Gilbert Search Firm: Detroit Mercy

The Titans of Detroit Mercy are looking for a head coach. After seeking to help Michigan St and Texas A&M on the gridiron to no avail. The Gilbert Search Firm is back by less than popular demand to assist the process free of charge (maybe) Starting off by looking at the quality of the job. That will inform our candidates. After that I will break them into two groups. Technically three, because I’m going to go way off the board and give you some crazy and lofty names that just might work as well.

The Job

Is this a good job? On the surface— yes. A Division I job in the heart of a basketball crazed city is usually a good gig. Adding in the fact that you do not have to compete with a football team. This “should” be appealing. That’s why they have not had difficulty attracting big names in past. Love or loathe him. Recently departed head coach Mike Davis (pictured) was a big name with nine NCAA tournament berths and a title game appearance. However the dreaded air quotes are there for a reason.

Davis isn’t exactly leaving the program in great shape. A 1-31 record is a rough look. There has been instability within the athletic department that might scare off some candidates. Additionally while being in Detroit has advantages. You can’t ignore the current reality that their suburban neighbors. The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are the premier program in the Horizon League at the moment. A new coach will have to flip that narrative. It’s going to be hard to win your conference when you are playing second fiddle within you own metropolitan area.

So with all those negatives, why do I still think it’s a good job? If you are a regular reader. You know I’m drawn by history. Detroit Mercy has some serious history. From Dick Vitale (yes look it up kids), to Perry Watson, and Ray McCallum. A variety of coaches have won here. From the recently departed Earl Cureton, to John Long, and NBA All 75 member Dave DeBusschere. Big time players have also been Titans. If you scoff at the ages of those players. I’ll give you Rashad Phillips, Antoine Davis, and current Pelicans head coach Willie Green. With the advent of the transfer portal. (maybe not NIL here) The right coach should be able to attract quality players to Detroit.

Who is the right coach? The late 20th and early 21st centuries have not been economically and socially kind to the city. This has forged a unique and defiant culture that is slowly leading an urban resurgence. No— Dan Campbell cannot coach the Titans. But that is the archetype. Someone who can embrace and embody the culture of the city. I think don’t they have to be from Detroit, but it sure would help. Accordingly, I’m going to break up the candidates into two groups. Coaches with deep Motor City ties. Followed by coaches with ties to the Great Lakes region. Recent history is fairly clear. Grabbing someone from outside the region hasn’t been fruitful.

The 8 Mile Crew

Marlon Williamson (Assistant Coach Rutgers) The former Cass Tech legend is appealing for many reasons. The Division I resume is extensive and impressive. However I’m intrigued by the nine years spent as the President of Youth Operations and Head Coach for The Family (2003-2012) If you know anything about grassroots basketball. You know the gravity of that bullet point. Name a prominent player from the state. Chances are Williamson coached them. I don’t think it is a coincidence that in his lone year at Rutgers. They have all of a sudden snagged two top 5 blue chip recruits. The resume extends far beyond just Detroit. Played in Ohio at Horizon League rival Youngstown St. So he knows the lay of the land. Also has coaching experience in the talent rich regions of New England and New York City. If he wants it, this resume is tough to beat.

Shawn Trice (Assistant Coach Eastern Michigan) Like Williamson, has deep Motor City ties. Played at since closed PSL power Detroit Redford. Before entering coaching, spent seven years working for the YMCA in Detroit. Played and coached for Fran Dunphy at Penn and Temple. Spent 13 years on the staff at Temple. Consequently understands working at the Division I level within a small parochial school setting (Temple is public, but most of the Big Five is not) Plugged in within the talent laden Philadelphia area. The resume isn’t as flashy or as long as Williamson’s. However has the Detroit bona fides, and might be more likely to jump.

Cornell Mann (Head Coach Grand Valley St) The only candidate in our first group with head coaching experience. Albeit only for the last two years in Allendale. Mann’s resume is very long. I won’t try to cover it all. From national experience at Iowa St and Missouri. To local experience and Central, Western, and Oakland. He has been everywhere. Winning at virtually every stop. Just like the length of his resume. I’m not going to spend much time analyzing his connections to the city. His Twitter (that’s what I’m calling it) is @8mileCorn. That just about says it all. If you have been to an AAU event or high school gym with Mann present. You know he’s there. He is super connected and has proven hisself to be quality head coach early at Grand Valley.

