MANHATTAN — The question of how appealing Kansas State’s head coaching position is has been a hot topic since the Wildcats parted ways with Jerome Tang. Athletic director Gene Taylor said Casey Alexander made it clear during their interviews that he was very interested in the role, which played a major part in K-State signing him to a five-year, $17 million deal after poaching him from Belmont.
“Casey told us, ‘Kansas State has had three different coaches reach the Elite Eight recently. That’s no accident. The program has strong support from fans and financially,’” Taylor explained. “He knows the program’s history and is genuinely excited to coach here, especially in a packed Bramlage Coliseum.”
The Hiring Process
K-State officially hired Alexander on Friday after evaluating roughly ten candidates over four weeks. Taylor said Alexander first impressed him during a February Zoom call, which immediately placed him near the top of the list. A subsequent in-person interview at the Kansas City Airport Marriott confirmed Alexander as a finalist.
Taylor praised Alexander’s approach to building a program, noting that he has a clear plan for adapting his mid-major coaching experience to the Big 12. Alexander emphasizes roster consistency, developing high school recruits, using transfers strategically, and understanding the type of physical players needed to compete in the conference. Taylor added, “Everywhere he’s coached, he’s identified talent and won games. That was impressive.”
Alexander’s Track Record
Alexander brings 15 years of head coaching experience, with 303 career wins at Stetson, Lipscomb, and Belmont. At Belmont, he led the Bruins to seven consecutive 20-win seasons, three conference titles, and a 26-win campaign this past season, securing a Missouri Valley regular-season championship. At Lipscomb, he guided the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance and an NIT runner-up finish. Taylor admired Alexander’s steady development: “He started around .500 at Lipscomb, but once he reached 20 wins, he maintained that level. It shows he can coach and build programs in any situation.”
Other Candidates Considered
K-State also pursued Josh Schertz and Jerrod Calhoun, but neither made a move to Manhattan. Schertz signed a contract extension at Saint Louis, and Calhoun hesitated to negotiate while leading Utah State into the NCAA Tournament. Alexander quickly agreed to terms after a few hours of negotiations Thursday evening.
Taylor noted the importance of hiring a coach promptly rather than waiting until after the Final Four. Alexander will hold his introductory news conference Monday at 11 a.m. in Bramlage Coliseum. He won’t coach Belmont in the NIT, though Taylor supported him if he had wanted to. The Bruins ultimately opted out of postseason play, allowing Alexander to focus solely on K-State.
What to Expect at K-State
Alexander brings a defined offensive identity to Kansas State basketball. His Belmont teams excelled at three-point shooting, ranking first nationally this season with a 41% clip, while also maintaining strong inside scoring efficiency. One area he has yet to conquer is winning an NCAA Tournament game, a challenge he faced at mid-major programs where even 26-win seasons weren’t enough to reach March Madness. At K-State, however, tournament access will be easier. “He’s excited about the opportunities here,” Taylor said. “He understands he can compete for more wins at this level and is ready to coach at a higher level.”
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