University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) announced that local coaching veteran and associate head coach Kiefer Haffey has been promoted to head coach of the women's basketball team on April 14, 2025.

Haffey joined the Detroit Mercy program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before the 2022-23 season. He was elevated to associate head coach for the 2025-26 season as the 15th head coach in school history. 

In his first season as Head Coach, Haffey led the Titans to non-conference wins over Valparaiso and Delaware State, and conference wins against Cleveland State, Northern Kentucky, IU Indy, and arch-rival Oakland, which marked the first #MetroSeries road win at OU since the 2016-17 season. He also led the Titans to a thrilling 69-67 play-in game win over No. 10 seed Milwaukee in the 2026 Barbasol #HLWBB Championship that marked the first time UDM won three consecutive HL Tournament opening-round games since the 2011-2013 seasons.

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 during his first three seasons, including back-to-back postseason wins.

During the 2024-25 season, 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. 

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. 

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.

"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."

"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. 

Before he arrived at UDM, he served as head coach of the women's basketball team at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

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, with former Titan Alize Tripp earning 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."