When Eastern University announced it was adding football in September 2021, many were excited, but most thought it would be a while before the program became competitive. However, in just its third season of varsity competition, Eastern football won a Middle Atlantic Conference championship and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Eagles lost only a single game in the regular season and clinched a share of the MAC title and an NCAA Tournament berth with a 28-7 home win over FDU in the penultimate game. The following week, Eastern won 16-10 at Stevenson to secure the title and a bye through the first round of the  NCAA Tournament.

Jason Bateman ’27 led a fast and experienced defense that finished at or near the top of almost every significant defensive category in the MAC. The junior All-American led Division III in forced fumbles.

Quarterback Brett Nabb ’24, MBA ’25, Academic All-MAC Performer and the PhillySIDA Academic All-QuarterArea Football Performer of the Year, earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors with over 1300 yards on the ground and in the air. The Eagles used this formula to upset the 16th-ranked Franklin & Marshall Diplomats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Nabb had four rushing touchdowns, and the defense came up with a late interception to secure a 2824 victory and a spot in the final 16.

Head Coach Billy Crocker took the job in December 2021, had his first staff in place by January 2022, and had nearly 100 players on campus the following August. The Eagles played their first full season in fall 2023.

The young Eagles gained valuable experience in that first varsity season, playing home games at the historic Franklin Field. They only came out on top twice. The following season, they opened with a 1-4 start before rallying to win four of their final five games, finishing with a 5-5 record.

When discussing the championship season, Crocker often referenced the “year-zero guys” and their commitment to being part of something before there was something to be part of. Many of the key contributors were players who took a chance and grew in confidence during that first season, while others joined the following year. 

In an age where many college programs rely on transfers, the vast majority of the guys on the field came to Eastern for their first collegiate experience.

With the program’s continued success, Eastern football has added another strong incoming class to pair with a determined returning group for the 2026 season.

To accommodate nearly 100 baseball players  on campus, Eastern recently completed an overhaul of  The Yard. The on-campus venue now features a branded artificial turf surface, two bullpen mounds for each team, heated dugouts, multiple batting cages, and a videoboard.

With full varsity and JV schedules, Eastern baseball is slated to play at least 40 games at home in spring 2026.

With that project complete, athletics is on to the next construction project adjacent to the gym and Olson Field. The several-thousand-square-foot addition will create offices, team spaces, and practice facilities for our many teams and growing department. Most of the new space will be over the area that previously enclosed the outdoor swimming pool.

The current gym building was completed in 1958 when Eastern had just over 300 students, but now with nearly 800 student-athletes on campus, the department needs space. The new building, along with the property purchased from Valley Forge Military College, will give Eastern Athletics staff more space to mentor student-athletes and develop excellent programs.

Women’s Flag Football: Eastern Women’s Flag Football competed as an affiliate member in the Atlantic East. Under the leadership of head coach Amanda Ruller, the Eagles finished their f irst season 14-4 and reached the league championship game. With a full year to recruit from ever-expanding youth and high school programs, Ruller continues to add experienced players and will have the Eagles competing in both the Atlantic East and the East Coast Athletic Conference. Flag football is an emerging sport and appears poised to become an NCAA championship sport in the near future.

Men's & Women’s Wrestling: When Eastern added Men’s  and Women’s Wrestling in December 2024, the intention was  to begin competition in the 2026-27 academic year. That  timeline accelerated with the hiring of Andrew Taylor as  director of wrestling.

Taylor filled his men’s roster with dynamic talent and built a powerhouse women’s roster. Malik Asfour ’27 became the first Eastern wrestler to win a MAC championship, dominating the field en route to the 125-pound title. Asfour has been ranked in and around the top five in Division III throughout the season.

The Eastern women won five MAC titles and finished eighth at the NWCA National Duals despite leaving two weight classes open. Savannah Witt ’29, Zoey Haines ’29 and Jesenia Camargo ’27 have all been ranked in the NCAA top 20 in their weight classes this season.

Eastern will begin hosting wrestling meets next year at The Nest.

Track & Field: Hailey Shreffler ’25, a double major in biochemistry and math, set program records and earned All-Metro Region honors in the 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run and 5,000-meter run. After winning both the 800 and 1,500 at the MAC championships and helping two relay teams reach the podium, Shreffler earned 2025 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Track Athlete of the Year honors.

She also qualified for the national championships with a program-record time of 2:09.87 in the 800. Shreffler finished 12th to earn All-America honors and received multiple academic honors.