Even though record amounts of money have been raised and spent in recent years and facilities have been improved, the collective ranking of Kansas University’s athletic teams during the past school year is likely to be the lowest among Big 12 Conference schools in the annual Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings.

As of April 21, Big 12 rankings in the national competition conducted by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics are: Oklahoma, sixth; Texas, 14th; Texas A&M, 16th; Nebraska, 22nd; Oklahoma State, 33rd; Missouri, 35th; Iowa State, 52nd; Colorado, 59th; Texas Tech, 60th; Baylor, 62nd; Kansas State, 64th; and KU, 78th. Final rankings will be compiled after the spring sports season is complete.

Stanford again ranks No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Penn State, North Carolina and Michigan.

It’s obvious KU’s new athletic director, Sheahon Zenger, faces a major challenge to elevate KU’s ranking both nationally and among Big 12 schools. Former AD Lew Perkins raised big dollars, and, in 2008, he was the only college AD on Time Magazine’s list of the world’s top sports executives. However, he didn’t do much to improve the overall ranking of KU sports programs. Those close to the KU sports scene are optimistic Zenger will bring new enthusiasm, commitment, openness, honesty and improved morale throughout the athletic department, which hopefully will improve the overall performance of both players and coaches.

It is interesting to note the top five universities in the national ADs’ poll also are top academic institutions. This shows it is possible to have a superior academic institution and, at the same time, have top athletic teams, although recent stories out of Columbus, Ohio, raise serious suspicions about what goes on at Ohio State.

KU is handicapped somewhat in the sports directors’ ranking because it doesn’t not compete in a number of the men’s and women’s sports that are used to compute the final scores.

Perkins may have raised millions — and, in so doing, alienated many — but he also had those who thought he was great. Whatever the case, the sports menu at KU was not expanded during Perkins’ tenure, and, this year, KU ends up at the bottom of the Big 12.

Zenger has made a great impression on those who have met him and to groups where he has spoken, and it is reported morale within the athletic department offices is much improved. Now, the hard work begins for Zenger to elevate and expand the university’s athletic program in every respect.