Geneseo upgrades to Division I
Photo courtesy of Geneseoknights.com
SUNY Geneseo, once a humble Division III school, just pulled off the ultimate NCAA speedrun—skipping Division II entirely to go straight to Division I. Geneseo is officially too good for NARPs.
On Monday, Mar. 3, 2025, SUNY Geneseo Athletics reclassified their Division III program to Division I after bypassing the minimum five-year period of being Division II. Due to the impressive performances by both varsity and club sports teams, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes the triumphs of past and present years.
If club sports desire to become a Varsity NCAA Division I team, they have to propose a strategic plan to the Athletic Board that will then make its way to the NCAA program directors. If these teams create a strong enough proposal offering statistics and media proof, they will go through a process to join other athletic programs.
With this decision, fewer Non-Athletic Regular Persons (NARPs) will be on Geneseo’s campus. Speaking of NARPs, if some are unaware of what Division I means as opposed to Division II and III, Division I is the highest level of collegiate athletics in the United States. Geneseo will be known as one of the most well-known universities and athletic programs with the introduction of two new programs.
After a strategic plan, a self-study, and an NCAA review, where members from the NCAA Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, Director of Operations, and Compliance Officer came to campus to evaluate the athletic programs, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Senior Associate Athletic Director, and Associate Athletic Director, have worked together with NCAA directors to make this exciting progression possible.
Geneseo has focused on providing a well-rounded and excellent college experience with balance, but now has the opportunity to offer athletic scholarships. Geneseo offers more than seven men's and women’s athletic teams, which allows it to meet multiple requirements to become a Division I college. The Knights' athletic program will continue to focus on the diversity they have been promoting as a Division III athletic program. This includes their ongoing relationship with the Special Olympic athletes across the country.
Before the next school year starts, Geneseo will compete with schools such as Penn State University, Rutgers University, Ohio State, and Purdue University. Geneseo, already having undergone the process of being a part of the NCAA Division I school, decided to include a football program. For the past year, Geneseo has spent time building the team and program to add this sport and level of competition to the School in the Valley to gain traction and interest in growing the school and the sports programs.
Before the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, Geneseo will no longer receive aid through grants for non-athletes and will be able to offer scholarships to incoming students, not on a need-only basis. The latest inclusion of a women’s flag football team, which was the beginning of newly introduced sports programs into Geneseo’s elevating athletic competition, makes evident that the Division I and football program was an excellent decision.
Geneseo will never forget its humble beginnings as an NCAA Division III program, even as it has become better than everyone else!