Saint Francis University celebrates acceptance into Presidents' Athletic Conference
LORETTO, PA (March 31, 2025) — In a forward-looking "Welcome Press Conference" held Friday, March 28, 2025, at Saint Francis University, campus leaders celebrated SFU’s acceptance into the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).
Saint Francis University announced earlier last week 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.
“A Historic Day for the PAC”
PAC Commissioner Joseph Onderko delivered a warm and personal welcome on behalf of the conference, reflecting on his own deep ties to Western Pennsylvania and admiration for Saint Francis’ athletic tradition.
“Despite being one of the smallest Division I programs in the nation, Saint Francis always seems to punch above its weight. They routinely battle and often vest much larger programs with more resources. And I have to say that this heart, this grit, this sense of pride that shows every time the Red Flash take the field or the court, as it clearly did this year for the men's basketball team, winning this year's NEC title as an upset on the road and advancing to the March Madness Final Four in Dayton,” Onderko said. “That same heart, grit, and pride continues today, and it will continue as Saint Francis begins a new era in the PAC.”
Onderko also highlighted the conference’s commitment to academic excellence, sportsmanship, and close community ties, noting the benefits of the PAC’s tight geographic footprint: “Our road trips stay under three hours, which helps parents and fans show up in force—sometimes in very large numbers.”
He emphasized the unanimous support of the PAC Presidents Council in extending membership to Saint Francis, and shared empathy for the athletes navigating the transition. “If you decide to stay with Saint Francis,” he said to them directly, “we will do everything in our power to provide you and your teams with the absolute best student-athlete experience possible."
Listen to remarks by PAC Commissioner Joseph Onderko
“A Mission-Aligned Move”
University President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., closed the press conference with reflections on the significance of the move, both spiritually and strategically.
“We’re so excited and proud to be joining the PAC family,” Van Tassell said. “And based on the commissioner’s remarks alone, it’s evidence to me that we are landing in the right conference for us.”
He explained that the choice to reclassify directly to Division III was not merely about athletics, but about long-term sustainability and mission alignment. “Any decision we make on the institutional level is made with mission first and foremost in mind,” he said. “To be in an athletics conference with schools that share a common mission and belief in Jesus Christ is very, very important to us.”
Fr. Malachi acknowledged the emotional toll the transition has taken on student-athletes and staff, but framed the move as an opportunity for Saint Francis to control its own destiny amid a rapidly changing Division I landscape.
“This is for the good of the student-athlete in mind,” he added. “Great things about Saint Francis will remain. We’ll still be a close-knit community, and the cry ‘Go Red Flash’ will still echo across campus.”
Listen to remarks by SFU President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D
Looking Ahead
Saint Francis will remain a Division I institution for one more year, competing in the Northeast Conference through the 2025–26 season before officially joining the PAC for full competition across all sports in 2026–27.
“This next year will be a year of transition,” Fr. Malachi noted. “But we are already working together as a university community to envision what our championship Division III program will look like. We are ending a difficult week with a clear vision—of where we will go, and with whom we will go.”
The press conference concluded with a strong sense of unity and optimism, as Saint Francis University embraces its future in the PAC while holding fast to the values and traditions that have defined its past.