The University of St. Thomas will move from Division III to Division I after the 2021-2022 season.

The NCAA approved the move today, making the school the first ever to jump two divisions in the NCAA’s modern history.

“This approval recognizes St. Thomas’ growing reputation and academic and athletic success and will help us expand our mission and impact beyond Minnesota,” wrote Julie Sullivan, president of St. Thomas, in a post on the school’s website. ”

With the news, St. Thomas officially accepted an invitation to join the Summit League, as its 10th member, for 19 of 22 sports.

“St. Thomas brings the full package – an excellent academic reputation, experienced leadership, a massive alumni network and a winning culture,” says Tom Douple, conference commissioner.”

“They are an outstanding addition bringing another successful and growing academic and athletic program to our conference,” adds Jeffrey Gold, chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and chair of the Summit League’s President’s Council.

The Summit League does not have hockey or football, so St. Thomas was still looking for a home for those sports. The football team has accepted an invitation to the Pioneer League.

“The Tommies were one of the NCAA’s most successful football programs at any level over the past decade and they live their university mission on and off the field, which makes them an outstanding institutional fit for us,” says Patty Viverito, commissioner.

The Tommies’ women’s hockey program also has been among the strongest in Division III, posting 20 consecutive winning seasons on the way to posting a 357-171-52 all-time record. The addition brings the league back up to eight programs, which is where it was at up until the 2016-17 season when the University of North Dakota discontinued its women’s hockey program.And its women’s hockey team will become the eighth program in the WCHA women’s league starting with the 2021-22 season.

“As we’ve gone through the membership process with St. Thomas, I have been impressed with their leadership at all levels, as well as their vision for their university, their athletics programs and their women’s hockey team,” says Jason King, chair of the WCHA Women’s Board and associate athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.

“We are thrilled to welcome the University of St. Thomas to the WCHA in 2021,” adds Jennifer Flowers, WCHA Commissioner.

The one remaining program without a home is St. Thomas’ men’s hockey team, but Sullivan doesn’t seem worried. “We also are excited about conference options for our men’s hockey program,” she wrote.

The Tommies, who will be leaving the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference following this upcoming school year, have been looking for a new conference since MIAC voted the program out for competitive balance reasons in May 2019.