Mid-American Conference

MAC ANNOUNCES TOP INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS FOR 2015-16 ACADEMIC YEAR
Akron wins the Reese Trophy as the top men’s athletic program
 
Cleveland, Ohio – The top Mid-American Conference (MAC) institutional awards and final standings for the Reese Trophy and Jacoby Trophy were announced by the Conference office today.  Akron was honored with the Reese Trophy in men’s competition, while Kent State was honored with the Jacoby Trophy in women’s competition.
 
Akron won the Reese Trophy as the top men’s athletic program from the MAC for the second time (2014) in program history.  Akron programs won MAC Tournament Championships in men’s soccer, along with both indoor and outdoor track and field, and won the program’s first ever bowl game.
 
During the 2015-16 academic year, Akron competed in seven men’s sports and the men’s basketball program won the MAC East Title and entered the MAC Basketball Tournament as the top seed before falling to Buffalo in the MAC Tournament Championship game.  The Zips received an invitation to the NIT Postseason Tournament before falling to Ohio State in the opening round.
 
Akron men’s soccer reached another College Cup, the Final Four of NCAA Division I soccer, before falling to Stanford. The Zips defeated Buffalo for the programs 12th MAC Championship title and the programs 30th NCAA appearance, where Akron defeated Rutgers, SMU and Creighton to reach the College Cup.
 
Zips football finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and received an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, its second bowl appearance in program history. Akron defeated Utah State, 23-21, for the programs first ever bowl victory and an 8-5 overall record.
 
Akron also won its sixth Men’s Outdoor Track and Field title and fifth overall Indoor Track and Field title, while finishing second in the MAC Men’s Cross Country Championship and fifth in the MAC Men’s Golf Championship.
 
For the Reese and Jacoby Trophies, points are awarded based on each school’s finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school.
 
The men’s trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese.  Reese was the first-ever MAC Commissioner and served the conference from its inception in 1946 until 1964.
 
The women’s trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby.  Jacoby was the MAC Commissioner from 1971-82 and is credited with incorporating women’s athletics into the conference structure.

2015-16 Reese (Men’s) Standings
School; Sports; Points; Avg.
Akron; 7; 75.0 points; 10.714 
Western Michigan; 5; 42.0 points; 8.4
Kent State; 8; 67.0 points; 8.375
Eastern Michigan; 9; 73.5 points; 8.167
Central Michigan; 7; 51.5 points; 7.357
Ball State; 6; 40.5 points; 6.75
Ohio; 6; 38.5 points; 6.4167
Northern Illinois; 7; 43.75 points; 6.25
Buffalo; 10; 62.0 points; 6.2
Miami; 7; 42.0 points; 6.0
Toledo; 6; 32.0 points; 5.33
Bowling Green; 6; 24.5 points; 4.083