June 30, 2006

Cedar Falls, Iowa -

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University of Northern Iowa athletics is ranked 70th in the final 2005-06 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings, earning its second highest ranking in the history of the award.

The Panthers are the highest ranked Missouri Valley Conference and Gateway Conference institution and took second place among Division I state of Iowa athletic programs.

"This accomplishment is a testimony to the quality coaches and student-athletes in the UNI athletic program," said Rick Hartzell, UNI's Director of Athletics. "Not only do we have several outstanding and national caliber programs, but we feel that we have a well-rounded and nationally competitive athletic program across the board. We are clearly one of the very best I-AA programs in the country and when you look at the names of the schools on this list it is obvious that UNI has an athletic program that everyone should be very proud of."

The U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed in 1993-94 as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. It is a program that honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's.

UNI maintained a high level of consistency throughout the 2005-06 athletic year as eight of its programs made an appearance in the post-season and two sports came away with a top-20 finish.

Panther football took its first trip to the NCAA Div. I-AA National Championship, taking runner-up honors to Appalachian State. UNI plowed through No. 15 Eastern Washington, No. 1 New Hampshire and No. 4 Texas State on its way to the championship contest in Chattanooga, Tenn. UNI was ranked second in the final national poll and finished with the highest standing in the Director's Cup than any other school who was represented in the 2005 NCAA I-AA Playoffs.

Later in the year, UNI men's track and field earned an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, crowning four all-Americans and breaking two school records. The Panther track and field program also earned points at the NCAA Outdoor Men's and Women's Track and Field Championships.

UNI men's basketball made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and second straight at-large selection. Panther wrestling claimed a 28th-place finish at the NCAA National Championships, qualifying seven wrestlers. UNI women's basketball also competed in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), but that appearance does not receive points toward the Directors' Cup standings.

The United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is the program sponsor. Points are awarded based on each institution's postseason finish in up to 20 sports - 10 women's and 10 men's.