Seattle U. approves bid for Division I

Seattle University's Board of Trustees gave its approval Thursday to apply to the NCAA for a return to Division I athletics, a source in the athletic department said.

A formal announcement could come as early as today, though more likely next week.

The decision could lead to Seattle U. playing Division I sports for the first time in almost 30 years. If the move is approved by the NCAA, the Redhawks could transition to a mixed Division I and II schedule in 2008-09 and could be Division I in all sports as early as 2009-10.

The university, which dropped from Division I in 1980, now competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with schools such as Seattle Pacific and Western Washington. Seattle U. will remain Division II in 2007-08.

Bill Hogan, Seattle University athletic director, declined to comment.

The athletic-department source confirmed the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation by a 22-person task force that included students, faculty and trustees.

The NCAA will review Seattle U.'s application and athletic program during the next school year.

"Unless something unexpected or unforeseen comes up to stop the process, it's going to happen," the source said.

Seattle U.'s glory days in men's basketball came as a Division I school in the 1950s, with players such as Elgin Baylor and the O'Brien twins, Eddie and Johnny. Baylor led SU to the NCAA championship game in 1958, where it lost to Kentucky. Many alumni and supporters were disappointed when SU dropped from Division I in 1980.

If Seattle U. moves up, it might not be in the West Coast Conference, where it was a member from 1971 to 1980. Presidents from the WCC, an eight-member league that includes Gonzaga, decided in March not to expand in the foreseeable future. Many believe Seattle U., a Jesuit university of about 7,200 students on First Hill, fits best in the WCC, where all but one of the members are also Catholic schools.

The Redhawks could play as an independent or join another conference, but the Seattle U. source said the WCC still may be an option.

"We haven't closed the door to applying to the WCC for admission," the source said. "We're not going to let it stop us from going Division I."

Seattle U. competes in 14 sports, eight female and six male, and would have to add one men's sport to satisfy Division I requirements. Golf or tennis is the most likely addition because of lower expenses, the source said, but baseball has been discussed.

Don Shelton: 206-464-8284 or dshelton@seattletimes.com