Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Logo

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference logoGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Logo PNG

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) is an NCAA Division II collegiate athletic conference committed to fostering competitive sports among its member institutions. Under the leadership of Commissioner Kris Dunbar, the conference is headquartered in Bay City, Michigan. The GLIAC is renowned for organizing sports events across the Midwestern United States, particularly focusing on Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It excels at providing a competitive platform for student-athletes, maintaining a well-balanced program emphasizing academics, sportsmanship, and athletic achievement.

Meaning and history

The GLIAC was founded in 1972 by a group of university athletic directors seeking to enhance competition and sportsmanship among collegiate teams. Initially, the conference included six charter members, which rapidly grew as additional institutions recognized the potential benefits of joining a tightly-knit athletic network. Over the years, the GLIAC has expanded to include universities primarily from Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, with some membership shifts due to realignments and strategic planning.

Significant achievements mark the GLIAC’s storied history, as member schools have regularly contended for and won NCAA Division II national championships in a wide array of sports. The conference has excelled particularly in men’s and women’s basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer. The GLIAC prides itself on a deep commitment to excellence in both athletic and academic pursuits, with numerous member schools being acknowledged for high academic standards and community engagement. Over time, GLIAC teams have produced numerous professional athletes and coaches.

Today, the GLIAC stands strong as a leading athletic conference, fostering a culture that emphasizes holistic development for student-athletes. With a clear mission of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports, the conference remains at the forefront of athletic excellence in the NCAA Division II landscape. It continually innovates to provide its athletes with ample opportunities for growth and exposure while ensuring that academic achievements remain integral to the student-athlete experience.

What is Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference?
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) is an NCAA Division II athletic conference headquartered in Bay City, Michigan. It includes member institutions from the Midwest, providing competitive opportunities in various sports. It emphasizes athletic and academic achievement, fostering holistic development for student-athletes.

1972 – Today

Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Logo

The emblem combines three shades of blue with white nuances to reflect the beauty of the water. Also, the shapes used in the design serve the same purpose. Both the shape placed over the lettering “GLIAC” and below remind the flow of the water and the waves.

The lettering itself looks clean and dynamic due to the simple sans serif typeface. The design is encircled by the full name of the conference, which is given in a different type. Although it is also a sans serif font, it has different glyphs with sharper ends.

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