For Release:
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
MYSTIC, Conn. -- In just three short seasons competing as members of the America East Conference, the Bryant University Bulldogs have claimed the program's first Stuart P. Haskell Commissioner's Cup trophy that is awarded annually to the most successful school in conference competition. 

Thanks to four regular-season conference championships, seven runner-up finishes at conference championships, and the school's first America East Conference men's basketball tournament championship, the Bulldogs edged UAlbany with 352 total points to 340 points for the Great Danes. Binghamton University, the two-time defending commissioner's cup champion, finished third with 308 points. The announcement and the awarding of the cup was made on Tuesday evening by America East Conference Commissioner Brad Walker during the conference's annual meetings in Mystic, Conn.

"To win the America East Conference Commissioner's Cup in only our third year as a member of the conference is such an incredible achievement," said Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Bill Smith.  "The America East is such a competitive conference in every sport and it's a true testament to the commitment, dedication and hard work that all of our student-athletes and coaches put in throughout the year from training camp through postseason.  I am so proud of our Bulldog family and the entire Bryant University community for this incredible achievement."

The Bulldogs finished eighth out of nine member institutions in the 2022-23 Commissioner Cup standings in the school's first years as members of the conference and moved up to finish third overall in 2023-24. 

"It is truly an incredible achievement by our entire athletic department to win the America East Conference Commissioner's Cup trophy, added Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. "Our student-athletes and coaches are tremendous leaders and competitors both on the fields and in the classroom with our student-athletes posting an average GPA of 3.28 and consistently remain among the nation's best in graduation success and academic performance under the direction of Bill Smith and his entire team."

Following the completion of the fall sports season, the Bulldogs were seventh with 81 points thanks to another great run from men's soccer. The Bulldogs returned to the conference championship game in November, only to come up just short in the final to the eventual NCAA national champion University of Vermont. Bryant women's soccer also qualified for the America East playoffs for the first time.

During the winter season, the Bulldogs made a big jump behind outstanding performances on the courts and track and in the pool, moving up to third overall.  Men's basketball captured the regular season title and followed by winning its first America East Conference championship defeating Maine in the final at the Chace Athletic Center. 

Women's basketball reached the conference semifinals as the third-seed of the tournament.  The Bulldogs earned points in the pool with the women's swimming & diving team placing second overall and the men coming in third.  Keying the winter move up the standings was the standout performance of the women's indoor track & field team which earned its best finish in program history by taking home second to earn 14 points.

In the spring, the Bulldogs were able to successfully capture the cup title and hold off UAlbany thanks in part to conference regular season championships by men's and women's lacrosse and baseball, plus four tournament runner-up finishes by baseball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse and softball.  Women's outdoor track & field earned an important 14 points in the cup standings thanks to a third-place finish at the conference meet in Durham, NH.

The scoring system for the Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is as follows: In sports where regular-season round robin competition is conducted, the first-place institution in the final standings receives four points times the total number of teams involved in conference play. The second-place institution receives four less points; third place receives eight less points, and so on. Additionally, the America East (tournament) champion receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place receives four less points and so on down to the last-place institution which receives two points. 

In sports where regular-season round robin competition is not conducted (cross country, track & field, swimming & diving), the first-place institution at the America East championship receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place gets four less points and so on down to the last place team which receives two points.

Bulldog Excellence

• Bryant captured its first regular season titles in men's lacrosse, men's basketball and women's lacrosse this year.
• Since the Bulldogs joined the league prior to the 2022-23 academic year they have won regular season or conference titles in men's soccer, men's basketball, baseball, women's lacrosse and men's lacrosse.
• This past year Bryant had six runner-up finishes: men's soccer, women's swimming & diving, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, baseball and softball.
• Bryant had the highest point total of any school in the winter (127) and also in the spring (134).
• This year the Bulldogs became just the third school in league history to reach the championship game in four different spring championships, joining Stony Brook (2015) and UAlbany (2007).

2024-25 Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup Final Standings
1. BRYANT                      352
2. UAlbany                      340
3. Binghamton              308
4. New Hampshire     261
5. UMBC                          257
6. Vermont                     250
7. Maine                          247
8. UMass Lowell          210
9. NJIT                               112