DETROIT -- University of Detroit Mercy assistant men's basketball coach Derek Thomas remains an active member of the Division I Men's Basketball Ethics Coalition, a national collaborative effort between the NCAA and its member coaches to promote ethical conduct through leadership, education and mentoring. 

“It is an honor to be on the committee as we move forward in these changing times,” said Thomas. “To be one of the 14 coaches is a privilege and I am very grateful to be a part of this.”

Thomas – one of only two assistant coaches on the committee - joined the Ethics Coalition when it first formed in 2009. The Ethics Coalition has three main issues that it attacks on a regular basis in:

• Identifying ethical issues facing Division I men's basketball coaches and providing general guidance to coaches on possible ways to deal with those issues through educational and reference materials.

• Providing leadership by “walking the walk and talking the talk” with regards to ethical conduct. The Coalition will be vocal in addressing ethical issues and affirmatively seeking to build a coalition of coaches committed to ethical behavior.

• Acting as quasi-mentors and resources to other coaches on ethical issues and concerns. Coalition members are available to consult with other coaches on ways to resolve ethical problems.

Also on the Ethics Coalition is Butler's Brad Stevens, John Beilein of Michigan, Jeff Capel of Duke, Stanford's Johnny Dawkins, Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh, UAB's Donnie Marsh, Saint Joseph's Phil Martelli, Robert Williams of California-Santa Barbara, College of Charleston's Doug Wojcik and former head coaches Vann Pettaway and Al Skinner. Jim Haney of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) is also on the committee with NCAA staff liaisons Ken Huber and LuAnn Humphrey.

Thomas was recently ranked No. 5 of the Top 50 Assistant Coaches At The Mid-To-Low Division I Level by Hoop Scoop. He arrived on head coach Ray McCallum's staff in June of 2008 and has helped the program make its way up the Horizon League standings, winning the Horizon League Championship this past season and playing national runner-up Kansas in the NCAA Tournament.

“It is good to be recognized, but this is more of a team and program honor,” said Thomas. “The team and everyone involved did a great job this year and that is why we had a great season.”