Greetings Bulldogs student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans,

Thanks to you, the Drake Bulldogs have made history! Earlier today, it was announced that for the first time in school history, Drake University has claimed the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy! This prestigious award is a monumental honor of achievement, a testament to the collective effort of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, and the unwavering support of our Bulldog Club members. We could not have done it without you.
 
Since the 1949-50 school year, the Missouri Valley Conference has annually tabulated results from every member institution's finish in each sport sponsored by the MVC. At Drake, 15 of our 18 sports compete in the MVC. The final standings from regular season competition (such as in soccer, basketball, softball, etc.) or a conference meet (cross country, track and field, golf, etc.) have point values assigned. For example, a first-place finish is worth 12 points, while a 12^th place finish is worth one point. Cumulative point totals of each school are then divided by the number of sports offered by that institution to produce an average score. The average score of each MVC institution determines the final All-Sports Standings.
 
Claiming the All-Sports Trophy is a tremendous feather in the cap of the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters of Drake Athletics. From a historical standpoint, this is an incredibly rare accomplishment. We are the first private institution to claim the MVC All-Sports Trophy in 63 years! Since 1976, only four MVC institutions have even won the award. It was essentially passed around between Illinois State, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and Wichita State. The only other private school who has won the MVC All-Sports Trophy is the University of Tulsa.
 
Drake's previous best finish was second place in 1971. For much of the 2000s, Drake finished in the bottom half in the MVC All-Sports Standings. Seven years ago, we were ninth; three years ago, we finished fifth; last year's third-place finish was Drake's best since 1995.
 
Even more remarkable, Drake won the All-Sports Trophy without factoring in football's Pioneer Football League championship, the runner-up finish in the Summit League by men's tennis, nor rowing's effort in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. To me, that makes 2023-24 even more historic as our winning margin would have been even greater this year with those programs added to our total!
 
Lastly, we can take pride in accomplishing more with less, relative to the comparison of resources between Drake Athletics and our MVC peers. Our overall operating budget is in the bottom half of the Missouri Valley Conference, meaning many schools who spend more on their athletics department are looking up at us in this year's All-Sports Standings. We maximize the resources afforded to us and are good stewards of the funds you entrust to us.
 
The reason we have been successful of late is quite simple: People, Culture, and Resources. We have first-class individuals representing Drake Athletics and the alignment of our campus leaders and athletics department personnel has never been stronger. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have helped establish and maintain a championship culture that is focused on sustained excellence in the classroom, competition, and community. The resources provided through the Bulldog Club have given us the tools our head coaches and staff need to provide worthwhile opportunities and memorable experiences for our student-athletes.
 
It has taken all of us to get to this point and, with the constant changes impacting collegiate athletics, more effort and resources will be required to maintain our perch atop the Missouri Valley Conference. I know we can do it. We will continue striving to make you proud to be associated with Drake Athletics and our best days are still ahead.
 
For now, let's savor the feeling of being the top athletics department in the Missouri Valley Conference and celebrate the best year in Drake Athletics history. It took ALL of us to get here and so we ALL should enjoy this moment.
 
Go Bulldogs!
 
- Brian Hardin