PROSPECT HEIGHTS – St. Francis College of Brooklyn Heights announced that it will eliminate its track program from Division I, effective at the end of the spring 2023 semester.
In a statement posted March 20 on the university’s website, Denis J. Salamone, ’75, president of the St. Francis College Board of Trustees, said the decision – part of the university’s “SFC Forward” plan: Strategic Vision for 2023 & Beyond” – is a response to the challenges facing higher education institutions, particularly the smaller liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, including increasing operating expenses, the flattening of revenue streams and the stagnation of registrations due to the pandemic.
“We recognize that the SFC has a rich legacy in competitive athletics, and we are proud of our Terriers today and in all the years past,” the statement read. “This difficult decision was guided by a commitment to preserve the university’s 164-year Franciscan mission of providing a high-quality, affordable education to first-generation and working-class students.”
“I am heartbroken by the decision to eliminate the university’s track and field program,” St. Francis Director of Athletics Irma Garcia said in a statement posted on the Terriers’ track and field social media accounts. “I want to thank all of the student-athletes who have worn the blue and red of Terriers throughout the many generations that have passed through 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 following the university’s decision.”
A statement from Director of Athletics Irma Garcia regarding today’s announcement from @SFCNY #BrooklynTough pic.twitter.com/StVkfKEthZ
— St. Francis Brooklyn (@SFBKTerriers) March 20, 2023
The Terriers’ sports program consists of nine men’s and 10 women’s teams, all competing in the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference. The men’s basketball program was founded in 1896, making it the oldest college program in New York.
In December 2022, St. Francis closed the doors of its 180 Remsen St. campus, including Daniel Lynch ’38 Gym, which had been home to the Terriers’ basketball and volleyball programs for 50 years. The new main campus is located at 179 Livingston Street in downtown Brooklyn.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams finished their seasons at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute in Clinton Hill. The women’s water polo team has been practicing at the College of Staten Island.
Dennis McDermott, 74, known as “Mr. St. Francis” during his long career as the college’s alumni director, he said he met the best people in the world through his involvement with athletics at St. Francis. McDermott left college as the all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball history, leading to the retirement of his number 22 jersey.
“It’s a very sad day,” McDermott told The Tablet on March 20 immediately after hearing the news. “I’ve been on the phone all day with former students and talking to different people, it’s getting to me a lot now. It’s sad to hear that it’s really happening. I still see people for the sport in St. Francis.”
St. Francis served as a local option for student-athletes looking to continue their athletic careers at a competitive major league level.
“It gave people the opportunity,” McDermott said. “Seeing what the coaches did with the resources they had was incredible.
“They weren’t going to get the best kids on high school teams. They needed to be creative. They are getting players who hopefully can develop to play in the first division.
Spring sports for the Terriers include men’s and women’s tennis, men’s track and field, men’s volleyball, and women’s water polo.
“We thank everyone who participates in our athletic program for their spirit, dedication, professionalism and commitment to the university,” Salamone’s statement on athletics concludes.
