Walk into any classic Brooklyn bar near Remsen Street and mention the Terriers. You’ll get stories. You’ll hear about the 1950s, when St. Francis College (SFC) was the king of the NIT at Madison Square Garden. You might hear about the 2015 heartbreak against Robert Morris. But if you look for a game today, you’re out of luck.
The lights went out on St Francis NY Terriers basketball in 2023. It wasn't a slow fade; it was a sudden, localized earthquake in the college sports world. One Monday morning in March, coaches were called into a 9:00 AM meeting. By lunchtime, every student-athlete on campus knew their program was dead.
Honestly, it’s still weird to think about. This was a program that started in 1896. It survived world wars, the Great Depression, and the move from their beloved "Old Gym" to various temporary homes across the borough. In the end, it couldn't survive a spreadsheet.
The Day the Ball Stopped Bouncing
The Board of Trustees at St. Francis College didn't just cut a team. They cut everything. 21 Division I sports. Gone. Effective at the end of the Spring 2023 semester.
Why? The official line cited "increased operating expenses, flattening revenue streams, and plateauing enrollment." Basically, the school was bleeding cash and the athletic department was an easy, albeit painful, target for the "SFC Forward" strategic plan. COVID-19 was the final nail. The pandemic shifted the school’s focus toward its new campus at 179 Livingston Street, and apparently, there wasn't room for a Division I budget in that new vision.
It’s kinda tragic when you look at the logistics. For years, the basketball team didn't even have a real home. After they sold their building at 180 Remsen Street, the players had to Uber to the Pratt Institute just to practice. Imagine being a D1 athlete and having to call a Toyota Camry to get to gym class. The school was also reportedly six figures behind on payments to the bus company they used for travel.
St Francis NY Terriers Basketball: Why the Legacy Still Matters
People outside of New York might not realize how deep the roots went. St. Francis was a founding member of the Metropolitan New York Conference back in 1933. They were the gritty, blue-collar team that represented the working-class families of Brooklyn.
They held a bizarre, bittersweet distinction: they were one of only four original Division I programs to never make the NCAA Tournament. They were "The Best to Never Do It." But that didn't mean they weren't good.
- The 1950s Glory: Under coach Daniel Lynch, the Terriers were a national powerhouse. They reached the NIT semi-finals in 1956. Back then, the NIT was often considered more prestigious than the Big Dance.
- The 2015 "Almost": Under Glenn Braica, the Terriers finally won the NEC regular-season title. The championship game was at their home gym. The atmosphere was electric. They lost by three points.
- The Pro Pipeline: The school produced legends like Gil McGregor and Alinn Anyia. It wasn't a factory, but it was a forge.
Irma Garcia, the long-time Athletic Director and herself a former Terrier player and coach, was the face of the program. When the announcement hit, she was devastated. You don't spend decades building a culture just to see it erased over a weekend board meeting.
Navigating the Confusion: SFC vs. SFU
If you go looking for a "St. Francis" game right now in 2026, you’re going to get confused.
There are actually two St. Francis schools that were in the Northeast Conference (NEC). One is St. Francis Brooklyn (the Terriers), and the other is Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania (the Red Flash).
The Red Flash are still playing. In fact, they recently made headlines by announcing a move from Division I to Division III starting in the 2026-2027 season. They’re joining the Presidents' Athletic Conference. If you see scores for "St. Francis" on ESPN today, it's the Pennsylvania school, not our Brooklyn boys. The Terriers are strictly historical now.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cut
There’s this idea that the basketball team was "failing."
That’s just not true. The men’s team was competitive until the very end. In their final season (2022-2023), they finished 14-16. Not world-beaters, but they were a tough out in the NEC. The women's program was even stronger, finishing 11-19 but having a 17-win season just the year before.
The decision wasn't about wins and losses. It was about the "Brooklyn cost of living" for a college. Renting practice space, busing teams all over the East Coast, and trying to compete with NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money when you don't even have a home locker room is an uphill battle. The school chose to prioritize its Franciscan mission of "high quality and affordable education" over the prestige of a jersey.
Where Are They Now?
When the program dissolved, the NCAA allowed any Terrier athlete to transfer with immediate eligibility. The portal was flooded with Brooklyn talent.
Most of the coaching staff had to move on too. Glenn Braica, the winningest coach in the school's D1 history, left a massive hole in the local basketball community. The school did honor the scholarships of any student who chose to stay and finish their degree, which was a class move, but most of the hoopers scattered to other NEC or MAAC schools to keep the dream alive.
The Actionable Side of the Story
If you’re a fan or an alum, the "Terrier" era of Division I sports is over, but the history isn't gone. Here is what you can actually do to keep the memory of St Francis NY Terriers basketball alive:
- Support the Archives: The St. Francis College library at the Livingston Street campus still maintains records and memorabilia. They are often looking for program donations or oral histories from former players.
- Follow the Coaching Tree: Many former SFC assistants and players are now coaching in the high school and collegiate ranks around NYC. Supporting them is supporting the "Terrier Way."
- Visit the New Campus: Even without the gym, the school is still a vital part of Brooklyn. The new facility is a tech-heavy, modern space that looks nothing like the old Remsen Street "bunker."
- Watch the Red Flash (Carefully): If you just need a St. Francis fix, the Pennsylvania school is your only option, but remember they are transitioning to DIII soon.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a borough that lives and breathes basketball. Brooklyn is the home of the Nets, the Rucker (okay, that’s Harlem, but you get the vibe), and a million playground legends. Losing the Terriers felt like losing a piece of the neighborhood’s soul.
But as any old Terrier will tell you: "Once a Terrier, always a Terrier." The stats are in the books, the banners (wherever they ended up) still count, and the history of New York City basketball isn't complete without them.