Rice head basketball coach Scott Pera announced Friday morning the addition of Vince Alexander to the coaching staff as assistant coach.
“Today I am excited to announce the addition of Vince Alexander to our staff,” said Pera. “Vince is one of the most respected Division II head coaches in the country. His resume and record speak for themselves. He is bringing over 300 career wins with him to Rice. He will be a valuable addition as a mentor, coach and advisor for our student athletes.”
He added, “I first met Coach Alexander over twenty years ago when we were both head coaches of high school teams in Pennsylvania and I have followed his career ever since. For him to want to come be a part of what we are building here has all of us excited. Please join me in welcoming Coach Alexander to the Rice family.”
A 20-year head coaching veteran, Alexander owns a 341-250 record. The Houston native spent the last four years at Saint Leo, where he accumulated a 56-63 record. In his time at Saint Leo, he coached six All-Sunshine State Conference members and defeated three top ten teams. In his first season at the helm, Alexander guided the Lions to a 19-12 record, the most wins by a head coach in their first season at Saint Leo. The Lions also finished fourth in the Sunshine State Conference with a 10-6 record.
“It is truly a blessing to be able to come home,” said Alexander. “It is even more of a blessing to be able to come home and work with one of the best in the business in Scott Pera. His passion and love for the game is contagious. In just a short time I have met some truly amazing people and I can understand why Rice University stands out as one of the top institutions in the country. I’m looking forward to the great things ahead for our institution and basketball program.”
Alexander’s fast style of play saw the Saint Leo offense go from 64.2 points per game in the season prior to 83.4 points and an improved field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage. The Lions also increased their rebounds and assists per game.
Prior to Saint Leo, Alexander served as the head coach at South Carolina-Aiken for 10 seasons. During that span, Alexander guided USC-Aiken to four Peach Belt Conference regular season championships in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and three of the last six PBC tournament titles.
His most recent PBC tournament championships in 2013 and 2014 led the Pacers to deep runs through the NCAA tournament.
Led by PBC Player of the Year Re’mon Nelson, Alexander’s 2012-13 squad went 25-8 and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. The Pacers followed up in 2013-14 with a second straight trip to the Elite Eight, advancing to the Final Four and finishing with a 33-4 mark behind performances by PBC Defensive Player of the Year Alvin Brown and Tournament MVP DeVontae Wright.
In 10 seasons at USC-Aiken, Alexander posted a 196-113 (.634) record with six 20-win seasons. A four-time PBC Coach of the Year, he earned NABC Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2008, 2013, and 2014.
Fourteen Pacers coached by Alexander earned All-PBC honors, with a pair of PBC Players of the Year in Chris Commons (2008 & 2009) and Nelson (2013). Four of Alexander’s players earned post-season All-America honors and four were named PBC All-Academic selections.
Prior to his successful stint at USC-Aiken, Alexander spent six seasons at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pa, from 1999-2005, charting an 89-74 record.
With Alexander at the helm, Mansfield won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division championship in 2005 with an 18-11 record, 10-2 in PSAC East play. Alexander’s 2003-04 squad at Mansfield recorded a 21-7 mark, the first of his seven 20-win campaigns over his 16 seasons as a head coach.
Alexander previously served as head boys basketball coach at William Penn High School in York, Pa., as well as Dean of Students for the York City School District from 1995 to 1997, winning a pair of YAIAA championships and the 1997 York County title. He began his coaching career in Oklahoma, earning his first head coaching position at U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., and advancing to the Oklahoma Regional Finals in 1995.
Alexander earned his Associate of Arts degree in physical education from Blinn College (Texas) in 1987 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and recreation from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1989. He earned All-Conference and All-Region honors at Blinn and served as the team captain for two seasons at Oklahoma Baptist.
Alexander and his wife, Anita, have one son, Benjamin, and one daughter, Samantha Denae.
https://riceowls.com/news/2019/5/24/vince-alexander-added-to-mens-basketball-staff.aspx
