CLEVELAND, OHIO – The University of Texas at Tyler athletics department has placed 17^th in the Learfield Directors' Cup for the 2025-26 academic year.
 
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships. Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final DII standings, four of which must be women's volleyball and basketball and men's basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.
 
This is their best finish in the Division II era of the department by 17 placements (34^th in 2024-25) and is the second-best finish in department history, trailing on 2014-15 in which they finished 16^th in NCAA Division III.

"This has been an incredible year to be a Patriot," said UT Tyler Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson. "Our teams have competed at the highest level and have done so with class. I couldn't be prouder of our student-athletes and coaches for the competitive success we have enjoyed across the board, which the Learfield Directors' Cup celebrates. However, we are even more proud of the ways we competed, how we have served East Texas and our department's academic achievements. We have a group of more than 400 student-athletes who have proven to be champions of character, champions of competition, and champions in their careers. This is truly a special place with special people!"
 
The Patriots put together one of the best years in their short NCAA history this year, with 11 of their 17 program's making it to NCAA postseason play. Five of those teams finished inside the top 17 nationally in their respective sports, along with three national quarterfinalists, one national semifinalist, and an NCAA Championship in the women's indoor track & field 4x400 relay and an NCA National Championship in Intermediate Coed.
 
In total, the Patriots won two Lone Star Conference Regular Season titles, one LSC Tournament title, and eight LSC individual titles. 16 of their 17 programs finished inside the top four of their respective sport and the department posted a 137-45-7 record in LSC head-to-head competition.
 
UT Tyler student-athletes earned 44 total All-American honors over the course of the year with 24 of those being First Team selections. 59 total athletes earned All-Region accolades, 104 Patriots earned All-Lone Star Conference awards with 29 coming as First Team honors, and 20 more student athletes were selected to their respective LSC All-Tournament teams.
 
In the classroom, the Patriots added one NCAA Elite Scholar Athlete in Brock Bearden (Baseball), one CSC Academic All-American in Carel Wessel (Men's Tennis), 30 CSC Academic All-District honorees with more to be announced, and 23 LSC All-Academic Team members. Four Patriots, including Taryn Barney, Martha Laremark, Juliane Frueh, and Chris Kopecky, were selected as LSC Academic Players of the Year in their respective sports.
 
As a department, the Patriots posted a 3.56 GPA in the fall and followed that up with a 3.44 GPA in the spring amongst all student-athletes.
 
UT Tyler finished second amongst its Lone Star Conference foes in the final standings, trailing only #4 West Texas A&M and finishing 28 spots ahead of Angelo State. Additionally, the Patriots finished as the fourth highest department that does not compete in football, trailing only #6 Tampa, #13 Western Washington, and #15 Lee.