New Orleans, Louisiana - Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) defended its title as champion of the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup, presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), United States Sports Academy and USA TODAY to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.

The 2005-06 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup winners were announced at the NACDA Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the four winning institutions -- one in each of the NCAA Divisions (I, II, and III), and the NAIA -- were awarded with their U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cups.

Azusa Pacific repeated as U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup champions with 836 points, 82 points ahead of runner-up Lindenwood University (Mo.). The Cougars were runners-up in men's soccer and tennis and women's outdoor track and field. Additionally, Azusa Pacific posted seven other top 10 finishes: women's tennis (3^rd), men's outdoor track and field (3^rd), women's soccer (5^th), men's cross country (5^th), men's Division I basketball (5^th), women's volleyball (9^th), women's Division I basketball (5^th) and football (9^th). The Cougars also placed 18^th in women's cross country. Azusa Pacific scored in the maximum of six women's and six men's sports and averaged 70 points per sport.

Developed as a joint effort between USA TODAY and NACDA, the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup program is the only all-sports competition that recognizes the institution in each of the four categories with the best overall athletics program.

Completing the year in second place was two-time champion Lindenwood University with 754 points. They won the national title in men's indoor track and field and placed second in men's swimming and wrestling, third in men's cross country and Division II basketball, fourth in women's swimming and indoor track and field, fifth in men's soccer, 15^th in women's cross country, 18^th in men's golf, 21^st in women's soccer, 24^th in women's golf and 30^th in baseball and women's volleyball. However, Lindenwood does not receive points for men's swimming or wrestling as the Lions have already scored in the Directors' Cup maximum of six men's sports.

Rounding out the top five were Lindsey Wilson University (Ky.), in third place with 614 points; Oklahoma Baptist University, fourth with 612.5 points; and Simon Fraser University (B.C.), fifth with 611 points.