Rex Alexander Explained

Rex Alexander
Birth Date:1 June 1924
Birth Place:Union County, Kentucky
Death Place:Grayson County, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma Mater:Murray State University 1949
Player Sport1:Men's basketball
Player Years1:1946–1949
Player Team1:Murray State
Coach Sport1:Men's basketball
Coach Years1:1949–1954
Coach Team1:Murray State (assistant)
Coach Years2:1954–1958
Coach Team2:Murray State
Coach Years3:1958–1965
Coach Team3:Murray State (assistant)
Coach Sport4:Baseball
Coach Years4:1955
Coach Team4:Murray State
Overall Record:45–54 (basketball)
5–11 (baseball)

Rex E. Alexander (June 1, 1924 – March 28, 1982) was a college basketball who was the head coach of the Murray State Racers from 1954 to 1958.[1]

A native of Union County, Kentucky, Alexander played forward for the Racers' basketball team and graduated from the school in 1949.[2] He served as assistant coach under Harlan Hodges until Hodges left for Idaho in 1954. After former North Carolina head coach Tom Scott turned down the job, Alexander was promoted to head coach.[3] In his four seasons at Murray State, Alexander had a 45–54 record and no tournament appearances.[1] He also led the Murray State baseball team to 5–11 record in 1955. He asked to be relieved of his head coaching duties after the 1957–58 season and was replaced by DePauw University head coach Cal Luther.[4] He remained with the school as an assistant coach and professor and in 1976 he was the recipient of the Murray State Distinguished Professor award.[5] He was inducted into the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.[6]

Alexander's son David played basketball at Western Kentucky in 1971.[7] His grandson Troy played for Southern Methodist University.[8]

He died in an automobile accident on March 28, 1982.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RacerHistory.com - Complete Murray State Basketball Historical Archive. racerhistory.com. 29 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Rex Alexander . Murray State Racers Hall of Fame . 14 June 2024.
  3. News: Alexander Named Basketball Coach at Murray State . . June 2, 1954 .
  4. News: Luther Switches to Murray State . . March 8, 1958 . June 14, 2024 .
  5. Web site: Murray State Distinguished Professor. www.murraystate.edu.
  6. Web site: Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame. Murray State University Athletics. 29 May 2023.
  7. News: Western Cage Signee . . May 14, 1971 . March 19, 2010.
  8. http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/alexander_troy00.html
  9. News: Four killed on state roads . 14 June 2024 . Daily News . March 29, 1982.