Emory University's Department of Athletics finished second in the 2012-13 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division III standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The second-place finish represents the school's best finish since the 2003-04 school year (2nd) and marks the 12th time in the past 13 years that the Eagles' program has recorded a top-10 showing — 2000-01 (fourth), 2001-02 (fifth), 2002-03 (second), 2003-04 (second), 2004-05 (eighth), 2005-06 (fourth), 2006-07 (ninth), 2007-08 (seventh), 2008-09 (sixth), 2009-10 (18th) , 2010-11 (seventh ) and 2011-12 (sixth), Emory, which stood third following the winter standings, registered a final total of 986.50 points, the highest-ever mark for the department since the inception of the Cup in 1995-96.
Emory scored in 15 sports during the 2012-13 campaign, and captured the national championship in swimming, while finishing second in women's soccer and women's tennis, fourth in men's golf and fifth in both men's swimming and diving and men's tennis.
The Eagles had three other squads come away with top-10 finishes in the Directors' Cup including volleyball, women's basketball and women's indoor track and field, all of which posted ninth-place showings.
Emory athletics also claimed 10 University Athletic Association championships in 2012-13, tying the 2010-11 year for the most conference titles in a season.
Williams College (MA) finished in the No. 1 spot with 1,273.75 points, its 16th Directors' Cup title in 18 years. Last year's winner, Middlebury (VT), held down the No. 3 spot with 941.75 points while UW-Whitewater was fourth (895 pts.). Washington University rounded out the top five with 859.50 points.
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports — nine women's and nine men's.