“Totally Blindsided”: Saint Francis Drops to D3

March 12th, 2025. 13 days ago.

Saint Francis had just knocked off the heavily favored Central Connecticut State Blue Devils on the road to win the NEC Tournament. The Red Flash were celebrated nationally, and “Nowheresville, PA” emerged as a brand. The Red Flash took that momentum to the NCAA Tournament, where they competed in the First Four. Despite leading for much of the game, they dropped a tough but hard fought decision to Alabama State. But despite the loss, the season was a clear success. Coach Krimmel had taken the Red Flash to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991, and the Red Flash seemed to have a handle on the new, transfer-heavy direction in college sports.

13 days later, the school announced that it would no longer compete in Division I athletics.

Ratified by the university’s Board of Trustees in March, this shift marks a significant pivot for a program that has enjoyed notable athletic success recently. Aside from the NCAA Tournament berth, the team’s volleyball program had reached new heights and the Red Flash won the NEC in football (along with an FCS playoff berth) in 2022. They defeated FBS Kent State this past season.

However, subtle signs of unrest had already surfaced: on February 28th, former Athletic Director James Downer was quietly removed from the university’s website, replaced by long-time athletics administrator Jim Brazill. What followed was a decision that has left student-athletes, families, and alumni grappling with its fallout. All of the accounts we’ve received to this point have suggested that it was a decision made without the knowledge of coaches and most of the athletic department’s staff.

The university’s administration points to a strategic refocus on student well-being and academics as the driving force behind the decision. According to the Saint Francis Reclassification FAQ, “Rather than fighting against the headwinds and logistics that make being a small school in the NCAA Division I unsustainable, our Board of Trustees made the bold move to place our students’ academic success and well-being first.” 

Alumni Were Willing to Help Keep Saint Francis D1

But despite the difficulties of remaining in Division I as a small school, there were real attempts by alumni and supporters to help the Red Flash modernize- and compete.

Scott Meredith, a former Red Flash basketball player, had been rallying alumni to launch the Flash Fam Collective, an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) initiative aimed at bolstering the men’s basketball program. “We were hoping to give these young men more reasons to stay and be developed the right way by Coach Krim,” Meredith said. “It was built to reflect everything SFU stands for—faith, academics, and leadership.” He envisioned a partnership where “NIL and the school could work side by side, and both sides could prosper and work hand in hand.”

However, the administration rebuffed these efforts. “We had some meetings with the administration and were told the final decision ultimately lies with the president and BOD around their stance on NIL,” Meredith recounted. “Their side never accepted our plans.” His surprise at the decision was tempered by an acknowledgment of its logic: “In the sense that I knew if nothing was done to help the MBB and Coach Krim, this is where things were headed because it’s hard to justify all of these expenses at the D1 level… but yes [I was surprised] in the sense that we were making our collective in a way that aligned with what we thought were Franciscan values.” 

It wasn’t the only time that we heard that the administration may not have been willing to adapt to the changes in Division I athletics. Meredith made sure to point out that the coaches and athletic department at Saint Francis had no issue with modernizing and accepting the role that NIL has in the modern game.

In other cases, alumni and fans felt that the offer to help save Division I athletics was never made to them.

Former Saint Francis men’s basketball player Tom Fox seemed to agree. His impassioned tweet captures the emotional toll of the decision and raises questions about the university’s communication with its community.

In his tweet, Fox wrote:

"Every single former SFC/SFU athlete would have certainly done what they could have financially had we known it would prevent us losing our D1 status, something all of us wear as a badge of honor. Instead the powers to be just went ahead and did what they did. Shameful."

Fox’s reference to Division I status as a “badge of honor” underscores the pride that alumni associate with the program’s history. More importantly, his assertion that former athletes “would have certainly done what they could have financially” is along the same lines as Meredith’s account.

Certainly, no public effort was made to raise funds or develop a strategic plan to keep the Red Flash in Division I. The announcement sent shockwaves around the Loretto community, but while alumni have expressed willingness to help Saint Francis compete in NIL or attempt to support them financially, it seems the option was never given to them.

The Human Toll of the Transition

For those directly affected, the announcement has been a seismic disruption. One student athlete expressed shock: “Totally blindsided! This recruiting season was rough for my class because of this settlement stuff and this just complicated it further.” A family member of a current athlete shared their grief and uncertainty about how to proceed: “We are talking about it as a family… but we are devastated to say the least.”

One recruit’s story makes clear what was lost in this transition: “I’m currently committed to SFU and we just heard about it today from email. Our coaches still haven’t said anything… I’m going to decommit and it sucks because almost all my options are closed. I had multiple other Division I choices and they’re all gone because people filled the spots.” These voices underscore the personal cost of a decision made at the institutional level, and the damaging effect on signees who learned about the decision in March, long after the early and late signing day periods.

Football reported signing over 50 student athletes this offseason. Each one signed on anticipating to play in the NEC and Division I. Now, they’ll get just one season to do so, and the other opportunities that many had presented to them are no longer available. Many had the chance to pursue a 4 year scholarship elsewhere.

We’ve received reports that the coaches and much of the athletic department were caught blindsided by the information. While we’ve been able to confirm that recruits were not told about the possibility of the athletic department transitioning to Division III during the recruiting and signing process, the impression we’ve gotten is that the coaches simply weren’t aware.

As Saint Francis University (SFU) transitions from NCAA Division I to Division III, athletic scholarships for both current and incoming student-athletes will undergo significant changes. For students enrolled in the 2024-2025 academic year who receive athletic scholarships and plan to return for 2025-2026, their scholarships are guaranteed through the 2027-2028 academic year. Incoming students in the Class of 2025 with signed scholarship agreements will have their scholarships honored for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. It’s a significant step down for the athletes at Saint Francis, many of whom had counted on their athletic participation to carry them through a 4 year degree. Now, that option is no longer available.

Many have remarked that a key differentiator for Saint Francis from surrounding schools was that they played Division I athletics. Others have stated that Red Flash athletes make up 40% or more students on campus (a number that we were unable to independently verify prior to publication). In any case, Division I athletics are a key part of the identity of Saint Francis. It’s reasonable to assume that the student body will look much different with the reclassification to Division III. In exactly what way is yet to be seen.

What Lies Ahead?

The transition to Division III is final, with the administration announcing that they will join the President’s Athletic Conference. It’s another sign that this has been in the works for some time, as decisions to join athletic conferences are never made quickly. In the PAC, the Red Flash will compete against the likes of Chatham, Thiel, and Grove City rather than Duquesne, Long Island, and Robert Morris. There will also no longer be opportunities to play against FBS schools like Kent State.

As smaller schools nationwide face similar pressures—rising costs, evolving NIL landscapes, and logistical burdens—this move could set a precedent. For now, the Red Flash community must navigate a period of adjustment, balancing pride in past achievements with uncertainty about the future.

All-time NEC receptions leader Mike Caputo thinks so. Reacting to the news of his alma mater dropping to Division III, Caputo said, “As a football alum, and hall of fame inductee the news is sad and unfortunate. But I do understand the economics of college athletics and it’s probably the right decision,” he said. His perspective carries weight, reflecting both his deep emotional connection to the university and a pragmatic acknowledgment of the financial pressures shaping college sports. He went further, suggesting a broader trend: “I believe many more low D1 schools will eventually have to make a move as well.”

We’ve left a message with the line Saint Francis has pointed to in its FAQ and at this early time have not yet received a response. As this was a university decision, the athletic department is unable to comment on the situation.

This is a developing story and our website will be updated accordingly.