ELMHURST, Ill.—South Dakota captured its first-ever Dr. Helen Smiley Women's All-Sports Award following the conclusion of the 2015-16 academic year. The Coyotes bested the Summit League on the women's side with 59.5 points.
Women's basketball and women's cross country each defended their Summit League titles to lead Coyote sports in 2015-16. The Coyote women's basketball team went on to win the Summit League's first-ever national title, in any sport, as they were crowned champions of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
The Coyotes finished runner-up in Summit League standings for women's indoor and outdoor track & field, while also tying for second in women's tennis. Women's swimming & diving placed third. Women's soccer and softball each took fourth. Women's golf and volleyball were both tied for fifth in league standings.
South Dakota also finished third in the Summit League Commissioner's Cup, which combines the women's and men's team finishes across all sports.
The men's award is named for former Valparaiso Director of Athletics Dr. Williams Steinbrecher, who guided the Crusaders from 1979-2004, while the women's award is named for former Western Illinois Director of Athletics Dr. Helen Smiley, who headed WIU's athletic program from 1994-2001.
Standings for the 2015-16 Commissioner's Cup, the Dr. William Steinbrecher Men's All-Sports and Dr. Helen Smiley Women's All-Sports Awards can be found below.
| 2015-16 FINAL STANDINGS |
| Commissioner's Cup |
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
South Dakota State |
98.5 |
| 2. |
North Dakota State |
79.5 |
| 3. |
South Dakota |
75.5 |
| 4. |
Oral Roberts |
71.5 |
| 5. |
IUPUI |
67.5 |
| 6. |
Omaha |
66.5 |
| 7. |
Denver |
62.0 |
| 8. |
Western Illinois |
42.0 |
| 9. |
Fort Wayne |
41.0 |
|
| Dr. William Steinbrecher Men's All-Sports Award |
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
South Dakota State |
40.5 |
| 2. |
Oral Roberts |
31.5 |
| 3. |
IUPUI |
30.0 |
| 4. |
North Dakota State |
28.0 |
| 5. |
Omaha |
27.5 |
| 6. |
Denver |
23.5 |
| 7. |
Fort Wayne |
23.0 |
| 8. |
Western Illinois |
18.0 |
| 9. |
South Dakota |
16.0 |
|
| Dr. Helen Smiley Women's All-Sports Award |
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
South Dakota |
59.5 |
| 2. |
South Dakota State |
58.0 |
| 3. |
North Dakota State |
51.5 |
| 4. |
Oral Roberts |
40.0 |
| 5. |
Omaha |
39.0 |
| 6. |
Denver |
38.5 |
| 7. |
IUPUI |
37.5 |
| 8. |
Western Illinois |
24.0 |
| 9. |
Fort Wayne |
18.0 |
