For the second consecutive year, the University of Dayton finished first among all the Atlantic 10 Conference schools in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup (all-sport) final standings. The Flyers were 22nd among Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs. 

Four Flyer programs won conference titles this year: volleyball won the 2015 regular season and tournament titles, while men's soccer claimed the A-10 tournament title. Men's basketball captured a share of the 2016 A-10 regular season championship and football won the Pioneer Football League championship. In addition, UD women's soccer and softball finished second in the 2015-16 A-10 regular season standings and men's golf was third at the A-10 Championship. 
 
During the fall, the UD volleyball and men's soccer teams advanced to the Second Round of NCAA Tournament. The Flyer football team captured the Pioneer Football League championship and advanced to the program's first NCAA FCS Division I Playoff game.
 
Dayton men's basketball earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, falling in the First Round to eventual Final Four participant Syracuse.

The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports in Division I - 10 men's and 10 women's.

Dayton kicks off the 2016-17 season with UD men's soccer hosting Milwaukee on Aug. 16, women's soccer playing at Cincinnati on Aug. 19, and volleyball taking on Toledo at the Wright State Holiday Inn Invitational on Aug. 26. Flyer football kicks off the season Sept. 3 against Central State at Welcome Stadium. The cross country programs also kick off the year on Sept. 3 by hosting the Rich Davis Flyer 5K Challenge.