St. Francis College in Brooklyn, which boasts the oldest men’s college basketball programs in New York City, has announced the end of its entire Division One athletic program, effective at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.
Denis Salamone, the chair of the St. Francis College Board of Trustees, announced Monday that due to increased operating expenses, flattening revenue streams, and plateauing enrollment, they were eliminating the school’s athletic program.
Salamone issued a statement via the college’s website. "We want to acknowledge that SFC has a rich legacy in competitive athletics, and are proud of our Terriers today and in all years past. This difficult decision was guided by a commitment to preserving the College's 164-year Franciscan mission to provide a high quality and affordable education to working-class and first-generation students."
St. Francis will honor all current academic and athletic scholarships, but employment for athletic staff and coaches will end at the conclusion of the spring semester.
St. Francis has 19 teams that compete in the NCAA’s Northeast Conference. The Terriers men’s basketball team was founded in 1896 and boasts six regular season championships. The team plays at the Pope Physical Education Center.
