June 16, 2008

ECU’s Alexander chosen to lead Aggies

LAWTON, Oklahoma (June 16) – Wade Alexander, the assistant men’s basketball coach at East Central University (Ada, Oklahoma), a fellow Lone Star Conference school, was officially announced as the new head men’s basketball coach at Cameron University this morning. CU Athletic Director Jim Jackson has finalized the hiring and Alexander has already begun his duties at CU.

Alexander is from the Southwest Oklahoma area and grew up in Marlow, Oklahoma. He takes the place of recently departed Maurice Leitzke who left the Aggies for personal and family reasons.

“I’m very excited to hire Wade Alexander,” Jackson said. “What excites me is that he has the reputation of being one of the top recruiters in this area and in the LSC. He knows the LSC and he has been successful at three different institutions. He comes highly recommended and is ready to take over his own program. I’m delighted he is coming on board to join our family.”

Alexander, who has been a head coach of men’s and women’s golf (Bacone College) but never of men’s basketball, was equally excited about the move to Cameron and to Lawton.

“I think this is a great opportunity,” Alexander said. “I think Cameron University is a gold mine, and I think we can really get some big things done here. I am from the area and know a lot about the area. I’ve followed CU for many years and this is truly a place I have always wanted to be.”

As mentioned above, Alexander served as the assistant men’s basketball coach under head coach Terry Shannon at East Central University from 2005-2008. While at ECU he helped lead the Tigers to a third-place finish in the LSC after the 2005-2006 season, and was instrumental in the development of seven LSC All-Conference players. He also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator under head coach Terry Shannon and was responsible for all of the administrative duties.

“Wade has a tireless work ethic and is driven to succeed,” Jackson said. “I expect great things from him. He’s paid his dues and he has been a very good assistant coach. There comes a point when you’re ready to become a head coach and somebody has to give you that break. I know Wade will do great things at Cameron.”

Prior to ECU, Alexander was the assistant men’s basketball coach at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Kingsville, TX), another fellow Lone Star Conference school. While on the Javelina coaching staff under head coach Pete Peterson, Alexander helped to guide the squad to a third-place finish in the LSC after the 2004-2005 season. He also was instrumental in TAMUK’s #10 regional ranking that year.

“I think my Lone Star Conference experience is huge,” Alexander said. “It is great to already know the conference so well. To know the LSC and to know the teams you’ll be going against gives me a slight edge over the other new people in the conference.”

Alexander started his coaching career at Bacone College (Muskogee, OK) as the assistant men’s basketball coach and head men’s and women’s golf coach. With the Warriors and under head coach Alan Foster, Alexander helped lead the team to a second-place finish in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) after the 2003-2004 season. Like at ECU and TAMUK, Alexander was the recruiting coordinator at Bacone College.

Alexander received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree from East Central in May of 2001. He then stayed at ECU to achieve his Master’s degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Sports Administration in December of 2002.

“I’d like to thank Coaches Cobb, Shannon, Peterson, and Foster for all giving me a chance,” Alexander said. “They all helped me to get to the point where I’m at today. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to come to Cameron.”

The Aggie men’s basketball team is currently in the offseason training portion of their schedule. Cameron begins their 2008-2009 season with an exhibition contest against the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday, November 8.

“Like Wade’s former head coaches, I feel that he is more than ready to take this next step,” Jackson said. “I am certain that he is a good fit for Cameron and for Lawton and for our men’s basketball program. He will do some great things, and with this hiring we have started the process of turning this program into a winner.”