The NCAA released its 2017‑18 Academic Progress Rate (APR) figures and five of Washington State University’s intercollegiate athletic programs posted perfect single‑year APR scores, it was announced Wednesday.
“Our student‑athletes continue to make great strides academically and it’s a credit to their efforts, along with the support of their coaches and the entire staff,” said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun.
The APR is an annual assessment of each team’s academic and retention history. The overall APR score is based on the most recent four years of data (2014‑15, 2015‑16, 2016‑17 and 2017‑18). Every year thereafter, the most current year’s data will be added and the oldest year of data will be removed, creating a four‑year rolling rate.
For the 2017‑18 academic year, women’s cross country, golf, tennis and volleyball, along with men’s golf earned perfect single‑year APR scores of 1,000. Last week, men’s and women’s golf were recognized by the NCAA for being among the top 10 percent among all programs nationally for posting four‑year APR scores of 1,000.
The WSU football team recorded a four‑year average score of 960. Under head coach Mike Leach, the Cougars have set or tied the highest APR scores in program history in six of his seven years.
Following women’s golf, the next highest multi‑year APR score at WSU was earned by the women’s volleyball team, which posted a four‑year score of 989. Other women’s programs include rowing (986), soccer (986), track and field (986), tennis (984), swimming (981), basketball (978) and cross country (971).
In addition to football and golf on the men’s side, baseball led the way with an average four‑year score of 972, followed by basketball (970), cross country (968) and track and field (964).
