Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) is a competitive collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division II.

Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference
Established1972
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision II
Members11 (10 in 2022)
Sports fielded
  • 21
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 11
RegionGreat Lakes
HeadquartersBay City, Michigan
CommissionerKris Dunbar (since 2018)
Websitewww.gliac.org
Locations

The GLIAC was founded in June 1972. Its eleven member institutions are located in the midwestern United States in the U.S. states of Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. There are three affiliate members who compete in the GLIAC for sports not sponsored by their home conference.

Sponsorship of football was dropped by the GLIAC after the 1989 season. Conference schools sponsoring football joined with members of the Heartland Football 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.

Member schools

Current members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined
Davenport University Grand Rapids, Michigan 1866 Private (Nonsectarian) 6,456 Panthers     2017
Ferris State University Big Rapids, Michigan 1884 Public 12,472 Bulldogs     1972
Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan 1960 Public 24,033 Lakers       1972
Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 1946 Public 1,984 Lakers     1972
Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 1885 Public 7,041 Huskies     1980
Northern Michigan University Marquette, Michigan 1899 Public 7,732 Wildcats     1975;
1987
Northwood University Midland, Michigan 1959 Private (Nonsectarian) 1,522 Timberwolves     1972;
1992
Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana 1946 Public 8,617 Pride     2017
Saginaw Valley State University University Center, Michigan 1963 Public 8,265 Cardinals       1972
Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan 1868 Public 26,844 Warriors     1975
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Somers, Wisconsin 1968 Public 4,420 Rangers       2018

[1]

Notes
  1. Northwood will leave for the G-MAC in 2022.[2]

Affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Sport Primary
conference
Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1860 Private (ELCA) 2,113 Vikings     2021 swimming & diving (M) Northern Sun
Concordia University–St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota 1893 Private (LCMS) 5,139 Golden Bears     2017 lacrosse (W) Northern Sun
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota 1869 Public 12,608 Huskies     2018 swimming & diving (M), soccer (M) Northern Sun
Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa 1857 Private (Nonsectarian) 3,661 Peacocks     2019 lacrosse (W), soccer (M) Northern Sun

Former members

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Ashland University Ashland, Ohio 1878 Private (Brethren) Eagles 1995 2021 Great Midwest
University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Private (Churches of God) Oilers 1997 2017 Great Midwest
Gannon University Erie, Pennsylvania 1925 Private (Catholic) Golden Knights 1995 2008 Pennsylvania State
Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan 1844 Private (Nonsectarian) Chargers 1975 2017 Great Midwest
Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio 1856 Private (Nonsectarian) Storm 2010 2017 Great Midwest
Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Private (Evangelical) Pioneers 2012 2016 Great Midwest
Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania 1926 Private (Catholic) Lakers 1995 2008 Pennsylvania State
Oakland University Rochester, Michigan 1957 Public Golden Grizzlies 1974 1997 Horizon
(NCAA D-I)
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Private (Catholic) Panthers 2010 2017 Great Midwest
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888 Private (Nonsectarian) Dragons 2008 2018 Great Midwest
Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1960 Private (Catholic) Cavaliers 2012 2017 Great Midwest
Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 1852 Private (Presbyterian) Titans 1997 2000 Presidents
(NCAA D-III)

Former affiliate members

School names and nicknames reflect those in use in the final season each school was an affiliate.

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname Joined Left Sport Primary
conference
Alderson Broaddus University Philippi, West Virginia 1871 Private (Baptist) Battlers 2012 2015 lacrosse (W) Mountain East
University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana 1902 Private (United Methodist) Greyhounds 1999/2015 2013/2019 football (1999–2012);
lacrosse (W) (2015–2019);
swimming & diving (M/W) (2000–2013)
Great Lakes Valley
Lewis University Romeoville, Illinois 1932 Private (Catholic) Flyers 2004/2018 2013/2019 lacrosse (W) (2018–2019);
swimming & diving (M/W) (2004-2013)
Great Lakes Valley
Maryville University Town and Country, Missouri 1872 Private (Catholic) Saints 2018 2019 lacrosse (W) Great Lakes Valley
McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois 1828 Private (United Methodist) Bearcats 2014 2019 lacrosse (W) Great Lakes Valley
Notre Dame College South Euclid, Ohio 1922 Private (Catholic) Falcons 2012 2013 football;
lacrosse (W);
soccer (M);
soccer (W);
wrestling
Mountain East
Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850 Private (Nonsectarian) Blue Knights 2012 2014 lacrosse (W) N/A (school closed in 2020)
Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio 1850 Private (Catholic) Arrows 2013 2015
(lacrosse);
2016
(swimming)
lacrosse (W);
swimming & diving (W)
Great Midwest
Wheeling Jesuit University[lower-alpha 1] Wheeling, West Virginia 1954 Private (Catholic) Cardinals 2012 2014 lacrosse (W) Mountain East
  1. Known as Wheeling University since 2019.

Membership timeline

The GLIAC dropped football after the 1989 season and resumed it for the 1999 season.

