Feb. 16, 2012 – Concordia University Chicago's 2011 men and women's cross-country teams have been named as NCAA Division III All-Academic Teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The 2011 season marks the third consecutive year that the Cougar women have earned the award and the second consecutive time for the men.
           
The award is given to teams with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale. In addition, each team must have had at least five runners compete and finish at its respective NCAA regional championship. Concordia's 13 men earned a collective 3.31 GPA, and the 10 Cougar women earned a 3.18 team GPA.
          
Concordia's men were one of 131 national Division III teams and carried the highest team GPA of the three Northern Athletics Conference teams to win this year's award. The Cougar women were among 187 national Division III teams and one of four NAC teams honored.
           
“Our teams were extremely unified this past season, and part of that cohesiveness stems from them sharing an attitude of the importance of academics,” said Dave Risch, Concordia's cross-country head coach of 16 years. “I am very pleased that they recognize the honor of earning this award again this year, and I hope they take a lot of pride in their accomplishments.”