On June 26, 2025, Lackawanna College announced its intention to transition to NCAA Division II membership and join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
Beginning in 2026-27,
Lackawanna College will begin competition in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while continuing its NCAA Division II membership candidacy. This page serves as the official source for timeline updates, milestones, announcements, and key information regarding Lackawanna's transition to NCAA Division II athletics.
NCAA Division II Transition Anticipated Timeline
| Year |
Milestone |
| June 2025 |
Accepted invitation to join PSAC |
| 2025-26 |
Final NJCAA season |
| 2026-27 |
Begin PSAC competition and expand athletic opportunities in support of Lackawanna College's four-year degree pathways. |
| 2027-28 |
NCAA Application Year 1 |
| 2028-29 |
NCAA Application Year 2 |
| 2029-30 (Anticipated) |
Full NCAA Division II membership, pending successful completion of all NCAA membership requirements. |
NCAA Membership Process
Lackawanna College is currently working through the NCAA Division II membership process. This multi-year process includes:
- Institutional self-study and strategic planning
- Compliance education and policy development
- Academic and athletics program enhancements
- Governance and operational requirements
- Student-athlete support initiatives
- NCAA membership benchmarks and reporting
The College is committed to maintaining transparency throughout this process and will continue to provide updates as milestones are achieved.
The transition to NCAA Division II allows Lackawanna College to build upon its tradition of athletic excellence while expanding opportunities for future generations of student-athletes.
NCAA Division II Provides:
- The opportunity to earn both bachelor and graduate degrees at Lackawanna College.
- Competition against some of the region's most respected colleges and universities.
- Expanded scholarship opportunities.
- Enhanced academic support and student development services.
- Increased visibility for student-athletes competing at the national NCAA level.
- A balanced college experience focused on academics, athletics, leadership, and career preparation.
Our goal is to provide a championship-caliber experience that prepares student-athletes for success both during and after college.
The Power of the PSAC
Founded in 1951, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) is recognized as one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the nation. The conference is known for its commitment to academic excellence, competitive athletics, and student-athlete development.
Joining the PSAC aligns Lackawanna College with institutions that share our values and commitment to excellence in the classroom, competition, and community engagement.
What This Means for Future Student-Athletes
The NCAA Division II transition will allow future Falcons to:
Stay at Lackawanna Longer
Student-athletes will be able to continue their academic and athletic careers through bachelor's degree completion opportunities.
Compete at a Higher Level
Falcons will compete against established NCAA Division II programs throughout Pennsylvania and the region.
Receive Enhanced Support
Athletics, academics, compliance, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and student-athlete development resources will continue to expand as part of the NCAA membership process.
Shape the Future of Falcon Athletics
Future Falcons will help shape the next chapter of Lackawanna College Athletics and establish a foundation for generations of student-athletes to come.
Ready to Become a Falcon?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Building the Future
The transition to NCAA Division II represents more than a change in athletic affiliation—it represents an investment in student success, institutional growth, and the future of Falcon Athletics.
As we continue this journey, we remain committed to:
- Academic Excellence
- Competitive Success
- Integrity and Compliance
- Student-Athlete Well-Being
- Leadership Development
- Community Engagement
Together, we are building the future of Falcon Athletics.
Follow Our Progress
Stay connected as we share updates regarding:
- NCAA Membership Milestones
- PSAC Integration Updates
- Facility Improvements
- New Academic Opportunities
- Student-Athlete Success Stories
- Athletics Department Growth
The future of Falcon Athletics is being built today through our commitment to academic excellence, competitive success, student-athlete development, and NCAA Division II membership.
#TakeFlight | #NCAAD2Transition
Key milestones demonstrating Lackawanna College's readiness for NCAA Division II membership:
- On June 26, 2025 Lackawanna College, in a joint press conference with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), formally announces the reception of an invitation to the PSAC, and its intention to join the conference as an NCAA Division II athletic institution.
July 2025
- Mike McCarry was elevated to full-time Head Baseball Coach, marking another step in the department's efforts to expand staffing and enhance support services as it prepares for NCAA Division II membership.
- Construction began on the Falcon Performance Center, along with new women's wrestling locker room facilities and dedicated office space for the wrestling coaching staff.
September 2025
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On September 4, 2025, Lackawanna College announced plans to expand its statewide presence with future locations in Bethlehem, Chambersburg, and Greensburg. Combined with the Peirce College merger, the expansion significantly broadens the College's reach and reinforces its commitment to increasing access to higher education across Pennsylvania.
