University of Detroit Mercy The University of Detroit Mercy ( UDM ) is a private , Roman Catholic co - educational university in Detroit , Michigan , United States , affiliated with the Society of Jesus ( the Jesuits ) and the Sisters of Mercy . Antoine M . Garibaldi , PH . D . , is the president . With origins dating from 1877 , it is the largest Roman Catholic university in Michigan . UDM is one of the twenty - eight member Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States . Located across three campuses in Detroit , the school offers more than a hundred academic degrees and programs of study , including liberal arts , clinical psychology , business , dentistry , education , law , engineering , architecture , nursing and allied health professions . Listed below are some of the University ' s many distinguished alumni . UDM was ranked in the top tier of Midwestern master ' s universities in " U . S . News & World Report " " America ' s Best Colleges " 2013 edition and has been for over a decade . In athletics , the University sponsors 19 NCAA Division I level varsity sports for men and women , and is a member of the Horizon League . The UDM men ' s basketball team won the 2012 Horizon League Championship . History . The University of Detroit Mercy ' s origin dates back to 1877 with the founding of Detroit College by the Society of Jesus . The college expanded into the University of Detroit , and in 1927 established a second campus . In 1941 , the Sisters of Mercy opened the Mercy College of Detroit . In 1990 , University of Detroit and Mercy College of Detroit consolidated to become " University of Detroit Mercy . " Mission and vision . University of Detroit Mercy ' s mission and vision statements reflect the traditions of its religious sponsors . founded on their collective religious traditions . The mission statement states : The University of Detroit Mercy , a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions , exists to provide excellent student - centered undergraduate and graduate education in an urban context . A UDM education seeks to integrate the intellectual , spiritual , ethical and social development of our students . The vision statement proposes : The University of Detroit Mercy will be recognized as a premier private university in the Great Lakes ( North America ) region , distinguished by graduates who lead and serve in their communities . Like all universities , UDM strives to offer quality higher education , but it also is committed to service of faith and promotion of justice and compassionate service to persons in need , as articulated in both the Jesuit and Mercy worldview s . Accordingly , the university , its students , staff and alumni aim to take an active role in strengthening Detroit through community outreach and partnership with like - minded organizations . Colleges and campuses . UDM comprises seven colleges and schools : the School of Architecture , College of Business Administration , School of Dentistry , College of Engineering & Science , College of Health Professions / McAuley School of Nursing , School of Law , and College of Liberal Arts & Education . The University has three campuses in the city of Detroit : Athletics . The Titans compete in NCAA Division I ' s Horizon League . The men ' s basketball team has consistently contended for the Horizon League title . On April 12 , 2008 , UDM hired Ray McCallum as Men ' s Basketball Coach . McCallum is a veteran of more than 20 years in college basketball , most recently as assistant head coach at Indiana University . McCallum ' s predecessor Perry Watson led a successful program at Detroit ' s Southwestern High School before coming to UDM after some years as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan and maintained strong recruiting ties within the city ' s public league . Watson guided Detroit Mercy to 10 winning seasons , three league titles , two NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Final Four during his 15 years with UDM . The Titans ' two NCAA appearances also included victories over St . John ' s and UCLA . Between 1997 - 98 and 2000 – 01 , the Titans had four straight 20 - victory seasons . Dick Vitale , ESPN ' s most well - known college basketball commentator , was the University of Detroit men ' s basketball Head Coach for four seasons ( 1973 – 1977 ) before becoming the school ' s Athletics Director for 1977 - 78 . The following year he left to coach the Detroit Pistons . In his final year as a college head coach in 1977 , " Dickie V . " led the Detroit Titans to a school record 25 victories and the Round of 16 in the 1977 NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan , 86 - 81 . Vitale rolled up a 78 - 30 career record as head coach of the Titans . Vitale went on to coach the Detroit Pistons before beginning his broadcasting career with ESPN in 1979 and was the color commentator for the first college basketball game carried by the new network . As its lead college basketball analyst , he helped make the network an integral part of the game ' s popularity . An author of six books chronicling his love affair with basketball , Vitale received the Basketball Hall of Fame ' s Curt Gowdy Media Award ( 1998 ) , won the NABC Cliff Wells Appreciation Award in 2000 and was inducted to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 . In 2011 , UDM named its basketball court at Calihan Hall in his honor . Highlights from the Detroit Titans athletic teams include the recent appearances by the men ' s and women ' s basketball teams in the 2011 - 12 postseason . The women ' s basketball team participated in the WNIT Tournament for the first time ever and finished with its first 20 - win season ( 20 - 14 ) since 1997 when the team made its only NCAA Tournament appearance . The men ' s basketball team captured the 2011 - 12 Horizon League Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in its history and first since 1999 . The University was the host institution for the 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional and 2009 NCAA Final Four men ' s basketball tournament at Ford Field in Detroit . All home basketball games feature the Titan Pep Band which serenades audiences throughout the game . " ( See also # Journalism & writing for radio and TV news alumni ) "