Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Last updated
Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference logo.svg
Association NCAA
Founded1972
CommissionerKris Dunbar (since 2018)
Sports fielded
  • 21
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 11
Division Division II
No. of teams11
Headquarters Bay City, Michigan
Region Great Lakes
Official website www.gliac.org
Locations
GLIACstates.png
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
100km
62miles
Blue pog.svg
Roosevelt
Blue pog.svg
Parkside
Blue pog.svg
Wayne State
Blue pog.svg
Saginaw Valley State
Blue pog.svg
Purdue Northwest
Blue pog.svg
Northern Michigan
Blue pog.svg
Michigan Tech
Blue pog.svg
Lake Superior State
Blue pog.svg
Grand Valley State
Blue pog.svg
Ferris State
Blue pog.svg
Davenport
Location of GLIAC members: Blue pog.svg full.

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level.

Contents

The GLIAC was founded in June 1972. Its eleven member institutions are located in the Midwestern United States in the states of Michigan, Illinois, 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.

History

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The GLIAC currently has 11 full members; all but two are public schools. Reclassifying members in yellow.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Colors
Davenport University Grand Rapids, Michigan 1866 Nonsectarian 4,848 Panthers 2017   
Ferris State University Big Rapids, Michigan 1884Public9,959 Bulldogs 1972   
Grand Valley State University Allendale, Michigan 1960Public22,011 Lakers 1972     
Lake Superior State University Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 1946Public1,669 Lakers 1972   
Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 1885Public7,430 Huskies 1980   
Northern Michigan University Marquette, Michigan 1899Public6,958 Wildcats 1975;
1987 [b]
   
Purdue University Northwest Hammond and
Westville, Indiana [c]
1946 [d] Public9,051 Pride 2017   
Roosevelt University Chicago, Illinois 1945Nonsectarian4,281 Lakers 2023 [e]    
Saginaw Valley State University University Center, Michigan 1963Public6,822 Cardinals 1972     
Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan 1868Public23,553 Warriors 1975   
University of Wisconsin–Parkside Somers, Wisconsin 1968Public3,947 Rangers 2018     
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Northern Michigan left the GLIAC after the 1976–77 school year; which would later re-join back in the 1987–88 school year.
  3. Purdue Northwest maintains a branch campus in Westville, where the men's and women's cross country teams are housed and where the men's and women's basketball & women's volleyball teams play a portion of their home contests; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the main campus in Hammond.
  4. Purdue Northwest was originally founded as two separate institutions: Purdue University–Calumet in Hammond and Purdue University–North Central in Westville, which both began offering degrees in 1946. The two institutions were merged to become Purdue Northwest in 2016.
  5. Roosevelt joined the GLIAC as a provisional member in July 2023 while still competing in the NAIA's Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC); it began competition as a full GLIAC member since fall 2024.


Affiliate members

The GLIAC currently has three affiliate members, all but one are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] ColorsGLIAC
sport
Primary
conference
Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1860 Lutheran ELCA 2,158 Vikings 2021   men's swimming & diving Northern Sun (NSIC)
Concordia University–St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota 1893 Lutheran LCMS 5,928 Golden Bears 2017   women's lacrosse
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota 1869Public10,164 Huskies 2018m.sw.;
2021m.soc.
   men's swimming & diving;
men's soccer
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

Former members

The GLIAC had 13 former full members; all but one are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
Ashland University Ashland, Ohio 1878 Brethren 6,626 Eagles 19952021 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Churches of God 4,870 Oilers 19972017 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Gannon University Erie, Pennsylvania 1925 Catholic 4,238 Golden Knights 19952008 Pennsylvania (PSAC)
Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan 1844Nonsectarian1,521 Chargers 19752017 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio 1856Nonsectarian1,177 Storm 20102017 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Evangelical 1,684 Pioneers 20122016 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Mercyhurst University Erie, Pennsylvania 1926 Catholic 3,217 Lakers 19952008 Northeast (NEC) [c]
Northwood University Midland, Michigan 1959Nonsectarian2,541 Timberwolves 1972;
1992
1987;
2022
Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Oakland University Rochester, Michigan [d] 1957Public20,519 Golden Grizzlies 19741997 Horizon [c]
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Catholic 1,716 Panthers 20102017 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888Nonsectarian3,096 Dragons 20082018 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1960 Catholic 2,779 Cavaliers 20122017 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania 1852 Presbyterian 1,482 Titans 19972000 Presidents' (PAC) [e]
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  4. The Oakland campus has a Rochester mailing address, but lies within the separate cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills.
  5. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

