Kansas State Makes Impactful Coaching Change
The basketball world is buzzing as the offseason coaching cycle kicks off. Kansas State has made a bold move by hiring Casey Alexander, a decision that hasn’t sat well with Belmont’s former coach. The announcement came early Friday.
The Wildcats decided to part ways with Jerome Tan earlier this season, bringing Alexander on board with a hefty five-year contract worth $17 million.
Alexander expressed his enthusiasm about the new role, stating, “I am very excited to be joining the K-State team and can’t wait for the journey to begin. K-State has a rich tradition and a passionate fan base…”
With college basketball fans eagerly awaiting the results of Sunday’s standings, teams not vying for a national title are starting to plan for the future.
Kansas State’s decision to dismiss Tan followed 25 games this season and was influenced by “recent public comments and conduct.” During his tenure, Tan achieved a record of 73-57 over three years but couldn’t replicate his initial success from the 2022-23 season when he led the team to the Elite Eight.
His next three seasons saw records of 19-15, 16-17, and 10-15, with Kansas State occasionally advancing in competitions.
The Wildcats have turned to Alexander, a rising star in mid-major coaching circles. He’s celebrated for securing three regular season titles and one conference tournament championship at Belmont.
However, this year’s MVC Tournament ended on a low note for the Bruins, as they faced a significant 100-79 defeat against No. 9 seed Drake, which dashed their hopes of making it to the NCAA Tournament.
Alexander’s overall record stands impressively at 166-60 at Belmont, having consistently led his teams to at least 20 wins for seven seasons, including an impressive 26-6 this year.
His journey in coaching began at Stetson for two years (2011-2013) and continued with six years at Lipscomb (2013-2019) before landing at Belmont.
Kansas State Athletic Director Gene Taylor noted the strong interest from various talented coaches nationwide during their search. He mentioned, “What emerged throughout our investigation was the positive reputation of K-State basketball, and of the coaches we spoke with, Casey emerged as the best fit for our program. He is known nationally as an excellent evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game.”
