The University of Saint Katherine no longer exists but its college volleyball team is currently competing for a national championship. They can bring home a title to a nonexistent school.
It is a rather unique situation for the Firebirds!
Saint Katherine was established in 2010 as a private liberal arts and sciences school located in Encinitas, California. The university later relocated to San Marcos in 2014. Less than 250 students were enrolled and about 85% of them played sports.
Dr. Frank Papatheofanis, founder and president of the University of St. Katherine, sent a notice of termination to the staff on Thursday. His school ceased operations, effective immediately.
It is with deep regret that I inform you that the University of Saint Katherine will cease all employment as of April 25, 2024. USK can no longer meet its financial oblications because of a steep shortfall in operating cash. Multiple reasons for this shortfall include extraordinary inflation, higher-than-anticipated salary increases, and high institutional student financial aid. The same factors have resulted in the closure of many small colleges and university across the country.
The Board and I have vigorously explored multiple options that might allow us to continue. Unfortunately, none of these has proven viable.
The University is filing for bankruptcy protection. As this is being worked through we will continue to pursue and consider any opportunity we can identify.
— Dr. Frank Papatheofanis
St. Katherine is still three weeks away from when it was supposed to start final exams. One of its athletic programs has yet to complete the 2024 spring season.
The Firebirds’ beach volleyball team earned a bid to the NAIA national championship in Greenville, TN as a three-seed. The three-day tournament began on Thursday and will conclude as late as Saturday evening.
Dr. Papatheofanis announced the university’s closure right in the middle of pool play. St. Katherine no longer exists.
However, even though the name on their jersey no longer has any concrete backing, the Firebirds decided to continue their pursuit of a NAIA national title. They played on!
Win or lose, University of Saint Katherine beach volleyball got to suit up one last time together before returning back to San Marcos without a school. It is both a sweet and somber weekend in Tennessee for the Firebirds.
Interestingly enough, this is not the first time this year that something like this has happened. Antelope Valley College finished its men’s and women’s college basketball seasons, also on the NAIA level, after the school closed for similar reasons to St. Katherine. That doesn’t make it any less unusual!