Buffs rank 15th in initial Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup standings

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (June 3, 2021) – Milligan University ranks 15th overall in the initial Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup 2020-21 NAIA standings that were released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics on Thursday.

Fall Standings | Winter Standings | Conference Standings | NACDA Release

The standings include fall and winter championships. The final standings on July 2 will include spring championship results.

The Buffs stand at 377.00 total points. Milligan is the highest-ranked athletic department in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Reinhardt is the next AAC institution, ranking 31st overall with 265.50 points.

Milligan posted the fifth-highest fall sports score with men's cross country, women's cross country, men's soccer and women's volleyball accumulating 239.00 points.

Men's cross country had the highest finish of any MU program in 2020-21 as the Buffs took third at the national championships. Aaron Jones, Nathan Baker, Eli Cramer and Tim Thacker all earned All-American status at NAIAs.

Women's cross country finished seventh at the NAIA Cross Country National Championship meet with Avery DeWolf and Bekah Owen capturing All-American honors.

The men's soccer team won the AAC's regular season title with a 9-1 league record and reached the AAC tournament final. In the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round, the Buffs defeated No. 12 Georgia Gwinnett 3-2 in overtime before falling to St. Thomas 2-1.

The women's volleyball squad reached the AAC Tournament championship match and qualified for the national championship for the third-consecutive season. The Buffs fell to Missouri Baptist in the NAIA Opening Round.

In terms of winter sports, the Buffs added 138.00 points from eighth and 10th-place showings by the men's and women's indoor track and field teams at NAIAs in early March. At the 2020-21 championship, Tim Thacker (mile) and Nathan Baker (3k) took home individual national titles.

In total, Milligan's track and field teams brought home 15 All-American awards from the indoor national championships.

Despite a large contingent qualifying for the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships, the event was cancelled due to COVID. Therefore, no points will be awarded for swimming and diving in the 2020-21 Learfield IMG Director's Cup standings. The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America tabbed 11 Milligan swimmers as All-Americans earlier this week.

Milligan finished No. 31 in the Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup standings in 2019.