Fred Martinelli is one of the founding fathers of the GLVC. As athletic director at Ashland University, he was instrumental in the formation of the six-team GLVC in 1978. During his long and illustrious career as a football coach and administrator, Martinelli helped guide Ashland from NCAA Division III to what is now one of the nation’s best Division II athletic programs. He has served on numerous institution, conference, and national committees and has provided much of the vision and leadership that helped make the GLVC what it is today.