25 showing for the Captains in the last eight years the Division III Learfield Directors' Cup has been released. Christopher Newport ranked third among public institutions with 661.50 total points in the finals standings. It was the fourth most points accumulated by CNU Athletics in the history of the program with 12 different teams contributing to the final total.
The Learfield 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 NCAA Championships, with a maximum of 18 sports contributing to a program's total, four of which must be men's basketball and soccer, and women's basketball and soccer, leaving the next 14 highest points scored to also be counted. This year, Washington University in Saint Louis was celebrated as the Division III Learfield Directors' Cup champions with 1090.50 points.
Powered by four teams reaching the NCAA National Quarterfinals including two final four appearances, the Captains saw success from start to finish in 2025-26. First, the number-one ranked CNU field hockey team advanced to the national semifinals in the fall before the men's basketball team made a final four showing in the winter campaign. This Spring, both the men's and women's lacrosse programs advanced to the NCAA National Quarterfinals including a program-best finish by the women's squad. CNU scored 272.00 points in the fall standings, added 133.00 points in the winter, and rounded out the spring standings with 256.50 points. CNU ranked 10th in Division III after the strong fall season, that included women's soccer, a second round appearance by CNU football and men's soccer as well as a regional championship bid for the volleyball program.
In addition to the Fall, the Captains' also received points in the survey with NCAA Tournament appearances by women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's outdoor track and field.
The year was highlighted by postseason success across the board for Christopher Newport. At the conclusion of the year, the Captains hauled in the C2C's Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award, sweeping the three Commissioner's Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
For a full release of the 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup champions and full standings for NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA, click here.
2025-26 Christopher Newport Sport-by-Sport Directors' Cup Scores
| Sport |
Place |
Points |
| Baseball |
17th |
50.0 |
| Men's Basketball |
3rd |
83.0 |
| Women's Basketball |
17th |
50.0 |
| Field Hockey |
3rd |
83.0 |
| Football |
17th |
50.0 |
| Men's Lacrosse |
5th |
73.0 |
| Women's Lacrosse |
5th |
73.0 |
| Men's Soccer |
17th |
50.0 |
| Women's Soccer |
33rd |
25.0 |
| Softball |
17th |
50.0 |
| Women's Outdoor Track & Field |
61st |
10.5 |
| Volleyball |
9th |
64.0 |
| TOTAL |
|
661.5 |
Christopher Newport All-Time LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Scores
| Year |
Place |
Points |
| 1995-96 |
57th |
83.50 |
| 1996-97 |
62nd |
156.50 |
| 1997-98 |
21st |
|
| 1998-99 |
79th |
|
| 1999-00 |
50th |
|
| 2000-01 |
31st |
|
| 2001-02 |
41st |
|
| 2002-03 |
33rd |
|
| 2003-04 |
117th |
129.50 |
| 2004-05 |
51st |
246.00 |
| 2005-06 |
89th |
172.00 |
| 2006-07 |
34th |
396.13 |
| 2007-08 |
44th |
350.50 |
| 2008-09 |
31st |
420.50 |
| 2009-10 |
31st |
444.50 |
| 2010-11 |
20th |
585.75 |
| 2011-12 |
23rd |
485.00 |
| 2012-13 |
29th |
454.50 |
| 2013-14 |
40th |
390.00 |
| 2014-15 |
29th |
463.00 |
| 2015-16 |
40th |
425.00 |
| 2016-17 |
14th |
624.00 |
| 2017-18 |
15th |
651.00 |
| 2018-19 |
37th |
425.00 |
| 2021-22 |
18th |
695.50 |
| 2022-23 |
7th |
902.50 |
| 2023-24 |
14th |
749.10 |
| 2024-25 |
42nd |
415.00 |
| 2025-26 |
21st |
661.50 |
*no standings were released in 2019-20 or 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
