Mike Davis out as Detroit Mercy men's basketball coach after 1-31 season

Detroit — Detroit Mercy, just two days after the end of one of the worst seasons in the history of Division I men's college basketball, is moving on from head coach Mike Davis.

The university made the announcement Thursday morning, after the Titans wrapped up a 1-31 season with a loss at Milwaukee in the Horizon League tournament Tuesday. The Titans started the season 0-26.

Davis, 63, had one year left on his contract. The school said the exit was a mutual agreement, which makes sense, since cash-strapped Detroit Mercy might not have been in a financial position to buy him out of a contract that is believed to have approached $500,000 a year. Financial terms were not disclosed; Detroit Mercy is a private school.

“On behalf of our entire community, I want to thank Coach Davis and his family for their dedication, commitment and competitive spirit he brought to Detroit Mercy,” Detroit Mercy athletic director Robert Vowels said in a statement. “We wish the best for him and his family as his coaching journey continues.”

Detroit Mercy said a search for Davis' replacement will begin immediately, and the school will be assisted by search firm Collegiate Sports Associates. A search committee will include alums, former student-athletes, donors, faculty, staff and university administrators.

Davis spent six seasons at Detroit Mercy, as he did at each of his three previous stops, including Indiana, UAB and Texas Southern. He made a combined nine NCAA Tournaments at his three prior stops, but none at Detroit Mercy.

Davis was hired in 2018, to replace Bacari Alexander, after he was fired after just two seasons. Detroit Mercy was said to be close to a deal with Ferris State head coach Andy Bronkema, who was coming off a Division II national championship, until Davis — and his resume — entered the picture.

Vowels pivoted to Davis, who came with an added bonus: his son, Antoine.

Antoine Davis played for the Titans during his father's first five seasons, and brought the university significant attention, as he made a play at passing "Pistol" Pete Maravich to become college basketball's scoring leader. Antoine Davis, a two-time Horizon League player of the year, fell just three points shy of Maravich.

After Antoine's historic career ended, Mike Davis felt like he had the pieces to compete this season; if not a more-talented team, he thought he might be more well-rounded.

But there were warning signs from the start, including multiple recruits who couldn't get cleared by the school. There were key injuries, player exits, and NCAA waiver and visa issue, and general disharmony.

Mike Davis even told his team before the season that trouble could be brewing if things didn't get fixed.

"I've seen what losing looks like," Davis told The News in January. "I know what losing looks like.

"I saw it coming. I can tell you that."

At the time, assistant coach Mike Davis Jr., Davis' son, called the season a "s---storm."

Detroit Mercy was 0-22 at the end of January and would lose four more games before finally breaking into the win column, 81-66 against IUPUI at Calihan Hall on Feb. 14. The win made for a memorable and hilarious scene, with one man "storming" the court as the final seconds ticked down; the highlight made ESPN.

The day was a relief for the players, who had big smiles as they went through the handshake line with IUPUI.

Even Mike Davis admitted his nightly cup of coffee was going to taste better that night.

But there was nothing special brewing. Detroit Mercy, led by senior Jayden Stone, who led the Horizon League in scoring at more than 20 points, and sophomore Marcus Tankersley, who went from averaging about two points last season to about 16 this season, didn't win another game, despite some valiant efforts, including in its final two games, close losses at rival Oakland and at Milwaukee.

The season was made even harder by the sudden death of Detroit Mercy legend and Titans broadcaster Earl "The Twirl" Cureton, Feb. 4 at the age of 66. Mike Davis had offered Cureton a coaching job before the season, but Cureton, a city of Detroit and Pistons ambassador, politely declined.

Davis finished his tenure at Detroit Mercy with a 60-119 record, including 44-65 in Horizon League play. He had one winning season out of six. Recruiting proved challenging, from a facilities standpoint, to the point that Detroit Mercy did much of its player offering virtually, without campus visits. For his career, which began with a flourish with an NCAA runner-up finish as Bobby Knight's successor in the early 2000s, Davis is 412-360.

It's not clear if Davis wants to continue coaching. He is close with Antoine, and the happiest he seemed this year was sitting in the stands at Wayne State Fieldhouse, watching Antoine play for the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League back on Feb. 6. Davis might want to put coaching in the rearview mirror and start watching Antoine's pro career.

"I know I can coach," Mike Davis told The News this week. "I've coached harder this year than I have in my life."

Davis didn't immediately return a call from The News on Thursday. He was not quoted in the school's press release.

Vowels said he wouldn't comment beyond the statement until the search process is complete.

“These colleagues and our search firm partner are committed to and focused on developing a process that will yield the best fit for UDM,” Vowels said in his statement, adding a key partner will be university president Donald Taylor. “It’s essential that UDM has a strong and competitive men’s basketball program for the city of Detroit, the University community, our alumni, supporters and friends and most of all for our student-athletes.

"We all share pride in our athletic programs as representative of the university and we will work together to earn their interest and support in the program moving forward.”

This will be Vowels' third men's basketball hire since becoming athletic director.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984