After a 19-win campaign in his third season with the club
John Wallin left to take over the
Sudbury Wolves of the
Ontario Hockey League in 1987. After Kent State alum
Tom Viggiano headed the program for the
1987–88 season,
Bill Switaj was brought in once it was confirmed that the program would continue to exist beyond 1988 despite budgetary concerns. The program's entire season was cancelled that September in response to a hazing incident. The Golden Flashes would finally debut with Switaj as their coach in
1989. After three seasons they were eventually accepted into the
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) but Kent State's program ended in the spring of 1994 when university president
Carol Cartwright made a recommendation to the board of trustees that the program be discontinued. ==Season-by-season results==