DETROIT (10/2/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy has had a proud history of father-son relationships on the basketball court, especially in the last 10 years with the McCallums, Jacksons and now the Davises sharing the court together.

But the Titan father-son combo started back in the late 1960's with one of the most famous names in school history --- Calihan. Head coach Bob Calihan was putting the finishing touches on a brilliant coaching career and his son, Bob Calihan Jr., was coming home after spending his first two seasons at Jesuit-rival Loyola. 

"There were a few reasons I think he wanted to come home, but in the end, he just thought it was time and it was a good year to come back," said his sister Colleen. "I don't think he realized that it would be my dad's final year coaching. They didn't really bring too much attention to the fact they were father and son."

Legendary coach Bob Calihan first starred for the Titans on the court from 1937-40, leading the team in scoring each season and becoming the first All-American in school history. The Titans were 45-18 in that time, helping establish the program as one of the best in the Midwest.

After his college career, Bob Calihan played professionally in the NBA before returning to his alma mater as the head coach. In 21 years at the helm, he compiled a 306-237 record, guiding his 1962 team to the NCAA Tournament and three others into the NIT. He also served 12 years as the school's athletic director, retiring in 1977. It is in his honor that the University's Memorial Building was renamed "Calihan Hall" in 1977.

Meanwhile, Bob Calihan Jr. was All-Catholic and Honorable Mention All-State in high school at UD Jesuit. 

"He was being recruited by a few colleges," said Colleen Calihan. "My dad is originally from Chicago and we had family there and he just wanted to go away to school. They may have thought that staying here and playing for your dad may not be the best idea, but my dad had a good relationship with George Ireland, the coach at Loyola, and he liked the school and the program and they both liked that idea."

In his two years with the Ramblers, he played in 21 games with a few starts, and averaged just 2.7 points, but his contribution was more of a ball-handler and a defensive player. Loyola won 35 games in his two seasons, including a 22-3 record during his freshman season in 1965-66. 

"He was a good player and he went to Loyola just a few years after they won a national championship," said former teammate and longtime friend Larry Salci. 

He transferred to U-D and had to sit out the 1967-68 season, but that just set up a dramatic ending to not only his career, but his dad's too as the 1968-69 season saw not only Spencer Haywood come to the Titans and become nationally ranked, but it would turn out to be the final season for Bob Calihan as head coach. 

"My dad was very competitive and my brother was really the same way. They both wanted to win," added Colleen Calihan. 

In his lone season suiting up for his dad, he played in 23 games and averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds. He was once again a ball handler and helped set up the offense, which that season was about getting it inside to the 1968 Olympic leading scorer and gold medal winner Haywood. 

"He was a coaches son, he was fundamentally sound, just a really solid player and a big team player," said Salci. "He may not have been a great scorer or shooter, but he was good with the ball and knew all the fundamentals and playing on a team with Spencer (Haywood), that was what they needed. Coach Calihan played it straight and had no favoritism, even for his son. The best players played."

The team started out 10-0 that year with the All-American Haywood leading the way, but faltered a little down the stretch due to injuries, including Calihan Jr. breaking his hand. Haywood himself missed a few games due to a suspension following a fight with Toledo. 

"He was tough," Salci said of Calihan Jr. "Towards the end of his season, he broke his left hand and he had to play the rest of the year with a cast, but he did it." 

The final game of the season saw the Titans cruise past Canisius, 107-88. Haywood scored a school-record 45 points in what turned out to be coach Calihan's final game leading the program and on Senior Day, Bob Calihan Jr. was in the starting line-up. 

"To have your son play for you, that is amazing, and in his final year after his long career," said Salci. "I don't think it was planned that way, but what a way to end it." 

Graduating with a history degree, the younger Calihan went on to work in the automotive field, mostly with Chrysler, and lived in Chicago after graduation. Even though he started his career at Loyola, the younger Calihan was always a Titan, a tradition that was started when his father was the star player. 

Coach Calihan passed away on Sept. 22, 1989, while his son entered eternal life on Aug. 24, 2005. 

"My brother was a U-D guy," said Colleen. "He was raised a U-D guy, went to the high school so really outside those couple of years at Loyola, he was a U-D guy."