Black History Month: Parents Laid The Foundation For UDM Coach Ray McCallum

DETROIT (WWJ) - University of Detroit Mercy Men's Basketball Head Coach, Ray McCallum Sr. has been in the coaching game for 30 years. He says he loves the game of basketball and it's all he's wanted to do.

"I was fortunate to have two parents that really laid the foundation for me and I loved sports and for example, if I didn't go to church, I couldn't go out to play," he says.

McCallum says he had some rules and discipline in his life.

He knows first hand about success on the hardwood, not just from his own years of playing in college and in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, but now with his son whom he also coached and is now playing in the NBA.

"To watch him work hard and commit to being the player that he is," says McCallum, "I'm proud and it's a great example for my players and other young people."

McCallum says his philosophy for winning is to challenge his guys to represent themselves, their families and the University of Detroit Mercy.