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Construction was completed in late September 2025, and the Falcon Performance Center officially opened in early October. Located in the Lackawanna College Student Union, the renovated 3,200-square-foot facility provides a modern space for strength training, conditioning and student wellness.
November 2025
- On November 3rd, head football coach Mark Duda announces his retirement from collegiate coaching, effective at the end of the 2025 football season, but will remain on campus and as a part of the athletics staff in a "special advisor" role. A nationwide search for coach Duda's successor is immediately underway.
- Lackawanna College hosted an Athletics Alumni Social during Homecoming Weekend, reconnecting former student-athletes with the College and strengthening engagement with the Falcons alumni community.
- Women's Wrestling achieved several historic firsts, including its first dual match and first home dual victory. These milestones marked continued growth in the department's sponsorship of new athletic opportunities as part of its NCAA Division II transition efforts.
December 2025
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On December 23, 2025, Lackawanna College named Mark Ross as the head coach for Lackawanna College football. Ross brings more than 30 years of collegiate coaching and leadership experience from East Stroudsburg University, Ithaca College, Misericordia University, Bloomsburg University and Cornell University. Ross's hiring provides leadership and stability as the football program prepares for competition in the PSAC and the College's transition to NCAA Division II athletics.
- Lackawanna College breaks ground on new Center for Technology Innovation Building.
The new $10 million Center for Technology Innovation (CTI), a 17,500-square-foot facility will expand academic opportunities in cybersecurity, robotics, advanced automotive technologies, and emerging energy fields while supporting workforce development throughout the region.
January 2026
- Lackawanna College named Juan Almonte as head women's soccer coach in July 2025, . Almonte brings collegiate coaching and recruiting experience from Marywood University and East Stroudsburg University, along with a strong commitment to student-athlete development.
- Juan Almonte and Head Softball Coach Jeff Pittsman were elevated to full-time head coaching positions in January, reflecting the department's continued investment in staffing and program development during the NCAA Division II transition.
February 2026
- Will Flannery is hired as the new full-time head coach for men's soccer on February 2nd. Coach Flannery brings collegiate coaching and recruiting experience from Leigh University and Dickinson College, where he helped guide programs to conference championships and national tournament success. Flannery will be the first full-time head men's soccer coach, and brings a fiery competitive spirit, along with a strong coaching pedigree, to the Lackawanna College program. Flannery immediately hit the ground running, taking to the recruiting trail to build up the Lackawanna program.
March 2026
- Lackawanna College named Darnell Ford as head women's basketball coach in July 2025, . Ford brings extensive experience in player development, recruiting, and fundraising, and previously served as an assistant coach with the Falcons. Following the conclusion of the 2025-2026 women's basketball season, coach Darnell Ford is elevated to a full-time role as the head coach for the program. Coach Ford kept has laid a solid foundation for his young Falcons to build on heading into next season.
- Coach Mark Ross announces the hiring of three new coaches to his football staff, as Will Blanden (DC), Joe Zabielski (DL), and Nick Csillan (TEs) are all brought on staff. Blanden comes to Lackawanna after five years at Cornell and eight years with Bloomsburg. Zabielski was the defensive line coach at Misericordia under Ross, and, before that, won a MAC championship in 2006 coaching at Wilkes. Csillan is a former Falcon, joining the program after leaving the University of Albany. These new additions, plus the retentions from the football staff from 2025, help shore up the Lackawanna roster and coaching staff, giving the Falcons some much-needed stability at an important time in the program's trajectory.
April 2026
- Assistant Athletic Director and former Lackawanna football coach Josh Pardini is named as the new Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance, taking over the role from the retiring Director of Compliance, Joseph Paparelli. Pardini has nearly 20 years of experience at Lackawanna College, and will provide a spark and desire to help ensure the department is following all eligibility and compliance guidelines set forth by the NCAA and the PSAC.
May 2026
- Longtime college professor Lawrence Pugliese is named as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR), an important role in the Athletics Administration and for the College's admittance to the NCAA and the PSAC.
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Lackawanna College opens new trade centers. Lackawanna College expanded its statewide footprint by opening new trade centers in Chambersburg and Bethlehem, increasing access to high-demand workforce training and associate degree programs in welding, construction, electrical technology, and other skilled trades
- Patrick Lloyd is named the new head men's and women's golf coach at Lackawanna College, marking the return of men's golf and the launch of women's golf. A Lackawanna alumnus,
Patrick Lloyd brings nearly two decades of collegiate head coaching experience at Lackawanna College and Marywood University, along with extensive leadership in golf administration through the Golf Association of Philadelphia and Anthracite Golf Association.
