St. Francis currently sponsors eight men's sports, including football, and 12 women's sports. St. Francis athletics photo

St. Francis University, in Loretto, Pennsylvania, announced a decision by its Board of Trustees that directs the president and the leadership team to pursue a reclassification of its NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program to Division III. The shift in athletics offerings for men's and women's athletic competition would occur concurrent with the 2026-2027 academic year and fall 2026 athletic competition, with the Red Flash participating in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

The university's athletics teams will continue to participate in Division I intercollegiate athletics as part of the Northeast Conference through summer 2026 competition. The university will file the necessary paperwork with the NCAA and has accepted an invitation from the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

• More moves in Conference Shuffle

The most recent Division I to Division III move was by University of Hartford, which is in the midst of its transition. It is believed that there will be more schools moving from Division I, and there is a chance that Division III may have to put a moratorium on its limit of four new members per year in order to accommodate the interest.

St. Francis will become a full-time PAC member with voting and membership rights effective on July 1, 2025, with competition beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

“On behalf of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and our Presidents Council, it is my distinct honor to officially welcome St. Francis University of Pennsylvania as they reclassify their athletic department to NCAA Division III and full PAC membership," said PAC commissioner Joe Onderko, now in his 19th year leading the conference. "The oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States, St. Francis is a tremendous fit, both geographically and culturally, as the newest PAC member. In addition, the Red Flash athletic department shares our unique vision that academic and athletic excellence are not mutually exclusive. We are excited to welcome them as the league’s 13th full member and believe they will be a tremendous partner as the PAC continues to grow.

"This was not an easy nor a quick decision for the Board of Trustees," stated Chairman and the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Ph.D. "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 coard, 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."

The Board of Trustees participated in an extensive discussion and review of their options for the future of the university's athletics program and determined that this decision helps St. Francis to achieve the institution's mission and strategic plan.

The school has 1,490 full-time undergraduate students, according to its most recent filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

Lehman continued, "All of the university's offerings that are a core part of the Saint Francis identity and student experience are reviewed by the Board on an ongoing basis, including intercollegiate athletics. 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."

President and the Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., added, "The Board and I have been concerned about the student-athlete experience for many years. 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."

With the addition of St. Francis, the PAC has grown from nine members to 13 full-time members since 2019. Franciscan joined the conference that year, while Allegheny returned to the PAC as a full-time member in 2022 and Hiram will return to full competition in the conference beginning this fall.