We’ll always have March 2025, Red Flash fans.
Saint Francis University, PA is transitioning from Division I to Division III, in a move announced by the university on Tuesday. The statement came less than one week after participating in the men’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. The move takes effect for the 2026-27 academic year. So, we’ll have one more year of the Red Flash in the NEC.
“This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees,” Chairman and Rev. Joseph Lehman said in a statement. “The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution, and our community’s expectations… Based on the changes in athletics nationally, it would be a disservice to our student-athletes and athletic department staff not to review and assess how we can best provide the resources necessary for them to be competitive.”
Saint Francis (PA) caught fire in the Northeast Conference tournament after tying for third in the regular season with an 8-8 record. The Red Flash defeated Wagner at home in the quarterfinals and then went on the road and knocked off top-seeds LIU and Central Connecticut State to win the championship and secure its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 34 years.
As the only team in the field with a losing record, the Red Flash participated in the First Four and saw its season come to a close with a 70-68 loss to Alabama State on a layup at the buzzer in Dayton last Tuesday.
The team posted a 16-18 final record. Over the 34-year NCAA Tournament drought, the Red Flash posted just five winning seasons.
The women’s basketball team finished 11-19 this season. The program’s last trip to the NCAA Tournament was 2018, which was one of just two winning seasons in the last dozen years. The Red Flash participated in the Big Dance nine out of 10 times from 1996-2005.
“The Board and I have been concerned about the student-athlete experience for many years,” President and Rev. Malachi Van Tassell said in a statement. “The geography of our conference is huge. 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. This decision is about creating and maintaining community and allowing our student-athletes to thrive in the classroom and their chosen sport… I want to be clear—we are very proud of our Division I history and success, and our student-athletes.”
This move is reminiscent of Hartford a few years ago. The school announced in May 2021 it would transition from Division I to Division III. That announcement came mere months after the men’s basketball team won the America East championship and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
Saint Francis University, PA is transitioning from Division I to Division III, in a move announced by the university on Tuesday. The statement came less than one week after participating in the men’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. The move takes effect for the 2026-27 academic year. So, we’ll have one more year of the Red Flash in the NEC.
“This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees,” Chairman and Rev. Joseph Lehman said in a statement. “The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game. For that reason, as a Board, we aim to best provide resources and support to our student-athletes in this changing environment that aligns with our mission, Catholic institution, and our community’s expectations… Based on the changes in athletics nationally, it would be a disservice to our student-athletes and athletic department staff not to review and assess how we can best provide the resources necessary for them to be competitive.”
Saint Francis (PA) caught fire in the Northeast Conference tournament after tying for third in the regular season with an 8-8 record. The Red Flash defeated Wagner at home in the quarterfinals and then went on the road and knocked off top-seeds LIU and Central Connecticut State to win the championship and secure its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 34 years.
As the only team in the field with a losing record, the Red Flash participated in the First Four and saw its season come to a close with a 70-68 loss to Alabama State on a layup at the buzzer in Dayton last Tuesday.
The team posted a 16-18 final record. Over the 34-year NCAA Tournament drought, the Red Flash posted just five winning seasons.
The women’s basketball team finished 11-19 this season. The program’s last trip to the NCAA Tournament was 2018, which was one of just two winning seasons in the last dozen years. The Red Flash participated in the Big Dance nine out of 10 times from 1996-2005.
“The Board and I have been concerned about the student-athlete experience for many years,” President and Rev. Malachi Van Tassell said in a statement. “The geography of our conference is huge. 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. This decision is about creating and maintaining community and allowing our student-athletes to thrive in the classroom and their chosen sport… I want to be clear—we are very proud of our Division I history and success, and our student-athletes.”
This move is reminiscent of Hartford a few years ago. The school announced in May 2021 it would transition from Division I to Division III. That announcement came mere months after the men’s basketball team won the America East championship and played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
