Like many others, one thing that was not on my “bingo card” for this semester was Saint Francis University announcing a transition from Division I to Division III athletics.
Father Malachi Van Tassell – the president of the University – announced on the morning of March 25 that SFU will transition to Division III. The Red Flash will compete for one more academic year as a member of the Division I Northeast Conference (2025-26) before transitioning into the Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2026-27.
I interviewed Fr. Malachi for a Q-and-A that ran in the Troubadour in October of 2024. During that interview, he told me that “for now, we’re committed to staying Division I.”
As a senior student-athlete on the cross country and track and field teams, I’ve found my pace both on the track and in the classroom over the last four years. The rigor of academics and athletics has taught me the importance of hard work and resilience.
This University has allowed me to not only continue my education at a small, Catholic institution but also compete at the Division I level. As a high schooler looking for colleges, that was the selling point that stood out to me.
Along with many other student-athletes, coaches, alumni and others connected to the SFU Athletics Program, I remain frustrated, confused and disappointed by this decision.
I attended a press conference that Fr. Malachi conducted with members of the media on the afternoon of March 25. A few quotes from the president stuck with me, raising more questions about the institution’s decision:
Fr. Malachi: “We’re not going to run the D3 program on the cheap. We’re going to make resources available to make it a good one.”
After I graduate, I hope to see SFU thrive in the PAC and I hope that Division III will provide the necessary resources for athletes, more so than our current Division I program has done for some sports.
For example, the cross country and track and field teams have yet to have a dedicated locker room. Despite winning multiple NEC championships, our “locker room” remains under the bleachers at DeGol Field.
With significantly less travel costs due to the proximity of schools in the PAC, I hope athletes are provided with the appropriate gear, per diem meal money and anything else necessary to not only compete in their sport but thrive.
Fr. Malachi: “For me, it was not about D2 versus D3; it was about what’s the right conference to land in because of mission fit.”
One of the defining factors about Saint Francis is our Franciscan values. I appreciate that Fr. Malachi and the SFU Board of Trustees sought a conference that aligns with our mission, but this statement also makes me wonder why some Division II conferences weren’t considered the right fit.
For example, Seton Hill University – which is a member of the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) – is also a small Catholic institution rooted in faith and tradition. Saint Francis would also have been a very good geographic fit for the PSAC.
In Division II athletics, students can still receive athletic scholarship funding. Division III student-athletes do not receive athletic scholarships.
For many students, including myself, the timing of this announcement raises questions. Why make it less than a week after the men’s basketball team competed in the NCAA Tournament? Why make it after the football team defeated an FBS-level opponent last September?
While many questions remain unanswered, one thing is clear: the announcement’s timing could have been handled much better.
According to student-athletes and coaches I spoke to, they were supposed to have team meetings at 11:30 a.m. on March 25 and the email announcing the decision was to be sent at 11:45 a.m., thus giving coaches time to share the news with their athletes in person.
Instead, student-athletes received an email announcing the decision at 11:19 a.m. Sharing the decision in the middle of a school day via email was not only distracting, but also very disruptive for athletes, who were still expected to attend their classes and maintain their focus for the remainder of the day.
Despite the uncertainty, SFU has always been defined by its strong sense of community. The relationships built here – among students, faculty and staff – will help us navigate this transition.
Whether competing for one final season in the NEC or preparing for a future in the PAC, Saint Francis Athletics has always been about more than a division label.
That identity, forged through dedication and camaraderie, won’t disappear with this transition.
