He taught us how to lose with grace, which means he taught us how to win without taking it for granted.

Her life

Marcus Anthony Hayes, 54, of Detroit, died suddenly at his home on the morning of February 17, 2026, of a heart attack. He was at his kitchen table with a cup of coffee. The Free Press was open to the sports page. He spent his career with the Detroit Department of Public Works, the last eleven years as a senior project engineer. The streets you drive on were, in many cases, his streets. For fifteen years Marcus coached in the East Side Youth Basketball League. Hundreds of boys passed through his teams. He is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Theresa, and his two sons, Devon and Malik.

A short eulogy

I am twenty-two years old. My dad was supposed to be at my college graduation in May. He is not going to be there. I am still working that out.

My dad sang. He sang terribly. He sang loud. He sang in the car with the windows down at red lights and Malik and me used to slide down in the back seat so people would not see us. He sang at church. He sang in the garage. He sang the wrong words and he did not care.

He taught Malik and me how to lose. He coached our teams from when I was seven all the way through middle school. We were not always good. The eighth grade year we won two games. Two. He shook every kid’s hand after every loss and he told them what they did right. He taught us how to lose with grace, which means he taught us how to win without taking it for granted. I did not understand that sentence until this week.

I keep going to text him. I texted him yesterday. I forgot. I told him I love him. That is the last text on the thread and I am leaving it. Well, Pops. We have done it now.

Stories

From Theresa Hayes, wife: I met Marcus at a bus stop on Woodward in 1997. He was reading a book about bridges. He left his coffee cup on the table that morning. I have not moved it. I know that I have to and I will. Not yet.

From Reggie Carter, mentor: I coached Marcus when he was twelve. East Side Y, 1983. He was the smallest kid on the floor and the loudest. When he started coaching his own boys I went to his first practice. I watched him kneel down to talk to a seven year old, eye to eye. The kid lit up. I went home and I told my wife. I said, the boy got it.

From Yolanda Briggs, parent of a player Marcus coached: My son Terrence is twenty years old now. He is in his second year at Wayne State. He told me last night that Coach Hayes was the first man who ever made him feel like a man.

From Malik Hayes, son: My dad called me every Sunday at four in the afternoon. Not 3:55. Not 4:05. Four. He would ask me three questions. How is school. How is your mother. What did you eat today. In that order. Every Sunday.