Middlebury College finished the '03-'04 year as the third-place team among all Division III schools in the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup (formerly Sears Cup). The standings represent excellence in NCAA play among the 430 Division III schools eligible for the award. Selected sports are chosen to receive points in the standings, based upon the number of teams play take part in that particular sports' NCAA Championship.

Unfortunately for Middlebury, not enough teams take part in the NCAA hockey tournaments, costing the Panthers 200 points in this year's standings. Williams won the cup with 1,082 points, followed by Emory (Ga.) (811), Middlebury (780), New Jersey (751) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (730). The overall standings can be found here: http://nacda.collegesports.com/directorscup/nacda-directorscup-current-scoring.html

Middlebury may have enjoyed its most successful year in school history. The Panthers began the fall with the women's cross country team winning its third NCAA Championship in the last four years. The field hockey team also had a stellar season, capturing the NESCAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA title game. March 20th, 2004 will go down as a historic day in the College's athletic history as both the men's and women's hockey teams captured NCAA Championships within a half hour of one another. The women did so here in the Kenyon Arena, while the men were victorious on the ice of arch-rival Norwich. The ski teams had a tremendous carnival season, winning five of six, including breaking 28-year winning streak by the University of Vermont at the Eastern Championships. The women's swimming and diving team was solid at the NCAA's, placing ninth overall in '04.  The men's tennis team made history with a tremendous come-from-behind victory to capture its first NCAA Championship in the spring. The lacrosse teams were solid once again, with the women winning their fifth NCAA crown with a perfect 19-0 season. Both lacrosse teams won the NESCAC title, with the men advancing to the NCAA semifinals. The men's track and field team placed 10th at the NCAA's, while the softball team set a school record with 24 wins, advancing to the NESCAC Championship game.