The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Wins MAC's Reese Trophy as League's Top Men's Athletic Program
June 01 | General, Compliance
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CLEVELAND, Ohio – On the heels of one of the most successful athletic campaigns in program history, the University of Akron was named the recipient of the 2015-16 Reese Trophy as the Mid-American Conference's top men's athletic program at the league's Athletic Honors Dinner on Wednesday, June 1.
During the 2015-16 academic year, the Zips competed in seven men's sports and captured the award for the second time (2014) in program history on the strength of winning conference titles in men's basketball, soccer, along with both indoor and outdoor track and field, and garnering the program's first-ever bowl game victory in football.
"On behalf of our entire University and local community, I am so pleased to join in recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of Akron's student-athletes and coaches," University of Akron Director of Athletics Larry Williams commented. "At Akron, our primary focus is the development of success-driven student-athletes; the collective achievement of our men's programs in the highly competitive Mid-American Conference as recognized by the Reese Trophy affirms the great effort in pursuit of this objective."
The Zips' football team crafted an impressive campaign on the gridiron in 2015 as Akron won its last four regular season games en route to receiving an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, its second bowl appearance in program history. The Zips captured their first-ever bowl victory with a 23-21 triumph past Utah State to complete an 8-5 campaign.
The men's basketball program won the MAC regular season title en route to equaling a school record with a 26-9 overall ledger. The Zips advanced to the postseason for the 12th time in program history earning a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the sixth time, where Akron battled Ohio State.
Akron men's soccer culminated an 18-3-3 campaign in 2015 earning the program's fourth appearance in the College Cup. The Zips fought eventual national champion Stanford to a 0-0 double-overtime draw in the national semifinals, before Akron was edged in 10 rounds of penalty kicks, 8-7.
The Zips defeated Buffalo for the programs' 12th MAC Championship title and Akron's 30th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Zips earned victories over Rutgers, SMU and Creighton to reach the College Cup.
Akron continued its excellence on the track as the Zips won their fifth MAC Indoor Track and Field Championship before capping their campaign winning the sixth MAC Outdoor Track and Field title in program history.
For the Reese and Jacoby All-Sports Trophies, points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school.
The men's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese. Reese was the first-ever MAC Commissioner and served the conference from its inception in 1946 until 1964.
2015-16 Reese (Men's) Standings
School (Sports/Points/Avg.)
1) Akron (7/75.0/10.714)
2) Western Michigan (5/42.0/8.4)
3) Kent State (8/67.0/8.375)
4) Eastern Michigan (9/73.5/8.167)
5) Central Michigan (7/51.5/7.357)
6) Ball State (6/40.5/6.75)
7) Ohio (6/38.5/6.4167)
8) Northern Illinois (7/43.75/6.25)
9) Buffalo (10/62.0/6.2)
10) Miami (7/42.0/6.0)
11) Toledo (6/32.0/5.33)
12) Bowling Green (6/24.5/4.083)
