The athletic season may have come to a close, but that hasn't stopped the UT Permian Basin athletic department from continuing to make history.  

On Tuesday (Jun. 11) the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics released the final NCAA Division II standings of the 2023-24 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup. UTPB finished in 76th place with a total of 248.5 points. That is the highest the Falcons have finished in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup. Previously finishing in 211th place in 2017-18 and 2022-23. 

The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. It's an annual award that recognizes colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics. Points are awarded based on each institution's national finish in up to 15 sports in the NCAA Division II championships. 

"Our athletic department continues to reach new heights with this incredible finish. This historic accomplishment is a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication, hard work and unity," said Associate Athletic Director, Hayley Hudson. "Our athletes and coaches have shown remarkable perseverance, and their success is an inspiration to us all. I am so proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff and look forward to building on this success for years to come. They have all helped us set a new standard of excellence." 

The Falcons also finished ranked seventh in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings out of 14 schools. UTPB earned 152.5 points in the spring, 71 points in the winter, and 25 points in the Fall. The men's tennis team earned the most points (64), followed by baseball (50), men's swimming (46), men's golf (38.5), football (25), and women's basketball (25). 

Previous years: 

Year       Position                                               Points 

16-17     248                                                      25 

17-18     211                                                        64 

18-19     225                                                      50 

19-20     Not contested due to COVID 

20-21     Not contested due to COVID 

21-22     249                                                     22 

22-23     211                                                      58 

23-24     76                                                              248.5