NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Saint Francis University’s Board of Trustees is announcing the University’s plans to re-classify from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division III and join the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) as the league’s 13th full-time member. Saint 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.

“Saint Francis University is honored to announce our transition to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and our reclassification as a Division III institution,” said Father Malachi Van Tassell T.O.R, Ph.D, President of Saint Francis University. “This strategic and mission-aligned decision reflects our enduring commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes — supporting their academic pursuits, athletic excellence, and personal growth within a values-based educational environment.

“The PAC comprises peer institutions that share our faith-based foundations and educational philosophy,” continued Father Van Tassel. “Its geographic proximity—consisting of member schools located within a three-hour radius of Loretto—will enable us to cultivate stronger regional rivalries, enhance community engagement, and significantly reduce the travel demands placed on our students.

“This transition marks a pivotal step forward—one embraced with optimism and a clear vision for the continued growth and excellence of Saint Francis University,” added Father Van Tassel. “This new chapter affirms our dedication to providing a transformational collegiate experience—on the field, in the classroom, and throughout campus life—guided always by our Catholic, Franciscan mission and values.”

Saint Francis fields 22 varsity athletic teams, including nine men’s and 13 women’s. The University will retain its current affiliation as a full-time member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) until June 30, 2026, when it will begin transitioning to Division III.

As Saint Francis transitions to Division III, a process which will take three years to complete, the Red Flash will have full schedules in all applicable PAC sports. Saint Francis will not be eligible for PAC Championships or compete in Conference Championship Tournaments in basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, baseball & softball until they are approved for active Division III membership by the NCAA. Red Flash programs in sports such as cross country, golf, swimming and diving and indoor and outdoor track and field will be able to compete at PAC Championships starting in 2026-27 but will not be eligible for all-conference recognition.

In lieu of All-PAC honors, Saint Francis athletes in all sports will be eligible for PAC Coaches Honors, an equivalent to All-PAC, until their transition to NCAA Division III status is complete.

“On behalf of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and our Presidents Council, it is my distinct honor to officially welcome Saint 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, Saint 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 is another key step towards our vision of the PAC continuing to build its foundation as one of the elite NCAA Division III conferences in the nation,” added Onderko. “With the addition of four new full members in the past six years, as well as recent additional varsity sport offerings, I believe the PAC has never been stronger at any point in its 70-year history.”

With the addition of Saint Francis, the PAC has grown from nine members to 13 full-time members since 2019. Franciscan University joined the conference that year, while Allegheny College returned to the PAC as a full-time member in 2022 and Hiram College will return to full competition in the conference beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.

The PAC continues to expand its championship offerings, as the conference introduced women’s and men’s lacrosse championships in 2019 and this spring, will host the first-ever Men’s Volleyball Championship Tournament.

Since the 2019-20 academic year, the PAC has recognized 8,555 student-athletes on the PAC Academic Honor Roll, which highlights those who maintain a 3.6 GPA or higher during the semester of their in-season competition. In addition, the league has had 80 student-athletes garner Academic All-America honors since in the last six years.

Saint Francis fits the profile of high academic achieving PAC programs. Last year, four Red Flash student-athletes earned NEC Scholar-Athlete recognition for their respective sport and Saint Francis has 47 all-time Academic All-Americans, most in the NEC.

“The Presidents’ Athletic Conference is looking forward to welcoming Saint Francis University to the PAC,” said Doug Lee, President at Waynesburg University and Chair of the PAC Presidents’ Council. “Their commitment to creating an atmosphere for scholar athletes to compete in the unique and exciting dimension of Division III athletics will further enhance the strong tradition of excellence upheld by our member institutions.”

About the Presidents’ Athletic Conference
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), built on the basic belief that an athletic program is an integral part of college life, but not an entity in itself, looks back on nearly 70 years of growth and ahead to years of continued academic and athletic excellence. The league’s name clearly reflects its founding principle that operational control of all aspects of intercollegiate athletics is ultimately the responsibility of the presidents of each member institution, and thus active presidential leadership and oversight is paramount in conference administration.

Formally organized in 1955, the PAC and its membership continue its original, defining mission of promoting intercollegiate athletics and the pursuit of academic excellence. Institutions involved understand that the key components to its progress lie in the foundation of faith in each member by each other. It is the conviction of its membership that the PAC is the solution to the dilemma of intercollegiate athletic competition, and they have staked their athletic future on this premise. The PAC annually crowns league champions and awards all-conference honors in its 24 championship sports (13 men, 11 women).

About Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States. Its mission is to help students grow into compassionate, successful professionals through a culture of faith, generosity, respect, discovery, and joy. Saint Francis University offers traditional campus-based learning and competitive online and graduate degree offerings. For more information, please visit https://www.francis.edu