- During the annual Spring Football Game and alumni gathering, Lackawanna College unveiled plans for future outdoor athletics facilities and launched a capital campaign to support their development. The month also marked the final NJCAA home baseball contests in Lackawanna College history, symbolizing the department's transition to a new era.
June 2026
- Dr. Dan LaMagna joined the athletics administration as Head of Student-Athlete Experience, leading student-athlete wellness initiatives, community engagement efforts, and enhancements to the game-day experience as part of the College's commitment to the overall student-athlete experience.
- Lackawanna College announced Nicholas Liuzzo as the new head coach for both men's and women's cross country, confirming the addition of both programs back into the fold at Lackawanna College. Liuzzo comes to Lackawanna College after spending time as the assistant coach at his alma mater, Keystone College. Liuzzo is a local with a passion for cross country, and he will help build both the men's and women's programs from the ground floor up.
- Lackawanna College announced Raru Archer as the new head men's basketball coach, taking over the program that he once coached for 15 years prior. Archer was the head men's basketball coach in 2011 and 2012, winning a Region XIX DII championship in his final year, before moving on in the collegiate basketball landscape with stops at Norfolk State men's basketball, Sam Houston State women's basketball, and, most recently, Long Beach State women's basketball. The native Texan spent five seasons at Lackawanna, three as an assistant, and Archer's familiarity with the program, especially with the heights he saw it achieve, will help with the goal of competing in the ultra-competitive PSAC.
- Lackawanna College announced a change in the leadership of the men's wrestling program, with John Fox staying on with the College as the women's wrestling coach, and Dave Morgan being hired as the men's wrestling coach. The split lets each program have its own distinct identity, and the hiring of the two-time national champion Morgan, a Scranton native, will give a huge boost to the men's program. Morgan won a pair of national titles at King's College, then transitioned into coaching, while also competing as an MMA athlete. Morgan has a passion for wrestling and building programs, and his vision for what Lackawanna can be will align with where the Falcons want to go.
July 2026
- On July 1st, Peirce College officially merges with Lackawanna College, and the former Peirce College location in Philadelphia now becomes Lackawanna College - Philadelphia Center. Peirce's legacy for online learning remains, via Lackawanna's Peirce School of Online Education. The merger now means that Lackawanna College is the largest open-enrollment, private, nonprofit institution in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the undergraduate level, servicing over 8,000 students annually in eleven locations and online.
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As part of Lackawanna College's transition to NCAA Division II and future competition in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Lackawanna College has significantly expanded academic opportunities through its integration with Peirce College. This initiative broadens the institution's academic portfolio by adding numerous bachelor's degree and graduate-level pathways, allowing student-athletes to complete four-year degrees without transferring to another institution.
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The addition of these degree pathways supports a key objective of the NCAA Division II transition: providing student-athletes with increased opportunities to earn bachelor's degrees at Lackawanna College while benefiting from an enhanced academic experience that aligns with the College's commitment to student success, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
- Adrienne McIntire is named as the Esports Program Manager. Adrienne's role will be to be the go-to contact for everything Esports, and her job will be to manage the Esports roster, continue to push our student-athletes to achieve both in their respective games and in the classroom, and hire a competent coaching staff to help drive those goals, while recruiting for the future.
- Two changes in Athletics Administration titles became official, as Mike Rickert was named Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach, while Danny Berg was named Associate Athletic Director of Operations and External Affairs. Rickert was originally hired in 2016 to be the fitness center manager, and quickly transitioned into the main point of contact for our student-athletes as the lifting supervisor and nutrition coordinator. Rickert will now be solely responsible for the health and wellness of our student-athletes, as it pertains to their strength and conditioning, and will continue to run and manage the Falcon Performance Center.
Berg, who was originally hired more than 20 years ago as the head women's soccer coach, has served as the Coordinator of Athletic Operations and Fundraising for the past several years. In that role, he has overseen team travel, practice and facility scheduling, scholarship administration, and athletic business operations, while also leading fundraising initiatives and community outreach efforts. In his expanded role, Berg will continue to direct fundraising and external engagement strategies while assuming broader oversight of athletics operations, departmental planning, event management, and strategic initiatives that support the College's transition to NCAA Division II and PSAC competition.
