The Hampton University athletics program was tabbed as the top-ranked NCAA Division I Historically Black College & University (HBCU) program on Monday, based on the final standings of the 2009-10 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup.
The Directors' Cup is presented annually to the best college programs in NCAA Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA. The Pirates wound up 125th in the overall rankings with 131.88 points. Many of those points were accumlated by the women's basketball program, as well as the indoor and outdoor track & field teams.
"This is a tremendous honor for Hampton University," said athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. "It is always our goal to have an athletics program which mirrors the university's reputation and image as one of the best institutions of higher education in the nation. It speaks well of the high caliber of student-athletes we have as well as the dynamic and charismatic leadership and support that we get from our coaches, staff and administrators. The entire university community gets credit for this achievement."
The Lady Pirates won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament in David Six's first year as head coach, going 20-12 and making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2004. Hampton was 12-4 in conference play, and junior Quanneisha Perry was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, while sophomore Melanie Warner was named the MEAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Hampton also won the MEAC women's outdoor track & field championship, its fifth straight. Senior Francena McCorory won a pair of NCAA titles, defending her indoor crown in the 400 meter dash with an American record 50.54, before winning the outdoor title with a time of 50.69.
McCorory was named the 2009-10 Indoor Female Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Saint Augustine's was named the top Div. II HBCU program, while Langston took home the top honor among HBCUs in the NAIA. Stanford won the Division I Directors' Cup for the 16th straight year with 1,508.5 points.
The Directors' Cup 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.
The program began in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today. It was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA. Learfield Sports became the title sponsor in 2008.
In May, the HU athletics program captured the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for the eighth consecutive year. This award is given annually to an institution for having the top women's sports program in the MEAC.