Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - Definition and Overview

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (or GLIAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. The GLIAC was founded in June 1972. Member institutions are located in the midwestern United States in the States of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Charter members included Grand Valley State, Lake Superior State, Northwood, and Saginaw Valley State.

Former members (and years of membership) include Oakland (1972-1997) and Westminster (1997-2000).

Sponsorship of football was dropped by the GLIAC after the 1989 season. Conference schools sponsoring football joined with football-playing members of the Heartland Conference to form the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), which began play in 1990. The MIFC merged with the GLIAC in July 1999 and the GLIAC resumed sponsorship of football that fall.

Current members (and year joined)

• Ashland University (1995)
• Ferris State University (1972)
• University of Findlay (1997)
• Gannon University (1995; 2004 for football)
• Grand Valley State University (1972)
• Hillsdale College (1974)
• University of Indianapolis (1999) [associate member in football only]
• Lake Superior State University (1972) [no football]
• Mercyhurst College (1995)
• Michigan Technological University (1980)
• Northern Michigan University (1975-1977, 1987)
• Northwood University (1972-1987, 1992)
• Saginaw Valley State University (1972)
• Wayne State University (1975)

Sports

The GLIAC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men’s baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and women’s volleyball.

External link

• Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (http://www.gliac.org/)