Lipscomb formally introduced Casey Alexander to the community as the new coach of the men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon at the Ezell Center.
The university officially confirmed Alexander’s hire Saturday evening. Alexander was a former Belmont Bruin player and coach who has spent the past two seasons coaching at Stetson.
Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson kicked off the event, talking about the process of hiring a coach.
Hutcheson said that when looking for a coach, “what we care about here is excellence, and what we care about are people who are connected and committed to what the mission of Lipscomb is about.”
The selection committee, consisting of Hutcheson, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Student Life Scott McDowell and women’s basketball coach Greg Brown, interviewed a number of candidates who were interested in the vacant position. Former coach Scott Sanderson resigned in April.
Hutcheson praised the quality of the candidate that applied for the job, but said that the committee decided that Alexander was the best for the program.
“There was one guy whose name rose to the top, and he contacted me very early on about the job and said he was interested,” Hutcheson said.
Hutcheson said he had conversations with people close to both Lipscomb and Alexander who reassured him of what a good coach and person Alexander was.
In an early conversation with Alexander, Hutcheson said he was impressed with the candidate’s vision for the school after being asked why he was interested in the coaching position.
“[Alexander] said ‘I want to be at a place that still values the Christian mission that Lipscomb values , that values character, and that also wants to be competitive, and there are very few places that do all of those things, and that’s the place I want to help build a program.’ And I thought, well, that’s a pretty good answer,” Hutcheson said.
After Hutcheson, Brown and McDowell had completed the interview process, they all concurred that Alexander was the coach they wanted for the program.
“We thought it was clear that he was the right guy for the right time,” Hutcheson said.
Dean McDowell also shared some thoughts on the hire, saying that he was instantly impressed with the coaching candidate. McDowell said that they could have stopped the process immediately due to the quality of Alexander’s candidacy.
Hutcheson returned to the stage to introduce Alexander to the crowd, saying that more events are being planned to let the Lipscomb community get a chance to meet Alexander.
During his introduction, Alexander shared his excitement about returning to Nashville and being at Lipscomb as the new coach of the men’s basketball team.
“I can’t tell you how good it feels to be home,” Alexander said. “How great it feels to be home – at Lipscomb.”
Alexander thanked all the kind thoughts and messages that had been passed this way, saying that they made him feel that Lipscomb was the best place to continue coaching.
“I’m standing right where I need to be,” Alexander said.
Alexander also introduced his family to the crowd – his wife, Sunni, his daughter, Allie, and his two sons, Reed and Mason.
Alexander expressed his gratitude as to his being hired by the selection committee.
“To you guys, I’m so grateful,” Alexander said. “I’m so excited about working for you and to be a part of your team and all that goes along with that.”
Alexander was also quick to share his gratitude to Belmont coach Rick Byrd, under whom Alexander worked as an assistant coach for 16 seasons before taking the head coaching job at Stetson in 2011. Byrd was in attendance at Sunday’s introduction.
“Outside of those who share the DNA that I’ve already mentioned, there’s not one person anywhere that’s made me more the man I am today than the guy sitting right back there – Rick Byrd,” Alexander said. “So, Coach, I appreciate you being here, and I appreciate every step along the way that’s help me stand up here at this podium.”
Alexander joked about his conversation with Byrd about taking the Lipscomb job, as Belmont is Lipscomb’s most notorious rival on and off the court, but the new Bisons coach said that Byrd was supportive of his decision, regardless of where the job was located.
“I took one conversation, I think, literally for him to forget about where it was and who it was,” Alexander said. “All he cares about is what’s best for the people he works with, and that’s a legacy that will last for a long time for a lot of people.”
Alexander said he hopes that during his time as coach, he can help integrate the former Bisons players and staff members into the current program, making them feel welcome.
“I’m just the steward of this ship. Those are the guys that deserve all the credit for making this a job that I and many others wanted,” Alexander said. “And, I want them to know that they’re welcome here, expected here, wanted here, and I really look forward to the journey that’s in front of us of bringing the recent past and the older past together and making this exactly what it needs to be.”
Alexander closed with stating that the reason for the efforts put in by all in the process was for the benefit of the current players. Teammates Malcom Smith, J.J. Butler and Khion Sankey were in attendance.
“Our charge, as it relates to those guys, is to give them the best experience that Lipscomb can offer,” Alexander said.
Alexander said he spoke to those three on the phone and met with them before the introduction, telling the current Bisons his vision for the program.
“I told those guys I wanted it to be clear that they knew that what I do every day and what the people that surround them are going to do every day is give them the best chance to be successful and enjoy their time here,” Alexander said. “And, if we’ve done that, I think we’ve done a heck of a job.”
At the end of the introduction, Alexander thanked God for the opportunity to be the next Bisons basketball coach, saying that “no matter how hard I try to make it happen the way I want to make it happen, thankfully, there is a God that sets a path that creates opportunities like this, and I am so grateful to be here right now as your basketball coach – because of Him.”
Alexander later shared his hopes that the student body and fan base will be involved and active in cheering their team on, and that the players that enter the Bisons basketball program will be great fits in the Lipscomb community.
“What I want them to know is that we’re here to be a part of [the community],} Alexander said. “Our role is no different than theirs, it just has a little different responsibility.
“As much as I want their support and for them to be involved with what we’re doing, because we desperately need them to be, I want them to know that the young men that will come into our basketball program are going to be people that they like and enjoy and love living life with.”
Video by Sydney Poe