HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Samford University's athletic teams won a total of 11 Southern Conference championships during the 2022-23 season, which is the most in school history. Because of the Bulldogs success, Samford was announced as the winner of both the Commissioner's Cup, which goes to the top all-around men's athletics program in the Southern Conference, and the Germann Cup, for the SoCon's top overall women's athletics program. The awards were released during the league's spring meeting last week.
This is the third year in a row and fifth time overall Samford has won the Germann Cup, having won the trophy in 2009-10, 2014-15, 2020-21 and 2021-22. This is the first time Samford has won the Commissioner's Cup, and the first time any school has won both awards since Appalachian State accomplished the feat in the 2012-13 athletic season.
"Winning a single championship is one of the hardest things to do in sports," Samford Director of Athletics Martin Newton said. "Winning 11 in one year is remarkable, and a testament to all the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff. As proud as I am of them for winning championships, I'm more proud of the content of their character and how they represent our university on and off the courts and fields."
The awards were decided by a point system where each spot in the standings is worth an equal share of the 10 possible points available per sport, depending on how many teams compete in that sport. Two bonus points were awarded for winning a tournament championship in sports with regular-season champions. Only the top seven sports for each school count in the year-end total. The schools' scores were then divided by 70 (the maximum point total) to find their percentages.
Samford teams won championships in women's soccer (regular season and tournament), volleyball (tournament), football, women's indoor track and field, men's indoor track and field, men's basketball (regular season), women's outdoor track and field, men's outdoor track and field and baseball (regular season and tournament).
In the Germann Cup standings, Samford finished with a percentage of .955, ahead of second place ETSU at .833. ETSU was followed by Furman (.739), Wofford (.6589), Western Carolina (.6587), Chattanooga (.643), Mercer (.626), UNC Greensboro (.476), The Citadel (.279) and VMI (.183).
On the men's side, Samford posted a percentage of .929. ETSU came in second at .812, with Furman placing third at .738. Furman was followed by Mercer (.641), Chattanooga (.611), Western Carolina (.597), UNC Greensboro (.546), The Citadel (.462), VMI (.439) and Wofford (.438).
The Commissioner's Cup was inaugurated in 1970 and the Germann Cup was first awarded in 1987. The latter is named for former SoCon Commissioner Ken Germann, who served as commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1974-86 and spearheaded the effort to introduce women's athletics to the league. For a full history of both awards, click here:
ALL-SPORTS AWARDS HISTORY.
Commissioner's Cup
(Men's athletics – final standings)
| 1. Samford |
.929 |
| 2. ETSU |
.812 |
| 3. Furman |
.738 |
| 4. Mercer |
.641 |
| 5. Chattanooga |
.611 |
| 6. Western Carolina |
.597 |
| 7. UNCG |
.546 |
| 8. The Citadel |
.462 |
| 9. VMI |
.439 |
| 10. Wofford |
.438 |
Germann Cup
(Women's athletics – final standings)
| 1. Samford |
.955 |
| 2. ETSU |
.833 |
| 3. Furman |
739 |
| 4. Wofford |
.6589 |
| 5. Western Carolina |
.6587 |
| 6. Chattanooga |
.643 |
| 7. Mercer |
.626 |
| 8. UNCG |
.476 |
| 9. The Citadel |
.279 |
| 10. VMI |
.183 |
.
