MAAC Announces 2019-20 Pepsi Zero Commissioner’s Cup Winners
MAAC Announces 2019-20 Pepsi Zero Commissioner’s Cup Winners
Edison, N.J. (June 10, 2020) – Rider University, Iona College, and Fairfield University have won the 2019-20 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Pepsi Zero Commissioner’s Cups, the league announced today. Rider claimed the Overall Commissioner’s Cup, while Iona captured the men’s title and Fairfield the women’s title.
“Honoring successful student-athletes, coaches and their schools is one of the great joys of serving as commissioner of a conference,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “The COVID-19 pandemic certainly disrupted the normal course of business in the MAAC and truncated the full array of championships. However, it’s important to recognize those programs which competed and were successful during the academic year. Congratulations to all the competitors and much success in future years as intercollegiate athletics regroups and prepares for the coming fall season.”
The MAAC Pepsi Zero Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually as a symbol of overall excellence in athletics in the 24 championships conducted within the MAAC. Only the scores from Men’s & Women’s Basketball, plus the top six men’s and top six women’s scores are usually used to determine an institution’s total points. Due to the cancellation of spring sports from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-20 Commissioner’s Cup points were calculated based on the best scores in two championships plus regular season basketball on the men’s side, and the best scores in four championships plus regular season basketball on the women’s side.
Rider’s Overall Commissioner’s Cup title marks the first in school history. The Broncs claimed two MAAC Championships this past year, taking the title home in Men’s Swimming and Diving and Women’s Indoor Track and Field. The Women’s Basketball team shared the regular season title with Marist College and entered the 2020 Hercules Tires Women’s Basketball Championship as the league’s top seed.
“While this is not the way we wanted to, or anticipated, winning our first ever overall MAAC Commissioner's Cup, it is a great way to acknowledge that our comprehensive competitive success this past year rivals any we have had in Rider Athletics' long history,” said Rider Athletic Director Don Harnum. “I speak for the entire Rider community in recognizing and appreciating the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes and coaches. It is also important to recognize that our two programs that do not compete in the MAAC, Field Hockey and Wrestling, also experienced great success.”
The Men’s Commissioner’s Cup for Iona marks the school’s first since the 2010-11 season, where the Gaels also claimed a share of the overall cup with Marist. The Iona men experienced a strong fall season, claiming both the Men’s Cross Country and Men’s Soccer MAAC Championships. The Men’s Basketball team finished in a tie for sixth place during the regular season.
"We are incredibly proud of not just the success of our men's programs, but also all of our programs for their efforts and perseverance this season," said Iona College Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski. "The cancellation of spring sports due to the pandemic was unprecedented, and everyone at Iona is proud of the way our student-athletes have united over the past few months. Together we have all been able to 'Fight The Good Fight' and make Gael Nation stronger for it."
Fairfield returned to the top of the women’s standings for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The Stags finished as runners-up in the Women’s Soccer Championship before claiming the Volleyball and Women’s Swimming and Diving titles. The Women’s Basketball team finished in a tie for third place in the regular season, entering the 2020 Hercules Tires Women’s Basketball Championship as the No. 3 seed.
“Congratulations to all of our women’s programs that contributed to winning the MAAC Commissioner’s Cup for women’s sports,” said Paul Schlickmann, Director of Athletics at Fairfield. “Awards such as this are reflective of a strong, positive, and hardworking community, and I hope that all of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff who are a part of our championship culture can take pride in this honor.”
For the full 2019-20 Commissioner’s Cup standings and Commissioner’s Cup history, see below.
2019-20 Final MAAC Pepsi Zero Commissioner’s Cup Standings
| Overall Standings |
Men's Standings |
Women's Standings |
| Click here for Full Standings |
Click here for Full Standings |
Click here for Full Standings |
| 1 |
Rider |
72 |
1 |
Iona |
33.5 |
1 |
Fairfield |
56 |
| 2 |
Iona |
71.5 |
2 |
Saint Peter's |
31 |
2 |
Marist |
49 |
| 3 |
Fairfield |
70 |
T3. |
Rider |
25.5 |
3 |
Rider |
46.5 |
| 4 |
Marist |
69.5 |
T3. |
Monmouth |
25.5 |
4 |
Quinnipiac |
44 |
| 5 |
Quinnipiac |
68.5 |
5 |
Quinnipiac |
24.5 |
5 |
Monmouth |
41 |
| 6 |
Monmouth |
66.5 |
6 |
Siena |
24 |
6 |
Iona |
38 |
| 7 |
Siena |
48 |
7 |
Manhattan |
21 |
7 |
Niagara |
29 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
45.5 |
8 |
Marist |
20.5 |
8 |
Manhattan |
24.5 |
| 9 |
Saint Peter's |
42 |
9 |
Fairfield |
14 |
9 |
Siena |
24 |
| 10 |
Niagara |
40 |
T10. |
Canisius |
11 |
10 |
Canisius |
23.5 |
| 11 |
Canisius |
34.5 |
T10. |
Niagara |
11 |
11 |
Saint Peter's |
11 |
MAAC Commissioner’s Cup Year-by-Year Champions
| Year |
Overall Champion |
Men’s Champion |
Women’s Champion |
| 2019-20 |
Rider |
Iona |
Fairfield |
| 2018-19 |
Monmouth |
Quinnipiac |
Monmouth |
| 2017-18 |
Monmouth |
Canisius |
Monmouth |
| 2016-17 |
Monmouth |
Monmouth |
Quinnipiac |
| 2015-16 |
Monmouth |
Monmouth |
Marist |
| 2014-15 |
Monmouth |
Monmouth |
Fairfield |
| 2013-14 |
Marist |
Monmouth |
Marist |
| 2012-13 |
Marist |
Marist |
Marist |
| 2011-12 |
Fairfield |
Fairfield |
Marist |
| 2010-11 |
Iona and Marist |
Iona |
Marist |
| 2009-10 |
Marist |
Loyola |
Marist |
| 2008-09 |
Fairfield |
Loyola |
Fairfield |
| 2007-08 |
Marist |
Loyola |
Marist |
| 2006-07 |
Marist |
Marist |
Marist |
| 2005-06 |
Marist |
Marist |
Marist |
| 2004-05 |
Marist |
Marist |
Marist |
| 2003-04 |
Manhattan |
Manhattan |
Loyola |
| 2002-03 |
Manhattan |
Marist |
Manhattan |
| 2001-02 |
Marist |
Marist |
Fairfield |
| 2000-01 |
Marist |
Marist |
Marist |
| 1999-00 |
Marist |
Iona |
Fairfield |
| 1998-99 |
Marist |
Marist |
Fairfield |
| 1997-98 |
Fairfield |
Rider |
Fairfield |
| 1996-97 |
Loyola |
Fairfield |
Loyola |
| 1995-96 |
Loyola |
Iona |
Loyola |
| 1994-95 |
Fairfield |
Fairfield |
Fairfield |
| 1993-94 |
Loyola |
Saint Peter’s |
Fairfield |
| 1992-93 |
Loyola |
Iona |
Loyola |
| 1991-92 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
La Salle |
| 1990-91 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
La Salle |
| 1989-90 |
Fordham |
La Salle |
Fordham |
| 1988-89 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
Holy Cross |
| 1987-88 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
Army |
| 1986-87 |
La Salle |
Army |
Holy Cross |
| 1985-86 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
Holy Cross |
| 1984-85 |
La Salle |
La Salle |
Holy Cross |
| 1983-84 |
La Salle |
N/A |
N/A |
| 1982-83 |
Fordham |
N/A |
N/A |
| 1981-82 |
Army |
N/A |
N/A |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 39
th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.