Q: How did decide to start the process of returning to Division I?
A: In September 2006, Seattle University President Fr. Steve Sundborg called for the creation of the Athletic Alignment Study Task Force, a committee of 22 administrators, staff, faculty, students, and alumni to explore the possibility of Seattle University returning to Division I. After a seven-month review, the task force made its recommendation to the Seattle University Board of Trustees that the university begin the process of moving back to Division I membership within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). On May 10, 2007, the Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the report of the task force, clearing the way for to apply to the NCAA for Division I membership.
Q: So is University a Division I school this year?
A: No, for the 2007-08 academic year, will be competing as a Division II institution. The athletic teams are eligible for titles within the Great Northwest Athletic Conference as well as NCAA Division II Tournament and Championship appearances. This is what the NCAA calls their exploratory year, as representatives from the national organization will collect data to ensure that Seattle University has met initial benchmarks to become eligible for Division I status.
Q: When does become a full Division I member of the NCAA?
A: Provided the athletic department meets the standards set by the NCAA, the school will enter a reclassification year in 2008-09, when it will play a mixed schedule and not be a part of either Division I or Division II. In 2009-10, will be expected to play a full Division I schedule. Other than two sports that can be “fast tracked”, no athletic team will be eligible for NCAA Division I championships until 2012-13. The two sports that the institution marks for “fast track” will be eligible to play for NCAA titles beginning in 2010-11. So basically, will become a full Division I member with all rights beginning in 2012-13.
Q: Has secured a conference home for its move to Division I?
A: Once leaves the Great Northwest Athletic Conference after the 2007-08 season, it will become an Independent school until a conference invites it to apply for membership. While talk centered around the West Coast Conference during the school’s exploration in 2006-07, there are other possibilities for conference homes. It is also a possibility that different sports will land in different conferences until the school is invited into one conference for all of its sports.
Q: When will men’s basketball reach The Big Dance?
A: The move to Division I will take time, and the administration of has made it clear that this process will be done the way, that no shortcuts will be taken just to make a team competitive. So while it is the goal of every SU squad to reach postseason competition, no timeline can be established for when that will happen. When a team from reaches the postseason, it will be celebrated, but coaches and staff will be given time to build their programs up to be competitive at the Division I level.
Q: So why make the move to Division I, especially when the athletic program has started to find success at the Division II level?
A: The feeling of the present administration is that moving the athletic program to Division I will bring it to the same level as the rest of the university. has made unprecedented progress in terms of academic quality, record enrollments, financial strength, fundraising success, and reputation.
Back in 1980, when the decision was made to leave Division I, was a completely different university than it is right now. The average student was in their mid-20s, did not live on campus, and cared only about getting the degree and moving on with life. Now, this is a more traditional institution, with students who care about a full collegiate experience.
With this move, will become the 20th Jesuit university to compete athletically at the Division I level. In the administration’s opinion, this will enhance the experience, both for student-athletes and students alike.
Q: So when does Seattle University bring back baseball, or tennis, or golf, or one of the other sports that were dropped over the past two decades?
A: On September 14, Seattle University announced its intention to bring back baseball, tennis, and golf as varsity sports. Men's and women's golf and men's and women's tennis will be added for the 2008-09 academic year, while baseball will be added for the 2009-10 academic year. Decisions on facilities for golf and baseball will be made in the near future, while tennis will be played on the courts next to Championship Field. Adding sports was not necessary for the move to Division I, but Seattle University feels it will round out the athletic departement and honor its rich history.
Q: Although there is some Division I experience within the department, most of the coaches have received a vast majority of their experience at the Division II level. Will you be looking for coaches with Division I experience to take over the athletic teams?
A: The athletic administration has total confidence in the present group of head coaches that they will be able to build their programs to be competitive at the Division I level as long as they are given enough time to make those adjustments. The administration believes that having head coaching experience is more important than having Division I experience. Collectively, the current athletics department (administrators, staff, and coaches) have more than 60 years of combined Division I experience - these previous institutions include a mix of public and private: Bucknell, Cal-Berkeley, Syracuse, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico State, Notre Dame, San Francisco, USC, Utah, and Washington State.
Q: The Seattle University men’s basketball team faces the University of Kentucky, one of the most successful Division I basketball programs ever, in an exhibition game on November 3. Will the university rethink the move to Division I if the team loses by a lot? Will the school want to speed up the process if the Redhawks happen to pull off an upset?
A: During the 2006-07 season, defeated fellow Division I schools (84-57) and (87-49) by more than 25 points. In its two exhibition games last season, won 94-54 and 81-50. It will not be a major problem if loses by a significant margin, almost everyone who will be watching this game will be expecting to win comfortably. However, it is one game, and anything can happen. If would happen to defeat the Wildcats, it does not mean that is ready for a full Division I schedule. This exhibition game is more of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1958 NCAA Championship game between the two schools. has gracefully agreed to host this gathering and game, something it did not have to do. It is an honor for the current team to be able to play one of the most storied programs in the country in one of the greatest collegiate basketball arenas around today. The coaching staff is using this game to prepare the team for the 2007-08 season and will make adjustments based on how the team plays. But a win or a loss against will NOT affect the plans of the university to move to Division I.
Q: Anything else that can be offered as enters this process?
A: The administration asks supporters of to be patient. The athletic program is not going to be competitive in Division I overnight. We’re going to build the program step by step and take our time. We’re going to act in accordance with our mission and consistent with our value that “We put the good of students first.” We’re going to be make sure that we’re reaching out to student-athletes that will want our kind of education. We’re going to build a program that and the region can take pride in.