WEST GOSHEN – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced last week that it has invited Lackawanna College to become the 18th member of the NCAA Division II league. For West Chester Athletic Director Terry Beattie, the move makes a lot of sense.
“The departure of Mercyhurst to Division I made for an unbalanced schedule in football and men’s and women’s basketball,” Beattie said. “It created some serious scheduling challenges for the entire (PSAC).”
It is the latest in a series of moves by the PSAC dating back to 2018, when Cheyney dropped all NCAA sanctioned sports programs. A little over a year later, Shepherd (W.Va.) joined the conference, but then Mercyhurst exited starting in the fall of 2024, leaving the PSAC at 17 members.
“We were focused on replacing Mercyhurst with a football-playing school,” Beattie explained. “Through the vetting process the conference did, Lackawanna rose to the top of that list.”
A private institution located in Scranton, Lackawanna intends to transition from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to the NCAA Division II in the coming years. It is a move that has never happened before.
“This is a big change, not only athletically but as an institution,” Battie said.
“This move allows us to elevate our athletics programs to new heights,” added Lackawanna Athletic Director Erik Larson. “Our student-athletes will now compete at the highest level of NCAA Division II athletics with increased exposure, scholarship opportunities, and academic support.
“We are honored to be welcomed into the conference.”
According to Beattie, the plan is for Lackawanna to join the PSAC Eastern Division along with West Chester, Millersville, Kutztown, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Shepherd and Mansfield. Lock Haven is scheduled to transition to the Western Division.
“That may take some time for the full transition,” Beattie said.
“Lock Haven’s location geographically allows for that. They actually played men’s and women’s soccer in the West this past academic year to balance the schedule.”
Lackawanna currently offers 10 varsity sports: five men’s (baseball, basketball, football, soccer and wrestling) and five women’s (basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling). Over the past 10 football seasons, Lackawanna has compiled a 75-19 record (a winning percentage of 80), including an undefeated season in 2018.
“My understanding is that Lackawanna’s football program has been very successful, and has developed some very good Division I players,” Beattie said. “Penn State has recruited and had a lot of success with Lackawanna transfers.
“They have a tradition in football, so I assume they will be very competitive as they join the conference. And then when they transition into Division II, it will be interesting to see how their recruiting changes.”
Over the last 30 years, Lackawanna has sent hundreds of football prospects to the NCAA Division I and II programs, including at least four to West Chester since 2006. The most recent was fullback Kyle Boney in 2018.