Loyola New Orleans named Champions of Character Five-Star Institution

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its Champions of Character Five-Star Institutions for the 2025-26 academic year, and Loyola University New Orleans garnered Silver status. 
 

This is the 18th consecutive year in which Loyola has been honored as a Five-Star Institution, as well as the 11th straight year earning at least Silver. 
 

The NAIA Champions of Character® program encourages athletic communities to adopt and elevate behaviors that reflect the NAIA's five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Institutions that demonstrate commitment across all five core areas are designated as Five-Star members, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels reflecting their total score. 
 

To earn Silver level status, institutions must score between 75 and 89 total points on the NAIA Champions of Character Scorecard, which is evaluated across five dimensions: Character Training, Academic Focus, Character Recognition, Character Promotion and Conduct in Competition.
 

Loyola also earned its highest-ever point total in the Learfield Directors' Cup, which is a collaboration between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NAIA Championships.
 

With several Wolf Pack athletics programs putting together successful postseason runs, Loyola finished the year 46th among NAIA institutions for the 2025-26 campaign, which is tied for the second-best finish in the standings with the 2023-24 season. Loyola's teams also combined for the school's highest-ever point total of 386.60. 
 

The Wolf Pack women's tennis team was responsible for the school's most points (65) after two wins and a quarterfinal finish at the 2026 NAIA National Championship. Loyola's women's basketball and men's tennis teams also won games at their respective national championships, with the men's tennis win coming in their first-ever national championship match. 
 

In total, 10 Wolf Pack teams qualified for the NAIA National Championship and earned points for Loyola: volleyball (25), men's swimming (45), women's swimming (28), men's basketball (25), women's basketball (50), competitive dance (28), men's tennis (45), women's tennis (65), women's golf (38), and baseball (37.5). The volleyball and baseball teams each qualified after winning their respective Southern States Athletic Conference tournament championships.
 

About Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola University New Orleans is a Jesuit, Catholic university located in the heart of New Orleans. Grounded in a tradition of academic excellence and a commitment to educating the whole person, Loyola prepares students to lead lives of purpose, service, and impact. Through a rigorous liberal arts foundation and a wide range of professional programs, Loyola equips graduates to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to a global society.
 

The Wolf Pack Athletics sponsors 22 intercollegiate programs competing in the NAIA for one final year before transitioning to the NCAA Division II in the fall of 2027. Guided by the university's Jesuit mission, Wolf Pack student-athletes strive for excellence in competition, the classroom, and service to the community while pursuing a transformative educational experience.
 

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