GRAND RAPIDS, Mich -- While the news was out on Tuesday about Davenport making the jump to NCAA Division II, the school held a press conference Thursday to make it official.
"It's an awesome time for our University, it's been a five year process so this is something that we've had a chance to look at work through the whole process for many years" DU Athletic DirectorPaul Lowden said, "we've been doing a lot of things like a division two school in regards to processes and compliance and things like that so our coaches have been trained and all that."
Davenport will join the GLIAC conference along with Grand Valley State, Ferris State, Northwood, Saginaw Valley State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Wayne State, Ashland and Tiffin starting the 2017-2018 school year.
"Moving to the GLIAC having been there with coach Wesley at Grand Valley for four years I kind of have an idea of what to expect, that can be good and bad" men's basketball coach Bert Paddock said, "it's going to be a tall challenge for us but we are really excited about it our student athletes are excited about it and our recruiting so far has really been good for us telling kids that we are going to be playing division two basketball."
Davenport will be a provisional member of Division II meaning they will be ineligible for postseason play through 2018-2019 but will be eligible for GLIAC Championships.
"I think there's always been an opportunity because of where we are geographically being in the conference but now that it's here it's unbelievable" football coach Lou Espisito said, "I think in recruiting it helps, in the community it helps, and there is some familiarity there with some of these other schools that will be playing week in and week out."