West Chester University placed 185 student-athletes on the 2026 Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Honor Roll, setting a new school record.
The university's athletics department announced the milestone Wednesday, Aug. 26. The total edges past the previous record of 184, set during the 2020-21 academic year.
The D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards program, now in its 19th year, recognizes academic accomplishments of Division II student-athletes competing in NCAA championship-sponsored sports. More than 21,000 athletes from 179 institutions earned the honor nationally this year.
Football leads the way
Of WCU's 185 honorees, 119 are female student-athletes and 66 are male. Football led all Golden Rams sports with 17 names on the list. Field hockey, women's soccer, softball and women's track and field each placed 16.
WCU head football coach Duke Greco shared the announcement on X, amplifying the athletics department's post about the record. His squad's 17 honorees represent the largest single-sport contingent among the Golden Rams' programs.
"We're proud to recognize more than 21,000 deserving student-athletes from 179 institutions, reflecting the tremendous dedication within our division," said Jenn Bell, D2 ADA president and associate vice president and director of athletics at Converse University in Spartanburg, S.C.
A strong academic stretch
The record caps a productive stretch for WCU student-athletes in the classroom. On Aug. 4, the university placed 235 athletes on the separate, inaugural EAST-COMM Academic Honor Roll. The D2 ADA program is a distinct national award with a longer track record, having recognized 211,256 student-athletes across Division II since its inception.
WCU Athletics Director Terry Beattie has not commented publicly on the D2 ADA record. Beattie was elected chair of the NCAA Division II Championships Committee, effective Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The four women's programs that tied for second behind football each placed 16 athletes on the honor roll, underscoring the breadth of academic achievement across the Golden Rams' roster.