Now let’s have a little fun. Cue the greatest musician of all time…..

Djon Djokaj, Rick Palmer, Todd Covert, Pat Donnelly, and Tory Jackson Who are these guys? These are the five current head coaches of the Detroit Catholic League. Yes, a high school basketball league. No, I do not think they should be the first choices. However, bear with me for a moment. The Detroit Catholic League has evolved into arguably the deepest and most talented league in the state. If a potential path to success involves getting players out of this pipeline. I would at least explore this avenue. If the administration doesn’t like the college candidates, or they get too expensive. Maybe take an interview and see if you can find something intriguing. Perhaps one of them would want to come on board as an assistant. Nate Oats was the head at Romulus just over a decade ago. Maybe lightning could strike twice.

The Surrounding Region

Andy Bronkema (Head Coach Ferris St) Pretty straightforward here. Is rather young (40) with plenty of head coaching experience already. Has a national championship and wins at a high rate. The only real demerit is not being from the area. However that has not stopped him from capably recruiting region at Ferris. Also does not have any Division I experience. The question is would he be interested? His age and early success affords him the ability to be selective. I’m not sure he would jump. He has good thing going in Big Rapids. However if winning is the criteria. This is a tough resume to beat.

Steve Hawkins (Head Coach Quincy) If the Titans wanted to go the experienced Division I route. Few can top the former longtime Western Michigan head coach. Had a solid 17 year run in Kalamazoo with two NCAA tournament appearances. Like Bronkema, recruited the area well despite not being from the region. Currently coaching Division II basketball in Illinois. At 61, would he want to take on the rebuilding challenge? Has an engaging and outgoing personality that would work well with boosters and help rebuild the fan base. This would be a solid outside the box choice.

LaVall Jordan (Analyst Fox Sports) The former Butler head man is an example of a COVID coaching casualty. Was headed towards making the tournament in two of his first three years before the world shut down. That would have been pretty good start. Especially considering the daunting task of taking over for Brad Stevens. Slipped a bit in the two years after COVID and was let go. The Albion native has six years of Division I head coaching experience and is still only 44 years old. Has coached all over the Midwest. With a one year stay as a head man at Milwaukee. Also had a six year run as an assistant at Michigan. So he is familiar with both the conference and the region. After two years off he might be itching to get back into the game.

Now if you thought my first little high detour was improbable. Buckle up and get ready for this one. Lets cue the little man from the Twin Cities one more time…..

John Beilein- I don’t really need to list a job title here. His current title is the “hope and dream holder of a frustrated Michigan fan base”. Is there a world where Beilein would come to Detroit? Probably not, but squint with me real hard for a second. I think Beilein wants to coach again. Coaches never really retire. However, many forget some of the smoke signals emanating when left for the NBA. He was fed up with the cheating that the Adidas/FBI scandal exposed. Do you really think at 71 he wants to come back in this NIL/transfer portal infused era.

Here is where Detroit Mercy comes in. You don’t need to be a private detective to unearth the role the Catholic faith and in particular the Jesuit tradition has played in John Beilein’s life. It is all over his biography and he does not shy away from it. Detroit Mercy is a Jesuit institution. The other part of the Michigan message board pipe dream; Beilein taking the job so he can hand it over to his son. Now THAT I can see Beilein wanting to do. However why would Michigan want to do that? In case you haven’t been paying attention. Nepotism isn’t exactly working well in Ann Arbor right now.

If Detroit Mercy wants to make a godfather offer— it would go something like this. Here are the keys to the kingdom. Give him the freedom to run the program however he wants. Along with a four year competitive contract. If he doesn’t want to mess with NIL and the transfer portal, he doesn’t have to. Give his son, Patrick a FIVE year contract. You don’t need to bother with titles. The length of the contract does the talking. John Beilein can retire at 75 if he so wishes. If Patrick impresses the administration and the Titans are moving in the right direction. You just extend him a year or two a let him take over as the head man. The Pat Knight treatment at Texas Tech.

It is the longest of longest shots. But Detroit Mercy is uniquely positioned to give him everything he might want. A Division I Jesuit institution close to his home with both history and tradition. If they step up to the plate with some of the extras mentioned above. He just might bite. Everyone forgets Jim Calhoun finished up his career at a Division III school. The thought of Beilein at Detroit Mercy is nor as far fetched as that scenario. If it happens, I’m asking for a commission.