Saint Francis University announced it will leave Division I athletics after its men’s basketball program became a target for wealthier schools. President Malachi Van Tassell said larger programs lured a star player with a six‑figure deal, turning the campus team into a de facto farm system and jeopardized its recruiting pipeline.

Recruiting wars in mid‑major conferences have intensified, with cash‑rich Power Five schools offering tuition waivers, bonuses and professional‑level contracts to attract talent. Saint Francis, a 2,000‑student Catholic college, struggled to match those incentives, seeing several transfers in the past two seasons. The exodus raised concerns about revenue loss from ticket sales and media rights tied to Division I status and eroding fan engagement across campus.

Leaving Division I will shift Saint Francis to Division II, where scholarship limits and travel costs are lower. The university expects to reallocate the saved budget toward academic programs and facility upgrades. The decision underscores how financial disparities can force smaller schools to abandon high‑profile college sports and preserve its long‑term institutional mission, while maintaining compliance with NCAA regulations.