INDIANAPOLIS – On July 7, 1978, six NCAA Division II institutions – Ashland University, Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University), Indiana State University at Evansville (now the University of Southern Indiana), Indiana Central University (now the University of Indianapolis), Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Saint Joseph’s College – united to formalize a final constitution and bylaws for the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Thirty-five years later, the GLVC is poised to celebrate the anniversary of its inception throughout the 2013-14 academic year.
What began as a six-member, men’s basketball conference, has now grown to 16 schools and sponsorship of 20 sports, including men’s and women’s swimming and diving, which begins its inaugural season this year.
Also new in 2013-14 is the addition of Truman State University, which was officially welcomed into the conference for competition on July 1. The Bulldogs take the place of Kentucky Wesleyan, which has resigned from the conference but will continue to compete as an associate member of the GLVC in football.
“The addition of Truman State University last week and the mark of the conference’s 35th anniversary this week has the GLVC poised for an exciting 2013-14 academic year,” said Jim Naumovich, who is beginning his 14th season as the conference’s longest-tenured commissioner. “Throughout the season, the GLVC will honor its tradition through a variety of outlets, while highlighting the conference’s commitment to the classroom, championships, and the community.”
In celebration of the GLVC’s milestone, the conference released today its 35th Anniversary public service announcement (PSA), as well as its ceremonial logo, which will be utilized across all platforms this season.
In the league’s PSA, several current and former conference representatives are featured, including pioneers who paved the way and leaders who emerged from within. An emphasis was also placed on the conference’s progress over the years, made possible by people who are in position to inspire the next generation to guide us forward as a conference in our next 35 years.
Among the individuals highlighted in the 30-second spot were two of the conference’s six founding fathers, including Bellarmine’s Jim Spalding and Saint Joseph’s Richard Scharf, as well as all five league commissioners. Southern Indiana is represented by former faculty athletic representative and GLVC President Dr. Charles Bertram and Stan Gouard, who were both inducted into the GLVC Hall of Fame in 2003. Gouard, who is arguably the most decorated men’s basketball player in the conference’s history, is now the head men’s basketball coach at UIndy. He was joined in the video by fellow GLVC Hall of Famer Josh Rabe, who starred as a player and now serves as head baseball coach at Quincy University. Gouard’s current boss, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Sue Willey, is also featured in the promotional spot as she has served a variety of roles within the Greyhounds’ athletics department since 1978, including head coaching stints in women’s basketball, softball, track and field, and volleyball. In one of the PSA’s final shots, Willey is shown presenting an award to Jennifer DeMotte, a two-time GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in softball and one of three GLVC finalists for this year’s NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Throughout the year, the GLVC will also celebrate its 35th Anniversary by introducing a redesign of its website, GLVCsports.com, which will feature an online and social media campaign that will highlight a weekly note on the conference’s history over the course of 35 weeks. In addition, the league office will incorporate into the new website its first-ever GLVC Records Book, update the look of its annual All-Sports Trophy, and continue its commitment to enhance the championship experience for its student-athletes.
Stay tuned to GLVCsports.com for continued coverage of the conference’s 35th Anniversary celebration, as well as the league’s official Twitter account, @GLVCsports, with the trending hashtag, #GLVC35.