July 6, 2009 - Pittsburg State University and Truman State University continue to rank one-two among NCAA Division II institutions at producing CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, following the completion of the 2008-09 academic year, and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association continues to lead all Division II conferences in CoSIDA Academic All-America® placement during this decade.
Pittsburg State and Truman have produced 46 and 45 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America) since January 2000 to lead all Division II institutions.
Wingate University is third (34), followed by Missouri University of Science and Technology (31) and the University of Indianapolis (30).
Pittsburg State and Truman each produced four honorees during the 2008-09 academic year to maintain both school's placement atop the Division II standings from the 2007-08 academic year.
*MIAA Paces Division II Conference Field*
On the conference level, the MIAA easily has outdistanced its closest peers, with 187 total CoSIDA Academic All-America winners this decade.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) is second with 109 honorees, while the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The 17-member PSAC edged the 11-member MIAA in CoSIDA Academic All-America honorees during the 2008-09 academic year, producing 16 honorees to the MIAA's 15 selections this past year.
Among the Division II membership, the University of Central Missouri also ranks in a tie for eighth place with 18 honorees, while Emporia State University (16) and Missouri Southern State University (16) are tied for ninth place on the list.
"Once again, the entire conference should be very proud of its continued success in producing top-level student-athletes -- both on the field and in the classroom," MIAA Commissioner Jim Johnson said. "The MIAA stands out among Division II conferences in many areas, but none speak better than the commitment to graduating highly-successful young men and women from our institutions.
"Congratulations to all of the past winners, as well as to the administrators, coaches and faculty in the conference -- they are to be commended for their continued efforts in recruiting and mentoring these student-athletes who chose to be a part of Division II and the MIAA."
On a national scope, Pittsburg State ranks in a tie for ninth among all schools nationwide in CoSIDA Academic All-America placement, while Truman ranks in a tie for 12th place on the elite list.
The University of Notre Dame leads all schools with 84 CoSIDA Academic All-America winners in the 2000s, while the University of Nebraska is second with 80 honorees and Emory University, a Division III institution in Atlanta, is third with 74 selections. The Pennsylvania State University is fourth with 63 winners, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is fifth with 58 honorees.
Pittsburg State led all Division II schools in CoSIDA Academic All-America placement in the 1990s with 39 honorees and now has produced 85 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in the past 19 years, averaging more than four honorees per year.
Of Truman’s 45 selections in the decade, 15 have been from women's swimming as CoSIDA Academic At-Large team members. Truman has had 23 first-team selections since 2000 and 38 first-team choices since 1973.
"We are extremely proud of our student-athletes that have earned this distinction here at Truman," said Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering. "This honor exemplifies the dedication our student-athletes put both in the classroom and in competition."
*Pitt State Football Program Leads Division II Ranks*
Additionally, the Pittsburg State football program has produced 15 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans during the past nine years -- tops among Division II programs and second overall in the 2000s.
The University of Dayton leads the football list with 18 honorees, three ahead of Pitt State. The University of North Dakota (15) is tied with Pitt State for second place, with Penn State (13), Carnegie Mellon (11), Nebraska (11) and St. Thomas, Minn. (11) rounding out the top five football programs.
"We're tremendously proud of our continued success in CoSIDA Academic All-America selections," said PSU athletic director and head football coach Chuck Broyles. "These honors really don't happen by chance. I believe our student-athletes, our faculty & administration, along with our coaching staff, at PSU can all take a great deal of pride in this continued accomplishment.
"This honor also speaks very highly of the quality of student-athletes across the board in the MIAA. We compete in arguably the premier Division II conference, both athletically and academically."
To be eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must first earn first-team All-District honors following a vote of CoSIDA members in each district.
To qualify for nomination to the all-district ballot, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better, have attended the school at least two terms, be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility and be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.
*Top DII CoSIDA Academic All-America®
Producing Schools of the 2000s
School Conf. Total
1. Pittsburg State......MIAA..........46
2. Truman...............MIAA..........45
* 3. Wingate..............S. Atlantic...34
4. Missouri S&T.........MIAA/GLVC.....31
5. Indianapolis.........GLIAC.........30
6. Adams State..........RMAC..........23
7. Barry................Sunshine......20
8. Abilene Christian....Lone Star.....18
* Central Missouri.....MIAA..........18
10. Emporia State........MIAA..........16
Missouri Southern....MIAA..........16*
*Top CoSIDA Academic All-America®
Producing Schools of the 2000s
School Affil. Total
* 1. Notre Dame...................DI.........84
2. Nebraska.....................DI.........80
3. Emory........................DIII.......74
4. Penn State...................DI.........63
5. Rensselaer (RPI).............DIII.......58
6. Massachusetts Inst. Tech.....DIII.......56 7. Calvin.......................DIII.......49
Gustavus Adolphus............DIII.......49
9. Alabama......................DI.........46
North Dakota State...........DI.........46
* Pittsburg State..............DII........46
*12. St. Thomas (Minn.)...........DIII.......45
* Truman.......................DII........45
*14. Tennessee....................DI.........44
15. Arkansas.....................DI.........43
Florida......................DI.........43
Nebraska Wesleyan............NAIA.......43
18. Augustana (Ill.).............DIII.......42
19. Arizona State................DI.........38
Texas........................DI.........38
*Top DII CoSIDA Academic All-America®
Producing DII Conferences of the 2000s
Conference Total
1. Mid-America Intercollegiate (MIAA).............187
* 2. Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)..109
3. Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)............93