IRVINE, CA --- Concordia's strong showing in a quartet of spring sports locked in a second-place finish in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, marking the best overall performance in program history, it was announced late last week.

Thanks to standout performances from softball, men's and women's tennis and men's indoor track and field, the Eagles ended the year with a total of 774 points, edging third-place Lindenwood (Mo.), which tallied 767.50 points throughout the campaign.

One of five representatives from the Golden State Athletic Conference in the Top-10, including first-place Azusa Pacific, Concordia finished in the Top-10 for the fourth consecutive year, including three Top-5 showings in a row.

"A big deal of the credit must go to our coaches for their tireless commitment to excellence," Executive Vice-President Gary McDaniel said. "I would also like to personally thank them for their commitment to recruiting men and women of character who can get the job done on the field, the floor and in the classroom."

"Excellent programs must have excellent leadership, and Tim Preuss has been that faithful servant in Athletics."

While posting an overall grade-point average of 3.14 and boasting a total of 29 NAIA Scholar-Athletes in 2008-09, Concordia student-athletes combined for 12 appearances at NAIA National Championships, including a runner-up finish by Eagles Volleyball.

A semifinals berth by women's tennis, combined with a quarterfinal appearance by men's tennis highlighted four trips to the nationals in the spring. Softball's first nationals bid since 2006, along with a 20th place finish by men's indoor track and field helped secure Concordia's hold on second-place.

"This is truly something to be proud of," Director of Athletics Tim Preuss said. "It could not have happened without tremendous support and encouragement from every office on campus. This is a very visible manifestation of faithfulness and excellence at Concordia University."

Preuss, who is to be succeeded by David Bireline as Director of Athletics this summer, oversaw Concordia's first-ever appearance in the Directors' Cup Top-10, when Eagles Athletics finished in sixth place in 2005-06. Concordia then landed at third-place in 2006-07 before finishing at fifth at the close of last year.

Concordia Athletics was also recognized for its online home (cuieagles.com) by the NAIA-SIDA, finishing second out of 56 entrees in the Web site Contest. Designed by Concordia Webmaster Mike Moore, the site was launched Sept., 2008 and is powered by SIDHelp.

Click here to view the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup results.

Click here to view the list of NAIA-SIDA Publication Awards.