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

The GLIAC sponsors the following 21 sports:[3]

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross CountryYY
FootballY
GolfYY
LacrosseY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
Swimming & DivingYY
TennisYY
Track & Field IndoorYY
Track & Field OutdoorYY
VolleyballY

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basket­ball Cross
Country
Football Golf Soccer Swimming
& Diving
Tennis Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Total
GLIAC
Sports
Davenport Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Ferris State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Grand Valley State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Lake Superior State Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Michigan Tech Y Y Y Y Y 5
Northern Michigan Y Y Y Y Y 5
Northwood Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Parkside Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Purdue Northwest Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Saginaw Valley State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Wayne State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Totals 7 11 10 8 10 6 4 8 7 8 89
Affiliate Members
Augustana Y 1
St. Cloud State Y 1
Upper Iowa Y 1

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Cross Country Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field
Indoor
Track & Field
Outdoor
Volleyball Total GLIAC Sports
Davenport Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Ferris State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Grand Valley State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Lake Superior State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Michigan Tech Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Northern Michigan Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Northwood Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Parkside Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Purdue Northwest Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Saginaw Valley State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Wayne State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Totals 11 11 9 4 9 8 5 9 9 10 121 106
Affiliate Members
Concordia–St. Paul Y 1
Upper Iowa Y 1

Other sponsored sports by school

School Men Women Co-ed
Ice Hockey[lower-alpha 1] Lacrosse Wrestling Wrestling[lower-alpha 2] Fencing[lower-alpha 1] Skiing[lower-alpha 1]
Davenport GLVC GLVC IND
Ferris State CCHA
Lake Superior State CCHA
Michigan Tech CCHA CCSA
Northern Michigan CCHA [lower-alpha 3] IND CCSA[lower-alpha 4]
Parkside NSIC[4]
Wayne State MFC
  1. De facto Division I sport. In men's ice hockey, the NCAA Division I championship is open to Division II members. In fencing and skiing, the NCAA sponsors single championship events open to members of all three divisions.
  2. Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
  3. Northern Michigan houses an official U.S. Olympic training center for the non-NCAA discipline of Greco-Roman wrestling. All trainees are enrolled at NMU, and are recognized as NMU varsity athletes.
  4. Northern Michigan only competes in NCAA-sponsored events in Nordic skiing. Its Alpine skiing squad is recognized as a varsity team, but does not compete in NCAA events.

In addition to the above:

  • Davenport has varsity teams in esports (coeducational) and the women-only cheerleading discipline of STUNT.
  • Michigan Tech and Purdue Northwest have coeducational varsity esports teams.
  • Northern Michigan recognizes esports (fully coeducational) as a varsity sport. Also, the university hosts an official U.S. Olympic training center for men's and women's weightlifting; all participants in this program are enrolled at NMU, and are recognized as varsity athletes.

Championships

National Championships

GLIAC schools have won 42 NCAA National Championships:

Year Sport School
1975 football Northern Michigan
1980 men's swimming & diving Oakland
1990 women's swimming & diving Oakland
1991 women's swimming & diving Oakland
1992 women's swimming & diving Oakland
1993 women's swimming & diving Oakland
1993 women's volleyball Northern Michigan
1994 men's swimming & diving Oakland
1994 women's swimming & diving Oakland
1994 women's volleyball Northern Michigan
1995 men's swimming & diving Oakland
1996 men's swimming & diving Oakland
1997 men's swimming & diving Oakland
2002 football Grand Valley State
2003 football Grand Valley State
2005 football Grand Valley State
2005 women's volleyball Grand Valley State
2006 women's basketball Grand Valley State
2006 football Grand Valley State
2009 men's basketball Findlay
2009 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2010 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2010 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2011 women's track & field (I) Grand Valley State
2011 women's track & field (O) Grand Valley State
2012 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2012 women's swimming & diving Wayne State (MI)
2012 women's track & field (I) Grand Valley State
2012 women's track & field (O) Grand Valley State
2013 women's basketball Ashland
2013 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2013 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2014 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2014 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2015 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2016 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2016 men's track & field (I) Tiffin
2017 women's basketball Ashland
2017 men's track & field (I) Tiffin
2018 men's basketball Ferris State
2018 men's cross country Grand Valley State
2018 women's cross country Grand Valley State
2019 men's track & field (I) Ashland
2019 men's track & field (O) Ashland
2019 women's soccer Grand Valley State
2021 men’s track & field (O) Ashland
2021 women’s track & field (O) Grand Valley State

Football facilities

Institution Stadium Capacity[5] Surface
Davenport Meyering Field 2,300 Artificial
Ferris State Top Taggart Field 6,200 Artificial
Grand Valley State Lubbers Stadium 10,444 Artificial
Michigan Tech Sherman Field 3,000 Artificial
Northern Michigan Superior Dome 8,000 Artificial
Northwood Hantz Stadium 3,000 Artificial
Saginaw Valley State Wickes Memorial Stadium 6,300 Artificial
Wayne State Adams Field 6,000 Artificial

References

  1. "GLIAC Membership History". Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  2. "Northwood University Athletics Changing Conference Affiliation". Richland Source. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. "Official GLIAC Athletic Site". Official GLIAC Athletic Site. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  4. "NSIC to add UW-Parkside as associated member in wrestling starting in 2021-22" (Press release). Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. June 4, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. "GLIAC Stadiums". D2Football.com. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
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