University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Former Titan standout basketball player and assistant coach Bacari Alexander was named the 21st head coach in school history on April 22, 2016. He finished his first year on the sidelines in 2016-17 as he looks to lead the Titans back to national prominence. 

In his first season, coach Alexander started to put together his program both on and off the court. The offseason brought such announcements as games against in-state rival Michigan at the brand new Little Caesars Arena as well as match-ups against old MCC foe Saint Louis and the ACC’s Virginia Tech in the 2K Classic.
 
On the court, the Titans played one of the toughest schedules in the Horizon League with five postseason teams during the non-conference season. Detroit Mercy also came up with a couple of big conference victories, knocking off first place Oakland on the road and third place Green Bay at home.
 
As a team, the Titans were second in the HL and 73rd in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (37.2%), third in the conference and 54th overall in turnovers forced (14.71) as well as fourth in the league and 87th in the country in scoring (77.0).
 
The Titans had one player earn All-Conference honors in second team member Jaleel Hogan as well as the conference’s Freshman of the Year Corey Allen. 

Alexander, who served as an assistant coach with the University of Michigan for six seasons (2010-2016), was born and raised in the Motor City and transferred to Detroit Mercy for his final three years of college. He later began his coaching career at his alma mater after spending two years with the Harlem Globetrotters.
 
"My family and I are excited to rejoin the Titan family," said Alexander during his introductory press conference. "Over the years, I have been able to work with a number of great mentors and coaches that have fully prepared me for this opportunity. I am excited to be able to work under the leadership Athletic Director Robert C. Vowels, Jr. and President Dr. Antoine Garibaldi and all of the staff at the University."
 
The pride of Detroit's Southwestern High School, Alexander started his collegiate career at Robert Morris College from 1994-96, where he played in 55 games and was named to the Northeast Conference's All-Newcomer Team as a freshman. He then decided to transfer back home to Detroit. He would go on to start 57 of his 62 career games for the red, white and blue and helped Detroit Mercy reach championship heights on the hardwood as the Titans won back-to-back Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) regular-season titles. He also helped his alma mater earn NCAA Tournament bids in 1998 and 1999, where Detroit Mercy posted first round wins over St. John's and nationally-ranked UCLA.
 
As a senior, Alexander was named to the MCC All-Defensive Team and received the President's Award as Detroit Mercy's most outstanding senior student-athlete in 1999. He is still the last men's basketball player to garner that accolade.
 
After college, he began a professional career working with the Detroit Pistons as a Player Programs Coordinator and then playing with the Harlem Globetrotters for two years before returning to Detroit Mercy again as an assistant coach under Perry Watson. He spent six seasons (2001-07) on the sidelines next to his collegiate coach, helping the Titans post 96 wins and finishing over .500 in conference play five times. Detroit Mercy had three seasons with 18 or more wins, made four trips to the Horizon League Championship semifinals, one finals appearance and an NIT berth in 2002.
 
Alexander came back to his alma mater after finishing his sixth season with Michigan under head coach John Beilein in 2015-16. In his six years, Alexander helped the Wolverines to five NCAA Tournament bids (2011, '12, '13, '14 & '16), with a trip to the 2013 Final Four and national title game -- the first for the program in 20 years, followed by a return trip to the Elite Eight in 2014.
 
U-M averaged 24 wins per season in his tenure, including a school record tying 31 during the 2012-13 campaign. Michigan claimed a share of the 2012 Big Ten regular-season title with a 13-5 record -- the first for the program since 1986 – and also helped the team win its first outright Big Ten title in 28 years in 2014 with a 15-3 record.
 
He worked and helped eight Wolverine players garner All-Big Ten honors -- Darius Morris (2011), Trey Burke (2012 & '13), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2012 & '13), Nik Stauskas (2014), Caris LeVert (2014), Derrick Walton Jr. (2016) and Zak Irvin (2016). The Wolverines also had back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Years with Burke in 2013 and Stauskas in 2014. In addition, Burke went on to be named a consensus National Player of the Year and All-America honors in 2013.
 
