2008 Woodie Awards
SIUE earns national attention in Director's Cup
Jeff Mason
Issue date: 6/25/08 Section: Sports
After sensational seasons for seemingly every team on campus and a move to Division I in the works, it only makes sense that SIUE's athletics program is considered one of the best in the nation, earning 14th overall in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Director's Cup.
"Across the board we had an outstanding year in Division II," director of sports information Eric Hess said. "We had the men's soccer team advance to the National Regional finals. The softball team made it to the NCAA tournament. The women's track and field team had its highest ever finish in both the indoor and outdoor championships. The men's track and field team had an outstanding year. The volleyball team advanced to the national tournament."
The NADCA Director's Cup looks only at athletics, focusing strictly on how each team finished in NCAA championships.
"Most all of our sports have been very strong across the board," Hess said. "It helps to be in a strong position when you're moving to the NCAA Division I."
Track and field coach David Astrauskas is looking forward to making things happen again this year, now that they'll be facing tougher opponents.
"We've been successful in multiple sports at the Division II level," Astrauskas said. "I think the department as a whole is def ready to make this move."
Astrauskas was quick to praise the university in his team's achievements.
"We get a lot of support from this institution," Astrauskas said. "The athletic department has given us the things you need to be successful."
With the men's track team working on rebuilding and a strong returning women's team, things are looking good for next year.
"We can compete against these same schools already," junior track and field athlete Deserea Brown said. "So it's not going to be that big of a change."
Brown, who won two National titles in track and field in 2008 and will be attempting to qualify for the Olympics later this week, said the outlook of SIUE's sports program is looking good in all arenas.
"It seems like all of our sports do well (and) academically we seem to be doing well," Brown said.
SIUE finished fourth in the 2005-2006 season and 11th in 2006-2007. Taking the cup this year was Grand Valley State in Michigan, marking their fifth straight year at the top.
"Across the board we had an outstanding year in Division II," director of sports information Eric Hess said. "We had the men's soccer team advance to the National Regional finals. The softball team made it to the NCAA tournament. The women's track and field team had its highest ever finish in both the indoor and outdoor championships. The men's track and field team had an outstanding year. The volleyball team advanced to the national tournament."
The NADCA Director's Cup looks only at athletics, focusing strictly on how each team finished in NCAA championships.
"Most all of our sports have been very strong across the board," Hess said. "It helps to be in a strong position when you're moving to the NCAA Division I."
Track and field coach David Astrauskas is looking forward to making things happen again this year, now that they'll be facing tougher opponents.
"We've been successful in multiple sports at the Division II level," Astrauskas said. "I think the department as a whole is def ready to make this move."
Astrauskas was quick to praise the university in his team's achievements.
"We get a lot of support from this institution," Astrauskas said. "The athletic department has given us the things you need to be successful."
With the men's track team working on rebuilding and a strong returning women's team, things are looking good for next year.
"We can compete against these same schools already," junior track and field athlete Deserea Brown said. "So it's not going to be that big of a change."
Brown, who won two National titles in track and field in 2008 and will be attempting to qualify for the Olympics later this week, said the outlook of SIUE's sports program is looking good in all arenas.
"It seems like all of our sports do well (and) academically we seem to be doing well," Brown said.
SIUE finished fourth in the 2005-2006 season and 11th in 2006-2007. Taking the cup this year was Grand Valley State in Michigan, marking their fifth straight year at the top.
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