Message from the President: SFU’s varsity football program

Dear SFU Community,

I am saddened to share that we are announcing the end of SFU’s varsity football program. Simon Fraser University is incredibly proud of our long football history, student-athletes, coaches and alumni. 

This is a difficult decision, and not one taken lightly. With the recent announcement that the team has not been invited to continue in the Lone Star Conference, we do not have a conference to play in beginning in 2024. The ongoing uncertainty creates an unacceptable experience for students. The university has carefully considered all available options and as a leadership team we concluded that football is no longer a feasible sport for SFU.

We made this decision now to give students time to make other plans for their athletic careers if they so choose. All students impacted are being supported with one-on-one guidance regarding next steps. We will support football athletes who want to explore options outside of SFU, and will honour athletic scholarship commitments for those who choose to remain at SFU and meet eligibility requirements for the 2023-24 school year. 

SFU is Canada’s only NCAA team. We are committed to excelling in the NCAA Division II in 18 varsity sports, with more than 300 student-athletes. In recognition of this loss to the SFU community, the SFU Athletics Awards and Hall of Fame banquet, scheduled for April 5, has been postponed until the fall. SFU Athletics will engage with the SFU football community on how best to celebrate more than 50 years of history in this sport. More details will be shared at a later date.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our football legacy. We are so grateful for everything you have contributed to the university, both on and off the field. 

Sincerely,

Joy Johnson
President & Vice-Chancellor
Simon Fraser University