Former affiliate members

The GLIAC had nine former affiliate members, all were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those in use in the final season each school was an affiliate:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] GLIAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Alderson Broaddus University Philippi, West Virginia 1871 Baptist 2,306 Battlers 20122015women's lacrosseClosed in 2023
University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana 1902 United Methodist 4,168 Greyhounds 1999fb.;
2015w.lax.;
2000m.sw.;
2000w.sw.
2012fb.;
2019w.lax.;
2013m.sw.;
2013w.sw.
football;
women's lacrosse;
men's swimming & diving;
women's swimming & diving
Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Lewis University Romeoville, Illinois 1932 Catholic 4,306 Flyers 2018w.lax.
2004m.sw.
2004w.sw.
2019w.lax.
2013m.sw.
2013w.sw.
women's lacrosse;
men's swimming & diving;
women's swimming & diving
Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Maryville University Town and Country, Missouri [c] 1872 Catholic 5,504 Saints 20182019women's lacrosse Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois 1828United Methodist1,702 Bearcats 20142019women's lacrosse Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Notre Dame College South Euclid, Ohio 1922 Catholic 2,200 Falcons 2012fb.;
2012w.lax.;
2012m.soc.;
2012w.soc.;
2012wr.
2013fb.;
2013w.lax.;
2013m.soc.;
2013w.soc.;
2013wr.
football;
women's lacrosse;
men's soccer;
women's soccer;
wrestling
Closed in 2024
Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa 1857NonsectarianN/A Peacocks 2019w.lax.;
2019m.soc.
2022w.lax.;
2023m.soc.
women's lacrosse;
men's soccer
Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)
Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850NonsectarianN/A Blue Knights 20122014women's lacrosseClosed in 2020
Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio 1850 Catholic 1,073 Arrows 2013w.lax.;
2013w.sw.
2015w.lax.;
2016w.sw.
women's lacrosse;
women's swimming & diving
Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Wheeling Jesuit University [d] Wheeling, West Virginia 1954Catholic1,600 Cardinals 20122014women's lacrosse Mountain East (MEC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. The main campus is located in Town and Country but has a St. Louis mailing address.
  4. Currently known as Wheeling University since 2019.

Membership timeline

Note: The GLIAC dropped football after the 1989 fall season (1989–90 school year) and resumed it since the 1999 fall season (1999–2000 school year).

Roosevelt UniversityAugustana UniversityUpper Iowa UniversityMaryville UniversitySt. Cloud State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–ParksideConcordia University, St. PaulPurdue University NorthwestDavenport UniversityMcKendree UniversityUrsuline CollegeWheeling UniversityUrbana UniversityAlderson Broaddus UniversityNotre Dame CollegeGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceWalsh UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceMalone UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceOhio Dominican UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceLake Erie CollegeGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceTiffin UniversityLewis UniversityUniversity of IndianapolisPresidents' Athletic ConferenceWestminster College (Pennsylvania)Great Midwest Athletic ConferenceUniversity of FindlayNortheast ConferencePennsylvania State Athletic ConferenceMercyhurst UniversityPennsylvania State Athletic ConferenceGannon UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceAshland UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityWayne State UniversityNorthern Michigan UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceHillsdale CollegeHorizon LeagueSummit LeagueNCAA Division I independent schoolsOakland UniversitySaginaw Valley State UniversityGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceNorthwood UniversityLake Superior State UniversityGrand Valley State UniversityFerris State UniversityGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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

Sports

The GLIAC sponsors the following 21 sports: [2]

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Football Green check.svg
Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Lacrosse Green check.svg
Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Softball Green check.svg
Swimming & Diving Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & Field Indoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & Field Outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svg

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasket­ballCross
Country
FootballGolfSoccerSwimming
& Diving
TennisTrack
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Total
GLIAC
Sports
DavenportGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Ferris StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Grand Valley StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Lake Superior StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
Michigan TechGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
Northern MichiganGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
ParksideGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Purdue NorthwestGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
RooseveltGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Saginaw Valley StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Wayne StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Totals711108106+15+288981
Affiliate Members
AugustanaGreen check.svg1
St. Cloud StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svg2

