TicketsCINCINNATI – The NCAA today announced its annual Public Recognition Awards with a record six University of Cincinnati athletic programs being honored. Utilizing the most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate (2018-19), all six teams carried APR scores that rank among the Top 10 percent of their respective sports.
The six programs honored included Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming/Diving and Volleyball. Of those teams, Football, Women's Soccer and Women's Swimming/Diving each earned their first NCAA Public Recognition Award.
"To see a record six teams, three of which are first-time recipients, earn national recognition for their efforts in graduating their student-athletes is remarkable," Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "To be among the Top 10 percent of your respective sport, whether it is academics or athletics, is an outstanding achievement. We are extremely proud of the efforts our student-athletes, their coaches and members of SASS (Student-Athlete Support Services) poured into all of our programs. Bearcats everywhere should be proud of these tremendous academic accomplishments."
According to the NCAA, 326 schools combined to earn 1,380 public awards this year, which is up by 52 awards from last year's release. To earn a Public Recognition Award this year, a team had to score a minimum of 987 with 1,266 of the teams honored scoring a perfect 1,000. This is the 15th year the NCAA has recognized the top teams academically.
Volleyball (Molly Alvey) earned its fourth award in a row and now ranks second all-time at UC behind only women's tennis, who saw its six-consecutive award streak end this year. Men's Cross Country (Sam Burroughs) was also a repeat winner after earning its first accolade last year. Also earning its second accolade was Men's Basketball (John Brannen), who last was honored in 2009-10.
Three programs earned their first PRA from the NCAA including Women's Soccer (Neil Stafford), Women's Swimming/Diving (Mandy Commons-DiSalle) and Football (Luke Fickell). Women's Soccer's honor continues to add to its remarkable 2018-19 academic year in which the Bearcats posted a 3.79 GPA, the highest of any program in the nation. With the inclusion of these three teams, 14 UC teams have garnered recognition from the NCAA at least once since the awards began with Women's Tennis (6), Volleyball (4), Women's Cross Country (3), Men's Track & Field (3), Men's Basketball (2) and Men's Cross Country (2) each earning multiple awards while single honors have been attained by Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming/Diving, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming/Diving and Women's Golf.
On a conference level, the Bearcats earned the second-most accolades in the American with Temple just ahead with eight. UConn was next with four awards while ECU, Tulane and USF each earned two. SMU, Navy, UCF, Memphis and Wichita State each earned one. Of note:
2018-19 Awards (6)
Basketball, Men – John Brannen
Cross Country, Men – Sam Burroughs
Football – Luke Fickell
Soccer, Women – Neil Stafford
Swimming/Diving, Women – Mandy Commons-DiSalle
Volleyball – Molly Alvey
All-Time Recognitions (27)
Basketball, Men (2) - 2009-10, 2018-19
Cross Country, Men (2) – 2017-18, 2018-19
Cross Country, Women (3) - 2010-11, 2011-12, 2015-16
Football (1) – 2018-19
Golf, Men (1) – 2017-18
Golf, Women (1) - 2013-14
Soccer, Men (1) - 2014-15
Soccer, Women (1) – 2018-19
Swimming/Diving, Men (1) - 2013-14
Swimming/Diving, Women (1) – 2018-19
Tennis (6) - 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
Track & Field, Men (3) - 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16
Volleyball (4) - 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19
The six programs honored included Football, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming/Diving and Volleyball. Of those teams, Football, Women's Soccer and Women's Swimming/Diving each earned their first NCAA Public Recognition Award.
"To see a record six teams, three of which are first-time recipients, earn national recognition for their efforts in graduating their student-athletes is remarkable," Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "To be among the Top 10 percent of your respective sport, whether it is academics or athletics, is an outstanding achievement. We are extremely proud of the efforts our student-athletes, their coaches and members of SASS (Student-Athlete Support Services) poured into all of our programs. Bearcats everywhere should be proud of these tremendous academic accomplishments."
According to the NCAA, 326 schools combined to earn 1,380 public awards this year, which is up by 52 awards from last year's release. To earn a Public Recognition Award this year, a team had to score a minimum of 987 with 1,266 of the teams honored scoring a perfect 1,000. This is the 15th year the NCAA has recognized the top teams academically.
Volleyball (Molly Alvey) earned its fourth award in a row and now ranks second all-time at UC behind only women's tennis, who saw its six-consecutive award streak end this year. Men's Cross Country (Sam Burroughs) was also a repeat winner after earning its first accolade last year. Also earning its second accolade was Men's Basketball (John Brannen), who last was honored in 2009-10.
Three programs earned their first PRA from the NCAA including Women's Soccer (Neil Stafford), Women's Swimming/Diving (Mandy Commons-DiSalle) and Football (Luke Fickell). Women's Soccer's honor continues to add to its remarkable 2018-19 academic year in which the Bearcats posted a 3.79 GPA, the highest of any program in the nation. With the inclusion of these three teams, 14 UC teams have garnered recognition from the NCAA at least once since the awards began with Women's Tennis (6), Volleyball (4), Women's Cross Country (3), Men's Track & Field (3), Men's Basketball (2) and Men's Cross Country (2) each earning multiple awards while single honors have been attained by Football, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming/Diving, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming/Diving and Women's Golf.
On a conference level, the Bearcats earned the second-most accolades in the American with Temple just ahead with eight. UConn was next with four awards while ECU, Tulane and USF each earned two. SMU, Navy, UCF, Memphis and Wichita State each earned one. Of note:
- UC and Navy were the only two schools from the American that were honored and were two of just 13 football programs nationally to earn recognition
- UC and Temple were the only two AAC volleyball teams recognized
- The UC women's swimming/diving program was the only program – men and women – from the American to be recognized this year
2018-19 Awards (6)
Basketball, Men – John Brannen
Cross Country, Men – Sam Burroughs
Football – Luke Fickell
Soccer, Women – Neil Stafford
Swimming/Diving, Women – Mandy Commons-DiSalle
Volleyball – Molly Alvey
All-Time Recognitions (27)
Basketball, Men (2) - 2009-10, 2018-19
Cross Country, Men (2) – 2017-18, 2018-19
Cross Country, Women (3) - 2010-11, 2011-12, 2015-16
Football (1) – 2018-19
Golf, Men (1) – 2017-18
Golf, Women (1) - 2013-14
Soccer, Men (1) - 2014-15
Soccer, Women (1) – 2018-19
Swimming/Diving, Men (1) - 2013-14
Swimming/Diving, Women (1) – 2018-19
Tennis (6) - 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18
Track & Field, Men (3) - 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16
Volleyball (4) - 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19