DePaul University Athletics
Golf Claims GCAA Academic National Championship
7/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S GOLF
July 30, 2014
NORMAN, Okla. - DePaul (Division I), Ferris State (Division II), Carnegie Mellon (Division III), SCAD Atlanta (NAIA), Dodge City (NJCAA DI) and Walters State (NJCAA DII) have been named Academic National Champions for their respective divisions it was announced on Wednesday by the Golf Coaches Association of American (GCAA).
The Blue Demons combined to post a 3.639 cumulative team GPA while three student-athletes recorded a 4.0 in at least one quarter a total of five times during the 2013-14 academic year.
"This is a phenomenal and talented group of young men that have bought into both excelling both academically and athletically," DePaul head men's golf coach Betty Kaufmann said after her team claimed the Division I GPA award for the fourth time in five years.
"There are so many good student-athletes at so many great Universities, but to win this academic award is a true team effort. Our team is comprised of outstanding men and I am so proud of their efforts," Kaufmann added of her team that finished a program-best third place at the BIG EAST Conference Championship in 2014.
Since the GCAA poll began in 2009, the Blue Demons have been crowned the Division I academic national champion in 2010, 2011, 2012 and now 2014. DePaul has earned the GCAA team academic honors each year - earning All-Academic team honors in 2009 and was awarded the President's Special Recognition award in 2013 for having a team GPA over 3.5.
Dodge City posted the highest overall team GPA for all divisions with a 3.82 while a total of 141 teams submitted GPAs of 3.00 or higher to earn All-Academic Team recognition. Dodge City is the first non-Division I program to post the highest overall team GPA.
DePaul claimed the Division I title for the fourth time and is the only BIG EAST Conference school to be recognized for having a team GPA over 3.5. Carnegie Mellon earned its second national academic championship in Division III. It was the first Team Academic title for Ferris State, SCAD Atlanta and Walters State.
Alabama State, Arizona, Brown, Duke, Embry Riddle - Arizona, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Missouri, Missouri State, Redlands, SCAD Atlanta, Tiffin, Utah State, Valparaiso, Washington & Lee and Webster also received President's Special Recognition status for having team GPAs of 3.5 or better. The 20 teams to earn this distinction matches the high also met last season.
To be eligible for GCAA All-Academic Team honors a college or university must submit the GPAs for each player on its official squad list for the academic year.
