FRISCO, Texas – Lamar University has won the 2025 Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup and Men's All-Sports Trophy announced league officials Monday morning, which marks the second-straight year that LU athletics has received both trophies and the third consecutive that it has won either the Women's All-Sports Trophy, Men's All-Sports Trophy or Commissioner's Cup. It's also marks the first time in program history that LU has repeated as winners of both trophies. 
 
Prior to the 2022-23 academic year, Lamar had won just one Men's All-Sports Trophy, but in the past three years the Cardinals have brought home five of the nine awarded (two Commissioners Cups, two Men's All-Sports Trophies and a Women's All-Sports Trophy).
 
The trophy, which was created for the start of the 2002-03 academic year, tracks the overall combined success of each SLC member institution within a calendar year. A school receives 12 points for a conference regular-season title, 11 points for second place, 10 for third and so on down the standings. The Commissioner's Cup total score comes from combining the scores from the Men's and Women's All-Sports Trophies.
 
The Cardinals scored a combined 147.5 points between all men's and women's sports to bring home the trophy, outdistancing Stephen F. Austin by 4.5 points. The Cardinals' 147.5 points are the highest since former member Sam Houston State scored 157.5 in 2017-18. 
 
Lamar's men scored 73.5 points to edge out the league's other Cardinals – UIW – by one point, 73.5-72.5, and defeat SFA by 18. The LU women just missed out on recording the Triple Crown by finishing third overall with 74 points. 
 
Overall, Lamar's 2024-25 season outpaced last year's victory by 23 points, including a 14-point improvement on the men's side and a nine-point improvement by the women.
 
"This is an historic accomplishment for Lamar University, and I could not be any more proud of our student-athletes, staff and coaches," said LU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff O'Malley. "What an exciting time for Lamar University. Graduating student-athletes and celebrating their success is why we are in this business. There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes from the entire university to make this all possible. These awards are the true reflection of the dedication of our staff, the university, and the entire Golden Triangle. To have received at least one of these awards in each of the past three seasons is a tremendous honor, and I hope that all of our student-athletes realize the foundation they have built and the history they have made."
 
The Cardinals were paced by a conference title from women's cross country – their second straight – and strong finishes from football (third), men's (second) and women's basketball (second), baseball (third), men's golf (fourth) and softball who had its best season under head coach Amy Hooks. Volleyball also provided a surge for Big Red during the fall semester advancing to the it's first conference tournament since 2011.
 
Even with those strong performances, the race was still close heading into the final two events of the academic year – men's and women's outdoor track and field. Similar to an anchor leg bringing the baton across the finish line, LU's track and field teams secured both trophies by taking second place on both sides – which was the best outdoor finish for the men since 1986. Of a possible 72 points in the sports of cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, Lamar scored an overwhelming 60 to secure the win.