CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Stroudsburg University achieved its best finish in the history of the Learfield Directors' Cup this year, earning 527.00 points to tie for 20^th place in the final standings update provided by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
 
After three teams made NCAA Tournaments and both track & field teams had multiple All-American finishes, East Stroudsburg added 229.50 points from its spring teams. ESU has been on a steady climb over the last four years, finishing 88th in 2022-23, 62^nd in 2023-24, and 31^st last year. Their improvements from the beginning of the year through the final standings have also shown progress, as the Warriors were 31^st with 145.00 points after the fall season and added 152.50 points to move up to 25^th after the winter sports wrapped up. Tied with Gannon for the best finish in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Golden Knights also scored 527.00 points, scoring 61.00 to close the year. The three other PSAC institutions to finish inside the top-50 were West Chester (33^rd, 475.00 points), Indiana (Pa.) (44^th, 401.00 points), and Kutztown (48^th, 374.00 points).
 
East Stroudsburg earned 83.00 points for its women's lacrosse third-place finish, 50.00 points each for baseball and softball for making the NCAA Regionals, and a combined 46.50 points from men's and women's track & field five All-American finishes. The ESU women's lacrosse team made it to the NCAA semifinals, tying its best record ever by going 20-2 and setting new program highs in goals, assists, and longest winning streak. Softball finished as the PSAC runners-up in the conference tournament, earning the second seed in the Atlantic Region. They went 2-2 in pod play before falling in the regional final. The ESU baseball team entered the postseason as the fourth seed in the Atlantic Region after finishing the regular season with a share of the PSAC East title. Making their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, they fell to the eventual national runners-up, West Chester. The Warriors had four athletes put up All-American performances in Emporia, Kan., in the NCAA Championships for outdoor track & field, as Anthony Voto, Luke Stevenosky, Porschia Bennett, and Shannon Harnett all scored for ESU. Voto was a two-time All-American at the meet, earning First Team in the hammer throw and Second Team in the shot put.
 
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. The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in the NCAA Championships.