REPORT: Detroit Mercy head coach Bacari Alexander remains suspended indefinitely

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Detroit Mercy is off to a good start on the hardwood this season, collecting wins in four of their first six games. However, the Titans have been without head coach Bacari Alexander in the previous five games.

Alexander was reportedly suspended prior to the team’s November 13 game at home against Michigan-Dearborn and has yet to return to the sidelines. He coached in the Titans’ season opener back on November 10 at Virginia Tech.

Detroit athletic director Robert Vowels discussed the matter briefly on Saturday ahead of the team’s tilt at home against Siena Heights, citing “personnel reasons” for Alexander’s temporary absence.

“It’s a personnel matter, it’s internal, and we’re addressing it,” Vowels said, adding that he expects Alexander back at some point this season. “Things are moving along and we’re taking care of the situation.

“We have to still work through a couple things, and hopefully we work those things internally, and then we’ll make a decision (on a timetable).”

Detroit dominated Siena Heights on Saturday 131-69 to improve to 4-2 on the young season. They now face a pair of tough road contests this upcoming week against Fort Wayne (11/28) and UCLA (12/03).

Alexander was hired by Detroit Mercy in April of 2016 to be the Titans’ next head coach after spending the previous six seasons on the bench as an assistant for John Beilein at Michigan. The Detroit Southwestern High School product and former Titans player (1997-99) succeeded former long-time Mercy head coach Ray McCallum.

Detroit already has four wins through six games played this season after earning just eight victories in 31 games played a year ago. Titans assistant coach Jermaine Jackson, another former UDM player, has been serving as the team’s interim head coach in Alexander’s absence. Jackson said after Detroit’s win on Saturday that the team is “still intact” and he is “taking everything in stride.”

There has been no word on whether or not the Horizon League or the NCAA has yet to be involved in the matter. The conference has reportedly declined for comment at the time.