Detroit Mercy To Name Court After Former Coach Dick Vitale

The formal dedication will be on Monday, Dec. 5 during a nationally-televised game on ESPN2 against St. John’s.

“What Dick has done for college basketball is nothing short of remarkable, and it is only fitting that we honor him in such a special way — given his career started right here as a head coach,” UDM athletic director Keri Gaither said.

Vitale will celebrate his 32nd anniversary of calling games for ESPN at the event.

He coached U-D from 1973-77, compiling a record 78-30, which included a 21-game winning streak during the 1976-77 season when the team participated in the NCAA Tournament. Included in the streak was a victory in Milwaukee over Al McGuire’s eventual national champion Marquette team.

In April 1977 Vitale was named athletic director at Detroit, and the following May he was named head coach of the Pistons, which he coached during the 1978-79 season prior to joining ESPN. He was inducted into the Titan Hall of Fame in 1993.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” Vitale said in a video on UDM’s website. “It should be a special, special moment. It will probably move me to tears. To all the people that made this happen, you’re awesome, baby!”