May 16, 2000
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The University of Notre Dame has captured the 1999-00 BIG EAST Conference Commissioner’s Trophy for men’s athletics as well as the trophy for women’s athletics. It is the fourth consecutive season that the Fighting Irish have earned both trophies and it is the fifth consecutive title for the ND men.
The Notre Dame men were paced by first-place finishes at the cross country championship and the outdoor track & field championship. The Irish also placed second in indoor track & field, swimming & diving, tennis, and baseball. The women claimed three first-place finishes in volleyball, swimming & diving, and softball. ND also finished tied for first in soccer and had second-place showings in basketball and tennis.
This marks the seventh time that the same school has garnered both the men’s and women’s trophies, though Notre Dame is only the second school to earn the distinction. Villanova won both titles in 1982-83, ’83-84, and ’86-87, but Notre Dame is the only school to win four consecutive men’s and women’s trophies.
On the men’s side, Notre Dame finished 15.5 points ahead of Connecticut. The Huskies shared the soccer title and finished second in the outdoor track & field championship. The Villanova women, who have won 13 trophies, placed second in the trophy results with titles in indoor track & field and outdoor track & field and a third-place finish at the cross country championship.
The men’s trophy was first awarded in 1979-80, the league’s inaugural year, while the women’s trophy was first awarded in ’82-83. Point totals for each sport are based upon regular season finish when the BIG EAST conducts round-robin competition (field hockey, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball) or on championship finish when there is no in-season play.
1999-00 BIG EAST Commissioner’s Trophy Final Standings
| Men | Points | Women | Points |
| Notre Dame | 87.5 | Notre Dame | 98 |
| Connecticut | 72 | Villanova | 78.5 |
| Rutgers | 68.5 | Connecticut | 73 |
| Georgetown | 60 | Georgetown | 71 |
| Seton Hall | 59 | Miami | 64 |
| West Virginia | 59 | Rutgers | 64 |
| St. John’s | 58.5 | Boston College | 60.5 |
| Miami | 46.5 | Syracuse | 56 |
| Villanova | 45 | West Virginia | 54 |
| Pittsburgh | 41.5 | Seton Hall | 49.5 |
| Syracuse | 40.5 | Pittsburgh | 45 |
| Providence | 34.5 | Providence | 37.5 |
| Boston College | 26.5 | St. John’s | 30 |
1999-00 BIG EAST CHAMPIONS BY SPORT
Men’s Champions
| Cross Country | Notre Dame |
| *Soccer | Connecticut |
| Indoor Track & Field | Georgetown |
| Swimming & Diving | Pittsburgh |
| *Basketball | Miami & Syracuse |
| Tennis | Miami |
| Golf | Seton Hall |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Notre Dame |
| *Baseball | Rutgers |
Women’s Champions
| Cross Country | Georgetown |
| *Field Hockey | Connecticut |
| *Soccer | Connecticut & Notre Dame |
| *Volleyball | Notre Dame |
| Indoor Track & Field | Villanova |
| Swimming & Diving | Notre Dame |
| *Basketball | Connecticut |
| Tennis | Miami |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Villanova |
| *Softball | Notre Dame |
Note: League champions for each sport are based upon regular season finish when the BIG EAST conducts round-robin competition (*) or on championship finish when there is no in-season competition.
PAST COMMISSIONER’S TROPHY WINNERS
| Year | Men | Women |
| 1998-99 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1997-98 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1996-97 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame |
| 1995-96 | Notre Dame | Villanova |
| 1994-95 | Georgetown | Connecticut |
| 1993-94 | Georgetown | Connecticut/Villanova (tie) |
| 1992-93 | Seton Hall | Villanova |
| 1991-92 | Georgetown | Villanova |
| 1990-91 | St. John’s | Villanova |
| 1989-90 | Georgetown | Villanova |
| 1988-89 | Georgetown | Villanova |
| 1987-88 | Georgetown | Villanova |
| 1986-87 | Villanova | Villanova |
| 1985-86 | St. John’s | Syracuse/Villanova (tie) |
| 1984-85 | St. John’s | Villanova |
| 1983-84 | Villanova | Villanova |
| 1982-83 | Villanova | Villanova |
| 1981-82 | Villanova | |
| 1980-81 | Villanova | |
| 1979-80 | St. John’s |