The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Four UAB Programs Earn American Conference Academic Excellence Awards
7/16/2026 1:00:00β―PM | General
BIRMINGHAM β Four UAB athletic programs were recognized by the American Conference for posting the highest team grade-point average in their respective sports during the 2025-26 academic year.
The Blazers' four Team Academic Excellence Awards ranked second among all conference institutions and recognized the academic success of men's basketball (3.34 GPA), men's soccer (3.58 GPA), men's tennis (3.80 GPA) and women's tennis (3.90 GPA).
Leading the way for UAB was the women's tennis program, whose 3.90 cumulative team GPA was the second-highest among all conference teams during the 2025-26 academic year, trailing only North Texas women's golf (3.94).
"The success our student-athletes achieve in the classroom is every bit as important as what they accomplish in competition," Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "To have four programs recognized with Team Academic Excellence Awards speaks volumes about the culture our coaches have established and the dedication our student-athletes bring every day. This recognition is also a testament to the tremendous work of our academic support staff, who continue to help our student-athletes excel both in the classroom and in competition."
The American Conference Team Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to the institution in each conference-sponsored sport that records the highest cumulative team grade-point average during the academic year. The award is based on the grade-point average of each student-athlete who appeared on the institution's roster at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year.
2025-26 American Conference Team Academic Excellence Award Winners
| Sport | Institution | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | East Carolina | 3.72 |
| Football | Memphis | 3.546 |
| Men's Basketball | UAB | 3.34 |
| Men's Cross Country | Rice | 3.72 |
| Men's Golf | East Carolina | 3.84 |
| Men's Indoor Track & Field | Rice | 3.60 |
| Men's Outdoor Track & Field | Rice | 3.59 |
| Men's Soccer | UAB | 3.58 |
| Men's Tennis | UAB | 3.80 |
| Softball | Wichita State | 3.76 |
| Women's Basketball | Rice | 3.63 |
| Women's Cross Country | Rice | 3.78 |
| Women's Golf | North Texas | 3.94 |
| Women's Indoor Track & Field | Rice | 3.72 |
| Women's Outdoor Track & Field | Rice | 3.72 |
| Women's Lacrosse | Temple | 3.77 |
| Women's Soccer | Memphis | 3.828 |
| Women's Swimming & Diving | Rice | 3.83 |
| Women's Tennis | UAB | 3.90 |
| Women's Volleyball | Tulsa | 3.742 |
Team Academic Excellence Awards by Institution
| Institution | Awards |
|---|---|
| Rice | 7 |
| UAB | 4 |
| East Carolina | 2 |
| Memphis | 2 |
| North Texas | 1 |
| Temple | 1 |
| Tulsa | 1 |
| Wichita State | 1 |
