The private Catholic school, Saint Francis University, announced they will be moving from Division I to Division III in the summer of 2026. On March 25 around 10 am, coaches in Loretto, Pennsylvania were informed of the decision in an athletics meeting with the school’s president. In the meeting, they were told all athletes at the school would receive an email at 11:30am to give coaches time to inform their teams. However the email was sent out early before coaches had a chance to communicate to their teams. 

This year the men’s basketball team made the NCAA division I tournament for the second time, the first being in 1991. This could now be the last time the basketball team or any team has a chance to compete for a division I championship. Many athletes found out about the decision when it was announced to the public, causing heartbreak and shock to many of the players. 

The school has an enrollment of 3000 students, which indicated a shift in college athletics for the past couple years. This included the transfer portal and the ability for athletes to make money off their name or image, which both played a factor in the decision to switch.  Getting an invitation to join the Presidents Athletic Conference, which was accepted, leads the administrators to believe that student athletes will have a better easy balance between academics, campus life and athletics. 

The traveling required for the Northeast Conference that the school is in, was another factor that carried into the change.  

“Our students travel either to Chicago or to Boston or to points in between. That’s a lot of time not spent on campus, developing friendships or in the classroom. This change allows our students to be present on campus and lets their friends attend more of their home and away games,” said the school’s president, the Rev. Malachi Van Tassell. 

Tassel also mentioned that the administration will provide support to all student athletes since they know the transition will be stressful. 

Many people are disappointed with the decision since they think there will be negative outcomes and people believe not having Division I athletics can lead to a decrease of enrollment in the future. Some of the athletes have already entered the transfer portal like basketball players Riley Parker, Yanessa Boyd, and Bobby Rosenberger III. 

The Saint Francis University community is still coming to terms with this big change and accepting it. Many are still frustrated and annoyed with the lack of communication from the school to the athletes. Even though some believe that Saint Francis will dominate in division III athletics some also see it as an end of an era for Saint Franics athletics.