Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, left, Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield, second from left, student athlete representatives Jhelysse Anthony and Aidan Boldt, and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Excellence and Strategic Initiatives Ashley Stone, right, represented OU at the Horizon League Awards ceremony in Indianapolis.
Athletics, Ora Pescovitz, Steve Waterfield, McCafferty Trophy, Horizon League
June 10, 2024
For the third time in the past four years, Oakland University was awarded the McCafferty Trophy by the Horizon League.
Named in honor of James J. McCafferty, who served as the conference's first commissioner from 1979-80, the McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to a member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points based on its finish in the League's 19 championship sports.
Oakland totaled 50 points overall, as the Golden Grizzlies men's teams topped the men's side with 27 points, as the women were a close second to Milwaukee's 26 with 23 total points. Both combined topped Youngstown State who placed second in the standings with 44.5 points.
Since it joined the league in 2013, the Golden Grizzlies have taken seven of a possible 10, as it led during the 2019-20 season before the Horizon League announced it will not award the 2019-20 McCafferty Trophy or the All-Sports Awards due to COVID-19 canceling the spring season. The Golden Grizzlies now rank second in Horizon League history for most McCafferty Trophies awarded and is only one behind Butler who leads with eight. Oakland won four-straight McCafferty Trophies from 2014-2018 as the second-longest streak of any member institution as Notre Dame and Oral Roberts each won seven-straight from 1988-95 and 1979-86, respectively.
For the sports of men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, softball and baseball, points are awarded based on combined regular season (60 percent) and championship (40 percent) finishes. For all other sports, points are based on performance in the league championships.
 |
| The McCafferty Trophy is coming back to OU! |
Final 2023-24 McCafferty Trophy Standings
1. Oakland – 50
2. Youngstown State – 44.5
3. Milwaukee – 37.5
4. Cleveland State – 29
5. IUPUI – 26
6. Wright State – 23
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 22
8. Northern Kentucky – 21.5
9. Green Bay – 20.5
10. RMU – 3
11. Detroit Mercy – 1.5
Men's All-Sports Totals
1. Oakland – 27
2. Youngstown State – 24.5
3. IUPUI – 14
4. Wright State – 13.5
5. Milwaukee – 11.5
6. Purdue Fort Wayne – 11
7. Cleveland State – 10
8. Northern Kentucky – 9
9. Green Bay – 7.5
10. Detroit Mercy – 1
11. RMU – 0
 |
| OU wins the overall chase for this year's McCafferty Trophy with 50 points. |
Women's All-Sports Totals
1. Milwaukee – 26
2. Oakland – 23
3. Youngstown State – 20
4. Cleveland State – 19
5. Green Bay – 13
6. Northern Kentucky – 12.5
7. IUPUI – 12
8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 11
9. Wright State – 9.5
10. RMU – 3
11. Detroit Mercy – 0.5