Athletic Director Phil Esten meets with Head Football Coach Glenn Caruso. Esten commented on St. Thomas’s potential move to DI. (Mia Laube/TommieMedia)

St. Thomas athletics director Phil Esten says he is “optimistic there will be a resolution by this spring” on the university’s potential move to Division I and the Summit League.

Division I committees meeting this week at the NCAA convention in Anaheim, California, have had “positive conversations” about St. Thomas’ potential leap from Division III to I, according to Esten. St. Thomas received an invitation to join the DI Summit League in October after being ousted from the DIII MIAC last May.

“We are thankful for the work completed to date by the NCAA staff and various Division I committees, as well as the Summit League’s support and the support from so many involved in this process,” Esten said in a statement to TommieMedia Friday.

Current NCAA rules require Division III schools to spend time in Division II before moving to Division I. Instead of a waiver for St. Thomas, the NCAA is considering creating a framework by which Division III schools could move directly to Division I.

The Star Tribune reported Friday that the NCAA’s Division I Council, which meets in late April, must approve any rule changes.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu