With the 2020-21 college athletics seasons now all completed, UNC ended the year in fourth place for the Learfield IMG Directors’ Cup.

The award gives points to schools for NCAA postseason success and allows 19 sports to be included — four of which must be baseball, volleyball and both men’s and women’s basketball.

A third consecutive national championship in field hockey highlighted UNC’s performance this past season, as the Tar Heels racked up a cumulative point total of 1126.25 — just a quarter of a point behind third-place Michigan. The fourth-place finish is the school’s best since finishing second in 2009.

Texas won the award with 1252 points, while Stanford was second at 1195.75.

In addition to the field hockey title, the Tar Heels were also aided by five teams — men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s tennis — reaching the NCAA Semifinals.

Men’s golf finished in a tie for fifth and fencing was just behind with a sixth place finish of its own.

UNC was the top finishing school among the ACC, doing so for the 19th time in the 27-year history of the award. Over those 27 years, the Tar Heels have an average finish of seventh place.

 

 

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