June 25, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--The Pac-10 lived up to its well deserved billing of "Conference of Champions" by capturing 11 NCAA titles during the 2008-09 academic year.  It marked the sixth time the Conference has totaled double digits in NCAA titles, a feat no other conference has ever achieved.  The Pac-10 total of 11 NCAA titles far outstripped any other conference.  The ACC and Big Ten were next with five championships, followed by the Big 12 and SEC with four each.  It marks the ninth time in the last 10 years that the Pac-10 has topped all conferences in NCAA championships won.  In addition to the 11 championships, Pac-10 teams posted NCAA runner-up finishes nine times.    

The Pac-10 men’s and women’s programs shared the wealth in 2008-09 as the Conference claimed six NCAA women’s titles and five men’s crowns.  The depth of the Conference was shown by the fact seven different league schools claimed NCAA titles.  Only eight institutions claimed multiple NCAA titles this year, with four of them Pac-10 schools.  Oregon, Stanford, USC and Washington each won two NCAA championships to join Texas A&M, Maryland, North Carolina and Penn State as multiple title winners this academic year.

Oregon won titles in men’s cross country and men’s indoor track & field, Stanford claimed men’s gymnastics and women’s rowing, USC took men’s tennis and men’s water polo and Washington won women’s cross country and softball.  Other NCAA crowns came from Arizona State in women’s golf, California in women’s swimming and UCLA in women’s water polo.    

In addition, Stanford has clinched its unprecedented 15th consecutive Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, an award presented annually to the top intercollegiate athletic program in the country.