Welcome to Detroit Mercy! Detroit Mercy is Michigan’s largest and most comprehensive Catholic University, guided by its purpose to create the best opportunity for the success of every student-athlete. This handbook and all of our services provided have been established to assist you during your intercollegiate athletic experience at Detroit Mercy. The Department of Athletics is aligned with the University's vision to make a difference in the lives of those we serve, because what Detroit Mercy does, and how we do it, matters.
The Department of Athletics is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the university through its mission and vision. We have higher purpose that resonates in our daily work and guides us on a path to achieving excellence in all that we do. We are building and developing a culture of engagement throughout the Department of Athletics. The goal is to connect with every student-athlete and this handbook is one way to ensure that a true partnership is created.
Integration, adaptability and innovation are essential to both our daily work and our role to provide essential support services to every student-athlete. It takes a tremendous commitment of time and energy to be a successful NCAA Division I student-athlete. By aligning with the right people, services and best practices we are able to capitalize on the synergies of various talents and skills to better serve you.
You, as a student-athlete, are at the core of everything we do and every decision we make. We seek to provide you with the greatest opportunity to be successful on the fields of play, in the classroom and in life. It is hoped you will take advantage of the information in this handbook and all of the remarkable experiences afforded you as we provide and create lifelong memories of Detroit Mercy. The engaging culture and inclusive environment that we create for every student-athlete hopefully assists in your growth. Please keep this handbook readily available as a resource and a guide when questions arise. I wish you the very best for this new school year both academically and athletically.
All the best,
Robert C. Vowels, Jr.
Director of Athletics
Where is the Athletic Director’s office?
The Athletic Director’s office is located in the Athletic Department Main Office in Calihan Hall. Other departments within the Main Office include Athletic Business Office, Athletic Facilities, and Ticket Operations.
Who are the sports supervisors and what is the sports supervisor’s role?
Robert C. Vowels, Jr. - Men’s Basketball
Teri Kromrei - Women’s Basketball, Women's Soccer
Mike Miller - Men's Lacrosse
Amy Gasahl - Softball, Men’s & Women’s Fencing
James Tinkey - Men’s Golf, Women's Golf
P.J. Gradowski - Men’s & Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field,
Chris Rossi - Men's Soccer, Women's Lacrosse
CONFERENCES
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The NCAA is the major association that governs and controls intercollegiate athletics on the national level. There are three basic membership divisions in the NCAA – I, II, and III; Detroit Mercy competes at the Division I level.
Detroit Mercy is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA) and has conference affiliation with the Horizon League, Northeast Conference (men’s lacrosse), Mid-American Conference (women’s lacrosse) and Central Collegiate Fencing Championships (men's and women's fencing)
Horizon League
The Horizon League continues to aspire toward its goal of being one of the nation's leading athletics conferences while being recognized as a leader in integrity and the development of students. Each of the League's nearly 4,000 Division I student-athletes has the opportunity to maximize athletic development and academic achievement, while also serving the broader community and growing in personal responsibility and accountability. Through athletics, the nearly 200,000 undergraduates among Horizon League institutions have the opportunity to come together, learn and grow in life skills and opportunities.
The Horizon League, entering its 47th year in 2025-26, features 11 public and private institutions that have impressive academic reputations and a storied tradition of broad-based athletic programs. Membership includes Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, Indiana University-Indianapolis, Northern Kentucky University, Oakland University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Robert Morris University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State University and Youngstown State University. Northern Illinois University is set to join as the League's 12th member on July 1, 2026.
The Horizon League's primary focus is on adding value to the educational experience through its core values: student-athlete well-being, integrity, respect and stewardship. It is the League's belief that athletics is a powerful and visible resource tool that can be used to enhance student-athletes' collegiate experience. The Horizon League's goals are to enhance the holistic university experience for the student-athlete, to create an affiliation of institutions with similar athletic goals, and to adhere to the principals of integrity, diversity, excellence and growth.
The Horizon League sponsors competition in 19 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and tennis) and 10 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis and volleyball).
The League receives automatic bids to NCAA championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. The Horizon League is headquartered in Indianapolis, the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World," with offices in the J.F. Wild Building (129 East Market Street), located minutes from Gainbridge Life Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, the State Capitol Building, Victory Field (home of the Indianapolis Indians, AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) and the NCAA national office.
Mid-American Conference
The Detroit Mercy women’s lacrosse program is an affiliate member of the MAC starting in 2021. Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference features a total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
The MAC lacrosse league will be composed of Akron, Central Michigan, Kent State and Youngstown State for the 2020-21 school year with Eastern Michigan adding women's lacrosse and competing in 2023. The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Northeast Conference
As the NEC enters its 45th year as an NCAA Division I athletic entity, the league’s NEC mission has remained remarkably consistent: to provide opportunities for student-athletes to achieve their fullest potential in the classroom, in athletic competition and in the community.
Focusing on the areas of student-athlete achievement, academic excellence, integrity, sportsmanship, innovation, community partnership and national engagement, the NEC continues to make great strides under the leadership of Commissioner Noreen Morris, now in the 16th year of her tenure. With the NEC's Strategic Plan providing a blueprint for the future, there is no shortage of excitement headed into the 2025-26 season as the ten-strong NEC looks to stand out among its peers, while fostering a sense of #NECPride amongst its student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans.
OUR NAME
DETROIT MERCY - TITANS - UDM
The University of Detroit Mercy unveiled a new branding campaign with new University and athletic logos in September of 2016.
For writing references, upon the first reference in copy, use “University of Detroit Mercy.” On the second reference, use “Detroit Mercy”, “Titans” OR "UDM".