During Alexander's stint with U-M, seven Wolverines reached the NBA: Morris (2011, No. 41 by Los Angeles Lakers), Burke (2013, No. 9 by Utah Jazz), Hardaway (2013, No. 24 by New York Knicks), Stauskas (2014, No. 8 by Sacramento Kings), Mitch McGary (2014, No. 21 by Oklahoma City Thunder), Glenn Robinson III (2014, No. 40 by Minnesota Timberwolves) and Caris LeVert (2016, No. 20 by Indiana Pacers). 
 
Throughout his coaching career, Alexander has developed over 80 percent of his former frontcourt players to gain opportunities to play professional basketball at various levels.
 
Alexander came to Michigan after spending two seasons at Western Michigan (2008-10), where he worked with the Broncos' frontcourt players. The Broncos would go on to win their second-straight MAC West Division championship in 2009. Prior to his work with the Broncos, he spent one season at Ohio University (2007-08), where the Bobcats won 20 games and made the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. 
 
As a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, he toured in 13 countries while also directing several camps for the team around the United States. He also served as an "Advance Ambassador" for the Globetrotters, performing public relations duties, while making media and school appearances. In 2002, he along with all past and current Globetrotters were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
 
In high school at Southwestern, he won a state championship as a freshman with his future college coach Perry Watson leading the way. As a senior, he was Third Team All-PSL by the Detroit Free Press and Honorable Mention All-Metro and All-State by the Detroit News. He was also Southwestern's Scholar-Athlete award winner.

He graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance.
 
Alexander and his wife, Kesha, have one son, Mekhi.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH ALEXANDER
 
"We had many qualified and outstanding individuals as candidates for our head men's basketball coach, but after a thorough and extensive search, none matched the experience, knowledge and passion for this University that he will bring." - Robert Vowels, University of Detroit Mercy Director of Athletics
 
"Coach Alexander is recognized for excelling academically and athletically at his alma mater as a student and assistant coach. I feel confident that his example and leadership will be shared with our student-athletes so they can collectively achieve their goals in the classroom and on the basketball court." - Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., University of Detroit Mercy President
 
"Bacari has a deep history in the Horizon League, beginning in 1997 as a student-athlete. He has proven himself as an outstanding coach and leader, and he brings the skillset and values we embrace in the Horizon League." - Jon LeCrone, Horizon League Commissioner
 
"Bacari is such a perfect fit for Detroit. He is an extremely talented basketball coach and is 100 percent ready to lead the Detroit basketball program now and into the future. He has always cherished his time as a student and assistant coach at his alma mater and now he gets to fulfill a dream of being the head coach of the Titans. His ties to the University, the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan will help him on the recruiting trail, as well as enhancing his relationships with students, fans and his fellow alums." - John Beilein, University of Michigan head men's basketball coach
 
"This is a great hire for the University and the city of Detroit. Bacari brings so much enthusiasm, ability and leadership to the program. I have known him since he was a kid and through his upbringing, you can tell he was destined for something great. I always thought he would be a great mayor for the city because that is that type of leader he is and he has earned this opportunity to lead his alma mater." - Perry Watson, former Titan head coach 
 
"A great coach, a great recruiter, a great family man and the perfect fit for the University of Detroit Mercy! I know for Bacari, returning to his alma mater represents the opportunity of a lifetime. He will be a great advocate and ambassador for both the University and the Detroit community. I honestly feel this is one of the best hires by the University in recent memory. I look forward to following the rise of the Titans under the leadership of Bacari Alexander. " - Tim O'Shea, Bryant University head men's basketball coach

"Coach Alexander was easily one of the most important people to me during my time at Michigan. He is a great basketball coach and has a natural talent of connecting with everyone on a personal level. I couldn't be more happy for him and his family. It couldn't be more deserved." - Jordan Morgan, former Michigan men's basketball player