The major conferences in NCAA Division I aren’t the only ones looking to expand.
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which includes Grand Valley State University and Ferris State University among 14 NCAA Division II schools in the Midwest, announced Monday it has accepted Malone University and Walsh University as league members, beginning next summer.
The GLIAC Presidents Council voted to officially accept Malone and Walsh, both located in Ohio, as provisional members until each institution is granted full D-II membership. Officials from both schools made formal presentations to the league at a Sept. 27 meeting in Traverse City.
"We are pleased to have Walsh and Malone join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference," GVSU athletic director Tim Selgo said. "We are adding two quality institutions to the league that will enhance the GLIAC brand in Ohio."
Ferris State athletic director Perk Weisenburger agreed.
"As a league, we were looking to expand for strategic purposes, and Malone and Walsh were looking for conference affiliation and a league they could commit to," Weisenburger said. "Both institutions were impressive in their presentations and very aware of not only what they bring to the GLIAC, but what they will gain as well. Two very good additions."
Malone, a liberal arts college in Canton affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church, and Walsh, its independent Catholic liberal arts neighbor in North Canton, are not eligible to compete for GLIAC league titles or postseason tournaments in the 2012-13 seasons that have an automatic NCAA qualification.
Those sports include men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s golf.
Both schools are eligible to participate in league championships in the 2012-13 academic year in cross country, women’s golf, men’s soccer, and indoor and outdoor track and field.
Additionally, Malone is eligible to compete in the GLIAC men’s and women’s swimming and diving championships upon entering the conference.
"Malone and Walsh will be tremendous assets as we grow through expansion," GLIAC Commissioner Dell Robinson said in a news release. "These institutions are rich in tradition and success, both academically and athletically. We believe Malone and Walsh will be very competitive in the conference and nationally as they reach NCAA Division II membership."
Both schools field football teams. The Malone Pioneers are 4-5 against a schedule comprised of NCAA D-II and NAIA opponents, while the Walsh Cavaliers are 3-6 against similar competition.
The GLIAC, founded in 1972, has nine member institutions in Michigan and five in Ohio.
The University of Indianapolis and Lewis University, located in Romeoville, Ill., are affiliate members that compete in a limited number of sports.
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