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross CountryGolfLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & field
Indoor
Track & field
Outdoor
VolleyballTotal GLIAC Sports
DavenportGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
Ferris StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Grand Valley StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
Lake Superior StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Michigan TechGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
Northern MichiganGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
ParksideGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Purdue NorthwestGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
RooseveltGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
Saginaw Valley StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
Wayne StateGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg [a] Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Totals1212839 [b] 859101111104
Affiliate Member
Concordia–St. PaulGreen check.svg1
Notes
  1. Wayne State is adding soccer for the 2026-27 season.
  2. Increasing to 10 members for the 2026-27 season.

Other sponsored sports by school

SchoolMenWomenCo-ed
Ice Hockey [a] LacrosseVolleyballWrestlingStunt [b] Wrestling [b] Fencing [a] Skiing [a]
Davenport G-MAC G-MAC G-MAC GLVC
Ferris State CCHA GLVC
Grand Valley State IND GLVC
Lake Superior State CCHA
Michigan Tech CCHA CCSA
Northern Michigan CCHA - [c] GLVC CCSA [d]
Parkside NSIC [3]
Purdue Northwest GLVC
Roosevelt GLVC
Wayne State CCFC
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 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:

Championships

National Championships

GLIAC schools have won 53 NCAA National Championships:

YearSportSchool
1975FootballNorthern Michigan
1980Men's swimming & divingOakland
1990Women's swimming & divingOakland
1991Women's swimming & divingOakland
1992Women's swimming & divingOakland
1993Women's swimming & divingOakland
1993Women's volleyballNorthern Michigan
1994Men's swimming & divingOakland
1994Women's swimming & divingOakland
1994Women's volleyballNorthern Michigan
1995Men's swimming & divingOakland
1996Men's swimming & divingOakland
1997Men's swimming & divingOakland
2002FootballGrand Valley State
2003FootballGrand Valley State
2005FootballGrand Valley State
2005Women's volleyballGrand Valley State
2006Women's basketballGrand Valley State
2006FootballGrand Valley State
2009Men's basketballFindlay
2009Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2010Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2010Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2011Women's track & field (I)Grand Valley State
2011Women's track & field (O)Grand Valley State
2012Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2012Women's swimming & divingWayne State (MI)
2012Women's track & field (I)Grand Valley State
2012Women's track & field (O)Grand Valley State
2013Women's basketballAshland
2013Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2013Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2014Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2014Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2015Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2016Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2016Men's track & field (I)Tiffin
2017Women's basketballAshland
2017Men's track & field (I)Tiffin
2018Men's basketballFerris State
2018Men's cross countryGrand Valley State
2018Women's cross countryGrand Valley State
2019Men's track & field (I)Ashland
2019Men's track & field (O)Ashland
2019Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2021Women's track & field (O)Grand Valley State
2021Men's cross countryGrand Valley State
2021Women's soccerGrand Valley State
2021FootballFerris State
2022Men's track & field (I)Grand Valley State
2022FootballFerris State
2024FootballFerris State
2025Women's basketballGrand Valley State

Conference facilities

SchoolFootballBasketball
StadiumCapacity [4] ArenaCapacity
DavenportMeyering Field2,300Davenport Student Center1,500
Ferris State Top Taggart Field 6,200Jim Wink Arena2,400
Grand Valley State Lubbers Stadium 10,444 GVSU Fieldhouse 4,200
Lake Superior Statenon-football schoolRonald "Bud" Cooper Gymnasium2,500
Michigan Tech Sherman Field 3,000SDC Gymnasium3,200
Northern Michigan Superior Dome 8,000Vandament Arena3,000
Parksidenon-football schoolDeSimone Gymnasium2,120
Purdue Northwestnon-football schoolJohn Friend Court
H.D. Kesling Gymnasium

1,500
Roosevelt Morris Field Goodman Center500
Saginaw Valley State Wickes Memorial Stadium 6,300James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena3,500
Wayne StateAdams Field6,000 Wayne State Fieldhouse 3,000

References

  1. "GLIAC Membership History". Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  2. "Official GLIAC Athletic Site". Archived from the original on August 18, 2008. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  3. "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.
  4. "GLIAC Stadiums". D2Football.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2011.