One former Spartan has returned to Michigan via a job on Detroit Mercy’s coaching staff.

On Friday, Detroit Mercy Basketball announced that Mark Montgomery was joining the staff of head coach Mike Davis. Montgomery will serve as an assistant coach for the Titans.

“To bring in a coach like coach Montgomery, you have a coach who has 10 years of head coaching experience and 10 years as an assistant so a very experienced coach,” said head coach Mike Davis via release. “We have been putting a lot of time in and he has really helped us in just the short time he has been here.”

Montgomery was a Spartan during his collegiate playing career, playing for legendary Michigan State head coach Jud Heathcote from 1988-92. He returned to East Lansing as an assistant for Tom Izzo from 2002-11, being promoted to the role of associate head coach in 2007.

After his stint with the Spartans, he landed the head coaching role at Northern Illinois and posted a 124-170 record from 2011 until his firing on Jan. 3 of this year. He was let go after a 1-7 start to the 2020-21 season.