MANHATTAN — Casey Alexander’s first order of business as Kansas State’s new basketball coach will be filling out a staff, presumably before the transfer portal opens after the NCAA Tournament national championship game.
The make-up of Alexander’s staff at Belmont has been former Bruins players and long-time assistants with Nashville ties. As he ventures west of the Mississippi River for the first time in his coaching career, Alexander will likely need to find someone with Midwest ties, perhaps even Kansas State roots. There will also be a need for a defensive-minded coach, considering he’s more known as an offensive mind.
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We went through his Belmont tree and looked at some other names that may make sense with regional and Kansas State ties. Here’s a look at some names that could join Alexander on the sideline.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head Mens’ coach Casey Alexander on the sidelines during the men’s basketball game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at MTSU..
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head Mens’ coach Casey Alexander on the sidelines during the men’s basketball game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at MTSU..
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander yells to his players during their game against Jacksonville State Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander works with his team against Lipscomb during the second half at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander works with his team against Lipscomb during the first half at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander talks to his players during a timeout in their game against Jacksonville State Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander works with his team against Lipscomb during the first half at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander disputes a call during the second half against Lipscomb at Allen Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander gives instructions to his team as Lipscomb plays Liberty in the championship of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament at Allen Arena March 10, 2019 in Nashville.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander yells to his team during the second half against Lipscomb at Allen Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander works with his team during the first half against Lipscomb at Allen Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Nov 25, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Belmont head coach Casey Alexander (hc) on the sideline against Drake in the first half at HP Fieldhouse Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 8, 2025; St. Louis, MO, Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander reacts during the second half against the Drake Bulldogs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 8, 2025; St. Louis, MO, Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander reacts during the second half against the Drake Bulldogs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Nov 17, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander on the sidelines against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Nov 26, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander coaches from the sidelines against the Iona Gaels in the second half at HP Fieldhouse Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont guard Casey Alexander (12) looks for an open teammate while being guarded by Marlon Brown (55) of Martin Methodist. Belmont improve their record to 20-1 with a 97-77 victory at home in Striplin Gym on Jan. 23, 1995.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexanders reacts to a referees call during the second half of their NIT Championship Game against Texas at Madison Square Garden Thursday, April 4, 2019 in New York, N.Y.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Dec 16, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Lipscomb Bison head coach Casey Alexander reacts against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander yells at his players during the second half of a first round NIT basketball game against Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander yells at his players during the second half of their NIT Championship Game against Texas at Madison Square Garden Thursday, April 4, 2019 in New York, N.Y.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander yells at his team during the first half of a first round NIT basketball game against Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander yells at his players during the second half of a first round NIT basketball game against Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 15, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Lipscomb Bisons head coach Casey Alexander speaks in a press conference during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 16, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Lipscomb Bisons head coach Casey Alexander during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont’s Casey Alexander, looks back to his team in the final seconds of the game after Isaiah Walker made a winning free throw during the game against Lipscomb leaving the score 80-79 at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont’s head coach Casey Alexander speaks with his players in a timeout at an OVC conference basketball game between the Austin Peay Governors and Belmont Bruins at APSU’s Winfield Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tenn., on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander watches his players during practice at Allen Arena Friday, March 29, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. before the team heads to their NIT semifinal game in New York City against Wichita State.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander gives instruction to his players during practice at Allen Arena Friday, March 29, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. before the team heads to their NIT semifinal game in New York City against Wichita State.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Dec 12, 2018; Louisville, KY, USA; Lipscomb Bisons head coach Casey Alexander calls out instructions during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Lipscomb 72-68. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 8, 2013; Macon, GA, USA; Stetson Hatters head coach Casey Alexander looks on court side against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during first half of the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament at Hawkins Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 8, 2013; Macon, GA, USA; Stetson Hatters head coach Casey Alexander looks on court side against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during first half of the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament at Hawkins Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Belmont Head Coach Casey Alexander pleads his case to a referee during their semifinal game against Morehead State of the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., March 4, 2022. Morehead State beat Belmont 53-51 to advance to Saturday night’s championship matchup with Murray State.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Casey Alexander talks about his Belmont Bruins basketball team heading into the Missouri Valley Conference tournament as the No. 1 seed.
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Mar 8, 2025; St. Louis, MO, Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander reacts during the second half against the Drake Bulldogs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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Casey Alexander in photos: Reported new Kansas State basketball coach
Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander gives instructions to his team as Lipscomb plays Liberty in the championship of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament at Allen Arena March 10, 2019 in Nashville.
Brian Ayers
Ayers was Alexander’s associate head coach at Belmont, where he has spent the last 28 seasons. He entered the 2025-26 season as the longest-serving Division I assistant coach at a single institution.
Belmont’s website says Ayers specializes in post-play instruction — offensive moves, footwork, positioning and defense. Ayers is a Clarksville, Tennessee, native. He spent time as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt and Austin Peay, while playing college ball at Lipscomb.
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Shane Southwell
A four-year standout at K-State from 2010-14, Southwell is coming off his second season as an assistant at Northwestern. That came after two-year stints as a Northern Illinois associate head coach and two years as an assistant under Bruce Weber at K-State, where he helped recruit Markquis Nowell and Robert Morris. This should be an early call for Alexander.
Kyle Lindsted
Sunrise Christian’s head coach, Lindsted, has an impressive assistant coaching résumé at the college level, having served on Gregg Marshall’s staff at Wichita State. He’s also been an assistant at Minnesota and a scout for the Brooklyn Nets.
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Kerron Johnson
Johnson finished his fourth season on Belmont’s staff. He’s one of the best players in Belmont history and is credited with working closely with standouts Ben Sheppard and Ja’Kobi Gillespie. His responsibilities included game planning, scouting reports, and recruiting. His brother is former Auburn and NFL running back Kerryon Johnson.
Luke Smith
Smith finished his second year on Belmont’s staff after previously serving as the program’s director of player development. He played three seasons at Belmont.
JJ Butler
Butler is coming off his first season as a Belmont assistant after spending the previous three seasons on staff at Delaware. He played for Alexander at Lipscomb.
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Bryce Haase
Haase finished his third season at Belmont, his first as the director of strategy and analytics. He previously served as a graduate assistant for the Bruins.
Sean Rutigliano
Rutigliano departed Belmont after last season, taking the head coaching job at Division III Colby College. He was Belmont’s associate head coach when he departed and had spent six years on Alexander’s staff.
Mick Hedgepeth
Hedgepeth was Alexander’s director of basketball operations during his first season at Belmont. He’s currently the head coach at Division II Alabama-Huntsville, which he led to the Sweet 16 a year ago. He could be in the mix to replace Alexander at Belmont.
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Evan Bradds
Bradds is Belmont’s all-time leading scorer and has been climbing the coaching ranks since. He spent a lot of time in the NBA, coaching for the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz organizations. He became an assistant at Duke before this past season. He could be in the mix to replace Alexander at Belmont.
Penny Collins
Collins was a player at Belmont when Alexander was an assistant. He was the head coach at Tennessee State, where he struggled, before he stepped down to join the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant. He’s also been an assistant at East Tennessee, Illinois State and Cumberland.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Casey Alexander coaching staff at Kansas State basketball possibilities