Chico State Athletics was back in business in 2021–22, and business was once again booming for the Wildcats. Executive Director of Athletics Anita Barker was presented with the Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup Wednesday in San Marcos for leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association's highest-performing department for the sixth time in the past 10 years.
 
"This is a testament to the hard work and commitment from our coaches, staff, and most importantly, our student-athletes," said Barker following Wednesday's official trophy presentation. "We thank all the student-athletes that stuck with us during COVID and this season. They showed up for the Wildcats this year, and I am very proud of all of them."
 
The Commissioner's Cup, which is named after former commissioner Bob Hiegert, is awarded to the Conference institution with the best overall athletics performance in a given academic year. Under Barker's leadership, the Chico State Department of Athletics has now claimed the Hiegert Cup title six of the last 10 times it has been awarded, placed among the top two in the standings 12 of 14 times, and finished among the top four every time since its inception in 2005–06. 

The men's cross country team's 19th consecutive CCAA Championship helped carry Chico State into the lead, and eight second-place conference finishes—earned by women's soccer, women's cross country, men's basketball, men's golf, softball, baseball, men's track & field, and women's track & field—sewed up the title. Nine of the Wildcats' 13 programs finished either first or second in the conference standings, and 11 of 13 finished in the top half of their respective fields.

The Wildcats compiled 92.05 points, finishing just ahead of second-place Cal State San Marcos (91.79). Cal Poly Pomona finished third with 86.4.
 
"It was an honor to be back on the field presenting the Hiegert Cup once again," said CCAA Commissioner Mitch Cox. "The competition this season showed how much of a battle our conference is in every sport. We had eight different universities win conference championships, and you saw how close (the commissioner's cup point total) was at the end. Teams can't take a day off in this conference. Congratulations to the Wildcats for winning this tremendous honor."
 
The points structure for the Hiegert Cup is based on a team's finish in the final conference standings in the sports of volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball, and a team's finish in the CCAA Championships in the sports of golf, cross country, and track and field.
 
Each institution's top-two performing teams in the fall, winter, and spring, along with two additional sports from any season, earn between 1 (for last place) and 12 (for first place) points based on their finish in the conference standings. The institution with the greatest sum of its eight selected sports claims the Hiegert Cup.
 
Final 2021–22 Robert J. Hieger Commisioner's Cup Standings
1. Chico State: 92.05
2. Cal State San Marcos: 91.79
3. Cal Poly Pomona: 86.4
4. Cal State LA: 74.52
5. Sonoma State: 70.91
6. Cal State East Bay: 66.59
7. Cal State San Bernardino: 65.26
8. Stanislaus State: 62.16
9. Cal State Monterey Bay: 53.14
10. San Francisco State: 52.46
11. Cal State Dominguez Hills: 50.94
12. Cal Poly Humboldt: 32.22
 
Robert J. Hieger Commisioner's Cup Winners
2021-22: Chico State
2020-21: Not Awarded
2019-20: Not Awarded
2018-19: UC San Diego
2017-18: Chico State
2016-17: UC San Diego
2015-16: UC San Diego
2014-15: Cal Poly Pomona
2013-14: Chico State
2012-13: Chico State
2011-12: Chico State
2010-11: Chico State
2009-10: UC San Diego
2008-09: UC San Diego
2007-08: UC San Diego