UofL athletics’ reputation for excellence, both on the field of play and in the classroom, was recently recognized with four Cardinal athletics teams taking home the prestigious NCAA Public Recognition Award. This award is bestowed annually on Division I teams with an Academic Progress Rate ranked in the top 10 percent in their respective sports.
Men’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, and both men’s and women’s golf programs were singled out for their academic excellence during the 2014-15 academic year and all four programs have posted a perfect 1000 score for the most recent four-year period 2011-15.
In a July 13 letter to university administrators, NCAA officials wrote, “The academic success of your team demonstrates your commitment to developing student-athletes and promoting the overall student-athlete experience. Your team has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and on the playing field, which sets a great example for all students.”
Cardinal athletics teams posted a collective 3.125 GPA during the 2014-15 academic year, with 20 of 23 teams achieving a 3.0 or better for the 2015 spring semester and 276 student-athletes earning a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
“As much as we emphasize winning on the basketball court, we believe that winning in the classroom is equally important,” said UofL Head Coach Rick Pitino. “Our players and academic staff have been totally committed to getting the most out of their academic abilities and we’re really proud of their efforts.”
