Casey Alexander Named Kansas State Men's Basketball Head Coach

The former Belmont coach agrees to a 5-year, $16.5 million contract with the Wildcats.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:52pm

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Kansas State University has named Casey Alexander as the next head coach of its men's basketball program. Alexander comes to Manhattan after seven successful seasons at Belmont, where he compiled 166 wins and four conference titles, including the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championship. He has agreed to a five-year contract worth $3.3 million in the first year, with a $50,000 base salary increase each year thereafter.

Why it matters

The hiring of Alexander represents a major coup for Kansas State as they look to rebuild their men's basketball program. Alexander has a proven track record of winning at the mid-major level and will bring his up-tempo, high-scoring style of play to the Big 12 Conference.

The details

Alexander, who is a Belmont alumnus, agreed to a five-year contract approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and President Richard Linton. The deal will pay him $3.3 million in 2026-27, with a $50,000 base salary increase each year remaining on the contract — $3.35 million in 2027-28, $3.4 million in 2028-29, $3.45 million in 2029-30 and $3.5 million in 2030-31.

  • Alexander was named the new Kansas State men's basketball head coach on March 16, 2026.

The players

Casey Alexander

The new head coach of the Kansas State men's basketball team, who previously spent seven successful seasons as the head coach at Belmont University.

Gene Taylor

The athletic director at Kansas State University who hired Casey Alexander as the new men's basketball head coach.

Richard Linton

The president of Kansas State University who approved the hiring of Casey Alexander as the new men's basketball head coach.

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What they’re saying

“I'm incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can't wait to get the journey started. K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base and I'm grateful for the opportunity provided by (athletic director) Gene Taylor to be a part of it.”

— Casey Alexander, New Kansas State Men's Basketball Head Coach (kwch.com)

What’s next

Alexander will now begin assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to join the Kansas State program as he looks to quickly turn the Wildcats into a contender in the Big 12 Conference.

The takeaway

The hiring of Casey Alexander as the new Kansas State men's basketball head coach represents a significant investment in the program's future. Alexander's track record of success at the mid-major level suggests he has the potential to revive a Wildcats program that has struggled in recent years.