One team will be missing from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as the fall season of sports is set to begin.

Malone University — who joined the GLIAC in 2012 — left the GLIAC in May 2016 for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. This change created some minor scheduling issues for Ashland University and other teams in the conference.

Ashland University’s athletic director, Al King, hopes the relationship between Malone and AU remains intact in the future.

“We played Malone in numerous sports prior to the school joining the GLIAC,” said King. “Our hope is that we can continue to play Malone in the coming years.”

According to King, the biggest scheduling issue for AU was an open spot on the football schedule left vacant from Malone’s departure. The Eagles filled this spot with a nonconference matchup at Kentucky Wesleyan.

King stressed that although Malone has decided to leave the GLIAC, Ashland University is still fully committed to the conference.

“Malone’s departure doesn’t affect our commitment to the GLIAC, the GLIAC is still our home and we are committed to the conference,” said King. “The GLIAC is one of the top two or three NCAA Division II conferences in the nation and we are proud to call it home.”

King understands that Malone did what was in the best interest for the school.

“All of us at Ashland University have a great deal of respect for Malone and the athletic department,” said King. “The Pioneers were a valuable member of the GLIAC. Each school makes a determination where it fits best conference-wise. While we are sorry to see Malone leave, we understand that the administration made a decision in the best interests of the school. Many of us still have friends at Malone and wish their teams, their coaches and administrators and student-athletes nothing but the best.”

The GLIAC — which began in 1972 — has 15 members following the departure of Malone. That will be changing in July 2017 when Hillsdale, Findlay, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican and Walsh leave the conference for the G-MAC.