St. Francis Brooklyn Eliminating Athletics Program
It is a sad day for St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Today, the school made public its plans to eliminate their entire Division I athletics program after the Spring 2023 semester. Part of the school’s release reads as follows:
“There are challenges facing higher education institutions, particularly smaller liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, from which SFC is not immune. Among these challenges are increased operating expenses, flattening revenue streams and plateauing enrollment due in part to a shrinking pool of high school graduates in the aftermath of the pandemic.“
A main element of the school’s strategic restructuring was eliminating the athletics program. St. Francis Brooklyn athletic director Irma Garcia put out a statement of her own, which reads in part:
“I want to thank every student-athlete that has donned the Terrier Blue and Red over the many generations that have come to Brooklyn. Our student-athletes have been at the heart of our Department’s work and we will continue to support them to the best of our ability in the aftermath of the College’s decision.”
SFC Will Honor Student-Athlete Scholarships
St. Francis Brooklyn will continue to honor scholarships for former student-athletes so they may continue their education uninterrupted. Should they wish to transfer, NCAA rules allow for immediate eligibility due to elimination of the program.
SFC had 21 varsity teams across 10 sports. SFC’s men’s basketball program was the oldest basketball program in NYC and one of the earliest members of the NCAA. The Terriers’ final season concluded with a 14-16 record and 9-7 mark in NEC play.
In a related move, school president Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz has been granted personal leave. Tim Cecere, the school’s COO, is now the acting president.
St. Francis Brooklyn’s FAQ posting left open the possibility of reinstating the athletics program “if the College returns to a stronger financial position.”
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