D’Youville University Announces Official move to DII Athletics

The NCAA Division II (DII) Membership Committee approved D'Youville University for final transition to full Division II membership as part of the East Coast Conference.

"Our move to NCAA Division II is something that our campus has been building up to for many years," said President Lorrie Clemo, PhD. "For the past five years we have had the vision of increasing athletic opportunities on our campus for student-athletes from all over the world. D’Youville has bolstered our athletic program through staffing, recruitment, facilities upgrades, student-athlete support services, branding, grants, and corporate partnerships. The three-year transition has invigorated campus through consistent analysis that has enhanced our functionality as a University while also preparing us to compete at an elite NCAA DII Athletics program – and of more significance – position us as a global institution of education.” 

D’Youville began the membership process in February of 2020 and began competing as a provisional member in the East Coast Conference during the 2020-2021 academic year. The decision moves D’Youville University from a provisional member to an active member, making teams eligible to compete in NCAA DII postseason championships, as well as eligible to receive awards, honors, and other NCAA DII benefits.

“Acceptance into NCAA DII is a historical moment for the university and our athletic department. This milestone is a testament to the collaborative work of many departments across campus throughout the transition process,” Ona Halladay, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics said. “We are all excited about the opportunities that come with active DII membership. The future is bright for D’Youville Athletics.”

The Journey 

Schools transitioning from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division II must follow a three-year provisional period, adhering to DII rules, while carrying success thresholds and the implementation of a strategic plan. The transition to DII follows the tradition of D’Youville’s forward-thinking leadership since its inception in 1908. Over the years D’Youville has adapted to the needs of the community and increasingly, the global society. D’Youville Athletics has followed suit growing our intercollegiate program with the strategic addition of Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Track and Field, Women’s Wrestling, and Women’s Field Hockey in 2024.

The D’Youville Saints now offer nineteen varsity sports through the NCAA. The Men’s programs consist of Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, E-sports (co-ed), Lacrosse, Soccer and Volleyball. The Women’s offerings include Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, E-sports (co-ed), Field Hockey (2024), Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Track and Field and Wrestling.

The bold step into DII increased our competitiveness through recruiting and retaining student-athletes that have a thirst for knowledge and desire to surpass expectations. The Saints have added over 130 new students, driving student-athlete recruitment into new national and international markets. In 2019, the student-athlete population resided in seven states and three countries. Since the announcement of our transition, the reach has increased to twenty-five states and seventeen countries, internationalizing the campus with new cultures, philosophies and lived experiences.

Overall, D'Youville has seen enrollment growth as the student body has diversified. This strategic forethought has positioned D’Youville University ahead of melting enrollment in our region, focusing on academic programs that will ensure our students graduate with secure high paying jobs in professional fields.

This growth has enabled our campus community to grow with annual events, active residence halls, and increased D’Youville Saints pride. That pride has continued to grow with athletic success. Throughout the transition, the Saints have seen 7 First Team All-Conference, 21 Second-Team All-Conference, and 3 Third Team All-Conference selections. Other honors awarded to the Saints by the East Coast Conference include Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Elite 19 (highest GPA of Student-Athlete participating in Championship), and ECC Academic Team of Excellence Awards.

We Are the Saints

A visible change to D’Youville that has stimulated the campus and community is rebranding to the D’Youville Saints. When D’Youville first considered shifting away from the Spartans as our school mascot, the first challenge centered around how to define our identity as an institution, while honoring and serving our past. Saint Bernard’s are known for their life-saving work by performing rescue excursions in the Alps. This highlights that a Saint Bernard dog embodies the dedication and tenacity that are synonymous with our students, serving when needed most.

Image

The rebranding is a symbol of the DIII to DII journey; from college to university – with our living mascots the physical connector of students and campus. Facility upgrades have continued throughout the transition process to ensure that the D'Youville Saints have the tools they need to be competitive at the Division II level, as well as providing more venues to serve its students, faculty, and staff through recreation and intramurals.

Image

Life in the Balance

The Division II motto of “Life in the Balance” provides student-athletes with the holistic opportunity for comprehensive learning through their academic pursuits, competition and year-round development, and civic engagement within our community.

Image

“Our transition from DIII to DII is about more than athletics. It has transformed our campus into a global environment of learning with research, civic discussions, culture, and the opportunities for all students to succeed in a career that makes an impact in the world,” says President Lorrie Clemo, PhD.

Image

A founding pillar of DII is community engagement, which speaks to the D’Youville mission of service. Our student-athletes are leaders who engage other students, support teammates, and engage in service throughout Buffalo and beyond. This elevated platform has increased support to our neighbors within Buffalo Public Schools, youth clubs, Team Impact, and Make a Wish Foundation to name a few.

Image

In 2022, D’Youville was awarded the East Coast Conference Community Engagement Award of Excellence for hosting the Lead Her Forward sport sampling youth clinic. This award is presented annually to the institution that hosts an activity on their campus that embodies the principles of community engagement by building relationships and bridging the gap between campus and community.

In the final year of the transition, D'Youville University earned the NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for achieving an Academic Success Rate of 90% or higher. As one of the 44 NCAA Division II schools to earn the award, D'Youville is one of just three East Coast Conference institutions, along with Mercy and St. Thomas Aquinas, to receive this honor.

The deepened engagement of our current athletes has also led to further outreach with our athletic Alumni. By building institutional traditions such as the Hall of Fame, Alumni games, giving campaigns, and speaking engagements, we are broadening our alumni base which will enhance our student experience. Career opportunities, mentorship, and access to professionals are integral to student-athlete development.

Here Come the Saints

As a member of Division II membership, the Saints will represent the city of Buffalo. Currently Division II includes 311 NCAA colleges and universities located in forty-seven states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the District of Columbia. The division also features the NCAA’s only international member university (Simon Fraser in British Columbia, Canada) and three schools in Puerto Rico.

The Division II membership is split evenly among public and private schools, with an average enrollment of 3,899 students.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that serves as the administrative and legislative authority for women’s and men’s intercollegiate athletics. There are three divisions and twenty-four collegiate sports that are governed by NCAA. The divisions are D1, DII, and D3. These divisions were designed to group similar college campuses to align in opportunity, philosophy, and competition. A school’s size and the resources of its athletics program are the determinant for NCAA division.