Kansas State Hires Belmont Assistant Kerron Johnson

Former Belmont star and assistant coach joins Casey Alexander's staff in Manhattan

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:08am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a college basketball game broken down into fragmented geometric shapes in shades of purple, silver, and white, conveying the dynamic energy and intensity of the sport.The arrival of Kerron Johnson at Kansas State signals a new era of high-energy, competitive basketball in Manhattan.Huntsville Today

Kerron Johnson, a former Belmont basketball standout and assistant coach, has joined the Kansas State coaching staff under new head coach Casey Alexander. Johnson, a 35-year-old native of Huntsville, Alabama, spent nearly a decade playing professionally overseas before transitioning to coaching at his alma mater. He is excited about the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the Big 12 Conference and help build a championship program at K-State.

Why it matters

The hiring of Kerron Johnson represents a significant addition to Casey Alexander's staff as he looks to quickly turn around the Kansas State men's basketball program. Johnson brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience, as well as a proven track record of developing elite-level guards. His arrival also signals K-State's commitment to recruiting top talent and building a roster capable of competing in the rugged Big 12.

The details

Johnson spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Belmont, helping the Bruins win four conference championships and make four NCAA Tournament appearances. He was instrumental in the development of standout guards like Ben Sheppard, who was selected 26th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2023 NBA Draft. Now, Johnson will bring that same player development expertise to Manhattan, where he'll work closely with K-State's backcourt players.

  • Johnson was promoted to assistant coach at Belmont in May 2024.
  • Casey Alexander accepted the head coaching job at Kansas State in March 2026.

The players

Kerron Johnson

A 35-year-old former point guard who played professionally in New Zealand, Germany, France, Poland, Italy and Israel. He was a standout player at Belmont University, where he is a Hall of Fame inductee, and has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach for the Bruins.

Casey Alexander

The new head men's basketball coach at Kansas State University, having previously served as the head coach at Belmont.

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What they’re saying

“This place is awesome. You grow up watching Michael Beasley and Jacob Pullen in here and you know how special this place is. You understand that K-State fans care a lot about their team. As a competitor, coach and athlete, that's what you want. You want people who care about winning and losing, and who care about guys in the program.”

— Kerron Johnson, Assistant Coach

“Him as a person, I admire how much he cares about his athletes. In the world that we live in now, we could become transactional. In a world where that's a lot of the situations, it's not for him. He invests deeply into the guys he coaches and recruits.”

— Kerron Johnson, Assistant Coach

What’s next

Johnson and the rest of the Kansas State coaching staff will immediately turn their attention to the upcoming NCAA transfer portal period, which opens on April 7. Their top priority will be identifying and recruiting the right players to help build a championship-caliber roster in Manhattan.

The takeaway

The addition of Kerron Johnson to Casey Alexander's staff at Kansas State represents a significant coup for the Wildcats. Johnson's proven track record of player development and his strong relationships with elite-level guards will be invaluable as K-State looks to quickly rebuild and compete at the highest level in the Big 12 Conference.