DETROIT (9/16/2026) -- University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr., who has led Detroit Mercy Athletics for 13 years, will retire at the end of the 2026-27 season.

"I want to thank Robert for his leadership, the many ways he has shaped our program and supported our student-athletes over the past 13 years," UDM President Donald B. Taylor said. "We look forward to honoring him throughout this academic year and working together on the next chapter of UDM Athletics."

CSA Search & Consulting, which assisted UDM with the hiring of men's basketball head coach Mark Montgomery, will conduct the national search for the new AD. Craig Littlepage, a former Division I athletic director, basketball coach and CSA senior consultant, will lead this effort.  

The University will form an advisory committee that includes stakeholders from the entire UDM community to provide input throughout the process.

"I appreciate the opportunity to lead this historic program," Vowels said. "College athletics has experienced many changes over the past decade, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for the support of the administrators, alumni, staff and students with whom I have worked during my time in Detroit."

Vowels was named the 14th athletic director in University history May 28, 2013, and had become one of the longest serving athletic directors in the Horizon League. During his tenure, he helped shepherd the Titans through major changes in college sports, from the pandemic to new NIL rules for athletes. 

Detroit Mercy also made improvements to its athletics facilities during Vowels' tenure. These include the addition of a new Titan suite, academic center, locker rooms and scoreboards. Vowels also helped bring in more support from donors and alumni. 

He has served on the Horizon League Board of Directors and chaired the league's Athletic Directors and Executive Council. He also chaired the Horizon League Finance Committee, Governance Committee and Ad Hoc Governance Committee. In addition, he served on the Competition Advisory Committee and as the Sports Committee administrative liaison for men's basketball. He served as the Commissioner of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Commissioner of the Southwest Athletics Conference, Vice President of Education Services at the NCAA, Vice President of Membership & Student-Athlete Affairs at the NCAA, and on the Division I Men's Basketball Committee, Division I Football Board of Directors, and Division I Management Council.

UDM will release additional information following the conclusion of the search.

About University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is Michigan's largest and most comprehensive Catholic university, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). UDM is consistently ranked among the nation's top 50 institutions of higher education and offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional academic degrees and programs through eight schools and colleges. Detroit Mercy educates the whole person, focusing on the value of excellent academics, service to the community and a deeper spirituality to prepare graduates for lives of integrity and purpose. For more information, please visit www.udmercy.edu.