LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA has been announced as the winner of the inaugural CCAA Presidents' Cup for the 2023-24 academic year, the conference announced on Wednesday.
 
The award was created to honor the CCAA institution that had the most success on the national level. This includes qualifying for NCAA tournaments, winning NCAA tournament contests, NCAA regional championships, and victories at NCAA Championships. The results are based on the 2023-24 Division II LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings.
 
"Our Cal State LA Golden Eagle nation takes tremendous pride in the excellence of our student-athletes in competition and in academics," lauded Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. "Our students' drive towards constant achievement and improvement is sustained by outstanding coaching and support in the Athletics Department. There is a community cheering every step taken on the field, floor, track, court, or course."
 
Cal State LA claimed the title after collecting 444.5 points to finish 27th in NCAA Division II, its best finish since 2006-07 and the second-best since the Directors' Cup standings began for Division II in 1995-96. The Golden Eagles had a program-record nine teams compete in NCAA postseason competition and finished first among CCAA programs in the national Directors' Cup standings for the first time ever.

Cal State LA collected 100 points in volleyball as the Golden Eagles claimed the 2023 NCAA Championship. The men's soccer team earned 73 points, placing fifth nationally, after a strong run to the Super Region 4 championship match, the national quarterfinals. Seven more Golden Eagle teams or individuals competed in NCAA postseason competition in women's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's indoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field and women's golf to help secure the CCAA's first Presidents' Cup.
 
"On behalf of our Board of Presidents, I would like to congratulate Cal State LA on winning the inaugural CCAA Presidents' Cup," said CCAA commissioner Allen Hardison said. "This award represents winning on a national level, and Cal State LA did just that in 2023-24. Making five NCAA tournament team sport appearances, having a national champion in the indoor triple jump, and winning an NCAA title in women's volleyball in the same academic year is beyond remarkable."
 
The Golden Eagles were one of five CCAA member institutions to finish in the top 100 of the Division II LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings. Chico State (No. 56), Cal Poly Pomona (58), Cal State San Marcos (68), and Cal State Monterey Bay (96) all had multiple teams earn NCAA playoff berths and experience postseason success.
 
"Early in the year, our Board of Presidents and Executive Council spoke a lot about how we can continue to be one of the power conferences in NCAA Division II," Hardison said. "The consensus was in order to do that, we need to promote and incentivize winning on a national level. This trophy represents the collective drive of the CCAA and how we want to encourage our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators to be the best in the nation. Cal State LA did an unbelievable job representing the conference on a national level this past year, and I look forward to watching our institutions battle it out annually for this prestigious Cup."

Dr. Thomas A. Parham of Cal State Dominguez Hills, chair of the CCAA Board of Presidents, will present the first CCAA Presidents' Cup to President Eanes and Executive Director for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross at the CCAA's October meeting.
 
"We are truly honored and proud to have won the inaugural President's Cup in the face of intense competition within our conference," Gross said. "This success is first and foremost for our students who have found their place as impactful leaders both on and off the field with achievements in academics and athletics. Also, this is a celebration of the spirit of our entire community – students, alumni, faculty, staff, and our LA neighbors – with the encouragement and unwavering support of our president."
 
This year has been historic for Cal State LA. Fittingly, the CCAA Presidents' Cup recognition was received on the same day that the Golden Eagle national championship volleyball team was welcomed to the White House by Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizing the national excellence being pursued across all sports.
 
"This level of excellence only happens through extraordinary work ethic, resilience, exemplary teaching, and strong departmental support across all teams," Gross said. "As we look ahead, we remain committed to sustaining this success and establishing ourselves as one of the premier athletic programs in the country year after year."
 
2023-24 CCAA Presidents' Cup Standings
1. Cal State LA
2. Chico State
3. Cal Poly Pomona
4. Cal State San Marcos
5. Cal State Monterey Bay
6. Cal State San Bernardino
7. Cal State East Bay
8. Cal State Dominguez Hills
9. San Francisco State
10. Cal Poly Humboldt
11. Sonoma State
12. Stanislaus State