Considered by most to be the top candidate as soon as the news of Rick Byrd’s retirement broke, Casey Alexander has indeed be named the head coach at Belmont. Alexander played and coached under Byrd for 20 years before leaving in 2011 to become a head coach. He has been across town at Lipscomb since 2013, leading the Bisons to the NCAA Tournament last year and a runner-up NIT finish this past season.
“I couldn’t be more pleased and grateful to welcome Casey back home to Belmont,” Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said in a statement. “Casey was such an important part of our university as a student, basketball player and a member of our coaching team for many years. We are amazed at all that he has accomplished in building successful teams as a head coach and we look forward to him bringing that same integrity, class, leadership and passion for fair-competition to Belmont.”
Byrd had been the head coach at Belmont since 1986 and finding a replacement from within the Belmont family was important for administrators. Alexander has familiarity not only with Belmont, but also his home state of Tennessee, where he has spent nearly his whole life (save for a two-year stint as Stetson‘s head coach).
“It’s an honor and a great privilege to have the opportunity to return to Belmont,” Alexander said. “The experiences gained over the last eight years have shaped and impacted me greatly, and I return to Belmont far better positioned to lead.”
Alexander will be formally introduced in a press conference on Thursday morning.
credit to Lipscomb Athletics for the photo
