St. Francis College in Brooklyn to shut down Division I athletic program after 2023 season

Division I athletics will soon be no more at St. Francis College. The Brooklyn, New York, Catholic university announced Monday that the clocks would hit triple zeroes for its 19 sports teams after the spring 2023 semester.

Scholarships, both athletic and academic, will be extended for current student-athletes at the school, while coaches will be let go.

The teams at St. Francis run the gamut in terms of age. The school’s men’s basketball program is the oldest in New York City, having begun in 1896. Conversely, the school added men’s volleyball and women’s soccer in only 2019.

Financial difficulties, involving increased operating expenses, flattened revenue and the negative impact of COVID-19 on enrollment, were major factors in the decision. 

The school’s athletic director, Irma Garcia, blamed COVID-19 for the shuttering.

“I am heartbroken that a decision has been made to eliminate the college’s athletics program, effective at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester. … The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible impact on St. Francis College, and as a result, Terrier athletics,” Ms. Garcia said in a statement.

In an FAQ, the school qualified that if its financial situation improves, athletics could be reinstated in the future.

Source: WT