NEW ORLEANS – The Alabama State University athletics program has won the Commissioner’s Cup Award for the second straight year, symbolic of the best all-around sports program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The official announcement was made by the SWAC at the Annual Spring Meetings in New Orleans as once again ASU Athletics was the big winner. The Commissioner’s Cup victory was highlighted by the Lady Hornets winning the women’s all-sports trophy for the third straight year, with the men finishing second. Overall, Alabama State posted seven first-place finishes this season.
“Congratulations to our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff on repeating as Commissioner’s Cup Champions,” Alabama State Interim Athletic Director Melvin Hines said. “To win back-to-back championships in any sport, it takes great effort and commitment throughout the year. Highlighted by six repeat conference champions, our programs again posted successful seasons to win the second straight Commissioner’s Cup and third straight women’s all-sports title. We could not be prouder of this accomplishment.”
For the fourth straight year, the women’s track program won the “Triple Crown,” earning SWAC championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. It was the fourth straight league title in cross country, the seventh consecutive title in indoor track, and the sixth consecutive outdoor track championship.
For the third straight year, both the women’s and men’s golf programs won SWAC Championships this spring, earning NCAA Tournament appearances. The women’s team earned its third straight SWAC title and fourth in five years, while the men’s team won its fourth consecutive league title.
Alabama State volleyball repeated as both Eastern Division and SWAC Champions, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
Men’s tennis won its first ever SWAC title this spring, earning an inaugural trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Women’s basketball won the SWAC Tournament title this season, one of 11 divisional, league, tournament or national titles won by Alabama State teams this season. ASU men’s golf won the PGA Minority Collegiate National Championship for the first time in school history. Hornets’ baseball joined the volleyball program in winning its second consecutive Eastern Division title, while ASU softball finished second.
The success of the athletics department occurred not only in competition but in the classroom as well. More than 180 Alabama State student-athletes had cumulative or semester 3.0 GPAs in the fall of 2014, with more than 50 student-athletes graduating in the past academic year.
The commissioner’s cup is named the James Frank Award for the former long-time SWAC Commissioner and NCAA President. The women’s award, the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Trophy, was named for two conference pioneers. Jacket was a long-time track coach at Prairie View and is in the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame. Magee is the winningest coach in Jackson State women’s basketball history.
Courtesy: Alabama State Athletics
