DETROIT (4/14/2025) -- University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) has announced that local coaching veteran and current associate head coach Kiefer Haffey has been promoted to head coach of the women's basketball team.
Haffey joined the Detroit Mercy program three years ago as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was elevated to associate head coach this past year and now takes over the reins as the 15th head coach in school history.
Prior to his arrival at UDM, he served as head coach of the women's basketball team at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
"Coach Haffey has played a critical role in the success of the women's basketball program for the past two years, serving as the primary recruiter and associate head coach," said Detroit Mercy President Donald B. Taylor, Ph. D. "Coach Haffey and his family are from metropolitan Detroit, and he has deep connections throughout the basketball community in Southeastern Michigan, which will allow him to continue to recruit at a high level. Coach Haffey had a successful tenure as head coach at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, and we expect him to continue the turnaround of our women's basketball program and immediately compete for Horizon League championships."
"First, I'd like to thank President Taylor, Robert Vowels, Teri Kromrei, Monica Barbour, Monica Williams, Traci Stewart, Mark Misko, and all of our incredible Titan staff members who played a role in this process," said Haffey. "They have entrusted me with the future of Detroit Mercy women's basketball, and I'm grateful for that opportunity. Additionally, I would like to give a special thank you to our former Head Coach, Kate Achter. Without her support, mentorship, and friendship, this opportunity would not exist for me today."
Over the past three years, Haffey has helped change and shape the culture and perception of a program that had won just 11 games in five years. Since his arrival, Detroit Mercy has won 37 victories in the last three seasons, including back-to-back wins in the postseason.
"I have been impressed with Coach Haffey and how he handles himself since the first time I met him," said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr. "Nobody will outwork him. He has demonstrated an ability to recruit student-athletes, develop talent, and build successful programs. His roots are in this area, and he understands Detroit Mercy and what this fabulous University has to offer. I believe that this combination will keep this program moving to the top."
In 2023-24, his second year on the staff, the Titans finished 17-16, securing their first winning campaign since 2016-17. UDM's nine conference wins were also the most since 2017 as the red, white and blue took down regular season champion Cleveland State and third-place Purdue Fort Wayne during the regular season.
This past year, Haffey helped the Titans to a 15-15 record, with eight wins in league play. Detroit Mercy tied for fifth place and downed Milwaukee in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.
During his tenure, three UDM players earned All-Conference honors: Irene Murua in 2024 and Emaia O'Brien and Aaliyah McQueen in 2025. In addition, three Titans were also named to the All-Freshmen Team: Amaya Burch, Paris Gilmore and Kailey Starks.
"The University of Detroit Mercy is an elite academic institution with championship-caliber athletics and an incredibly proud community. I'm fortunate to have spent the last three years as a member of this community and program. We will only continue to trend upward. This is a basketball program full of coaches and players that will work tirelessly to bring a championship back to Calihan Hall," added Haffey.
During his time as head coach at Concordia, the Cardinals posted three consecutive winning seasons with a combined 61 overall wins and 39 in Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play. His teams ranked in the top 30 nationally for team GPA each season, including a program-best No. 10 ranking in 2021.
In 2021-22, Haffey led Concordia to an impressive 14-6 conference mark with a 19-12 overall record, as current Titan Alize Tripp earned WHAC All-Conference First Team honors. The year before, Haffey took the women's basketball program to new heights as the Cardinals made a run to the championship game. Concordia then advanced to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championships semifinals, eventually finishing in third place.
While at Concordia, he was also instrumental in the development and success of multiple conference and national award winners. This included six All-Conference accolades, six All-Freshmen honorees, three All-Defensive Team nods and one Midwest All-District Team player and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.
Haffey served as the assistant coach for Concordia in 2017-2018 before his selection as head coach in 2018.
"Southeast Michigan and Detroit have been my home my entire life," said Haffey. "This is where I grew up, earned my degree, and have been fortunate to live out my dream as a collegiate basketball coach. This is a city and home that I've been passionate about for a long time. I'm blessed to live out my dream, surrounded by friends and family in our home."
He earned a degree in Business Management from Wayne State in 2017 and a master's in Sports Administration from Michigan in 2020.
UDM began the coaching search immediately upon learning that former coach Kate Achter would leave for Western Michigan University. UDM established a search advisory committee comprised of a diverse group of alumni, former Titan student-athletes, donors and supporters, faculty, staff, and University leaders. Supporting the University's search efforts was Collegiate Sports Associates (CSA), a leading college athletics executive search firm that helped UDM with its appointment of Coach Montgomery for the men's basketball team in 2024.
