Titans' McCallum Receives 'Men Of Excellence' Award From Michigan Chronicle
Following his team’s outstanding season and many service projects within the Detroit community, Titans head basketball coach Ray McCallum has been saluted by the Michigan Chronicle as one of its 2010 Men of Excellence.
Coach McCallum was honored along with the other award winners at a blue ribbon reception at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel.
The award is presented by the acclaimed Detroit-based newspaper to local African-American men who motivate and inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements and participation in community service. The honorees chosen represent a diverse group of men who have demonstrated success within their profession or industry and are positive role models whose contributions encourage others.
Additionally, according to the Chronicle, the Men of Excellence are committed to a personal code of ethics that demands ownership, responsibility and integrity. They are men who exercise discipline, demonstrate personal conviction and courage. These men are public and private figures who are leaders, motivators, educators, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, civil servants and private citizens.
In his second season at UDM, McCallum directed the best turnaround in school history in 2010 as he led the Titans to a 20-14 record and a berth in the Horizon League post-season tournament semi-finals. The 20 victories marked a 13-win improvement from his first season and represented Detroit’s first 20-win campaign since 2001. The Titan head man was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com following the season. Under McCallum’s lead, the 2010 Titans raised their scoring average by more than 13 points per game over the previous season, and led the Horizon League in field goal percentage defense, three-point field goal percentage defense, rebounding margin and blocked shots.
“I am very proud that the Michigan Chronicle has honored coach Ray McCallum this year as one of their Men of Excellence,” UDM athletic director Keri Gaither said. “It is a wonderful tribute to what coach McCallum has accomplished with the Detroit Titan basketball program and the impact and contributions he and the young men that he mentors and coaches have made to the Detroit-area community.”
McCallum’s hard work did not end with the last game of the season. He has signed what’s ranked as the top recruiting class in the Horizon League, one which includes his son Ray, a senior at Country Day High School. The younger McCallum is a McDonald’s and Parade All-American and is rated as one of the premier point guards in the country as well as one of the most heralded freshmen ever to sign with a Horizon League member.
