Detroit Titans Logo PNG
The commitment to ancient Greek heroes, their strength, courage, and resilience, is symbolized by the logo of the Detroit Titans team, the athletes of the University of Detroit Mercy. The depiction of ancient military regalia is intended to convey a shared spirit and combative mood akin to that of ancient Greek warriors.
The athletic program at the University of Detroit began in the early 20th century, when teams were known as the Tigers before adopting the name Titans around 1919–1924. Basketball became the program’s main focus and shaped its identity.
In the early 1960s, Dave DeBusschere set lasting records with 24.8 points per game and 1552 rebounds. In 1962, he was drafted first overall by the Detroit Pistons, signed with the Chicago White Sox, and later entered the Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1968–69, Spencer Haywood played one season, averaging 32.1 points and 21.2 rebounds. After winning Olympic gold in 1968, he challenged NBA eligibility rules, and a 1971 Supreme Court decision allowed early entry into professional basketball.
Coach Dick Vitale arrived in 1973 and introduced a fast-paced system. In 1976–77, the team went 25–4, defeated Marquette, reached the NCAA Tournament, and lost to Michigan. Vitale later worked with the Detroit Pistons and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In the late 1990s, under Perry Watson, the team reached the NCAA Tournament in 1998 and 1999, defeating St. John’s and UCLA. In 1990, the university merged with Mercy College, becoming the University of Detroit Mercy.
Rivalry with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies developed in the Horizon League. In 2021, women’s lacrosse joined the Mid-American Conference during its first season.
Meaning and History
In 1991, the sports department adopted a logo with the inscription “UDM Titans.” The abbreviation is positioned above, and the team nickname is below, in a blue rectangle with a red frame. In the letter “D” lies a helmet of ancient Greek warriors decorated in the middle with a large crest. The form of a head is also traced.
In 2008, artists depicted other military attributes on the emblem: a sword and shield. They are placed in the background. The inscription “Detroit Titans” is pushed forward. The second word looks bright because of its red color and unusual font. A zigzag of lightning stretches from the left of the lower part of the letter “S.”
The next logo change occurred in 2016. Designers expanded the inscription, adding the word “Mercy” to the word “Detroit.” Designers also darkened the shades of red and blue to match the official school palette.
What is Detroit Titans?
The Detroit Titans (formerly Detroit Mercy Titans) is a sports department affiliated with the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan. It includes 17 student teams that compete in NCAA Division I. Athletes also participate in the Horizon League, ASUN Conference, and Mid-American Conference (joining in 2021).
1965 – 1989
1989 – 1993
1993 – 2008
2008 – 2015
2015 – 2016
2016 – today
Detroit Titans Basketball
The University of Detroit Mercy sponsors two basketball teams: men’s and women’s. They compete in the Horizon League and participate in NCAA Division I competitions. They occasionally perform in NCAA tournaments, showing decent results. The home stadium for the basketball teams is Calihan Hall. Since 2020, the men have been coached by Mike Davis and the women by AnnMarie Gilbert.