The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup presented by the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) honors institutions who maintain a broad-based program and achieve success in a wide variety of sports, both men and women. The award was introduced in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA.

Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and women.  The overall champion is the institution that records the highest number of points in their division's Directors' Cup standings.  Points are based on each team's national finish in NCAA postseason competition.  A team or individual must qualify for the NCAA postseason to accumulate points.  The overall winner receives a crystal trophy.

It has been 14 years since the Directors' Cup began and Denison has never finished worse than 45th.  The Big Red have logged four top-20 finishes with their highest finish (15th) coming in 1998-99.  Their streak of top-50 finishes is even more impressive due to the shear size of Division III.  As of 2008-09, membership in NCAA Division III stood at 449 member institutions.