North Carolina A&T hires former S.C. State basketball coach

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - Cy Alexander is back in the MEAC.

Alexander was named men’s basketball coach at N.C. A&T on Friday afternoon. The man who guided S.C. State to five MEAC titles during a 16-year run there, said he plans to do the same with the Aggies.

A native of Winston-Salem who went to Catawba and played under Sam Moir, Alexander will be introduced at A&T at a news conference next week.

“I can’t wait to get started,” the 58-year-old coach said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

A&T, which hasn’t had a winning season since 1996-97, fired coach Jerry Eaves in March after the Aggies went 12-20 overall and 7-9 in the MEAC in his ninth season. Alexander is A&T’s third coach since ’96-97 and the fourth since the Aggies won the last of their 15 MEAC titles.

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Alexander The Great!

CY ALEXANDER

HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY

(Alma Mater: Catawba College 1975)

Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Cy Alexander has been hired as the new North Carolina A&T men's basketball coach, Director of Athletics Earl Hilton announced today. A&T will announce Alexander as its new coach at a news conference to be schedule in the near future.

Alexander brings with him a wealth of experience in constructing a championship program within the MEAC. Alexander led S.C. State to seven MEAC tournament title games, winning five of those contest over a 16-year span. Before Alexander arrived in Orangeburg, the Bulldogs had captured only one MEAC regular-season title, and they reached just one MEAC tournament final. In addition, the school was coming off of its ninth straight losing season.

When Alexander left S.C. State in 2003, he had won nearly 60 percent of his games and more than 70 percent of his conference games. Alexander will be asked to restore the Aggies tradition of winning MEAC titles. The Aggies own a league-leading 15 MEAC tournament titles, but have not been crowned champions since 1995.

"The goals and objectives for our men's basketball program are clear," said Hilton. "We want an inspired program that forms its foundation on young men who graduate to become productive, successful citizens in society, and, who during their time at North Carolina A&T, win conference championships and advance in the NCAA Tournament. As an A&T family, we believe Cy Alexander has both the knowledge and the wisdom to help us achieve these goals and objectives."

Alexander's time in the MEAC began in 1976. He spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Howard University under A.B. Williamson. In 1987, he was named the head coach at S.C. State. He was able to compile a 277-202 record overall and a 191-79 record in the MEAC. In year one at S.C. State, he was 16-13. By year two, the Bulldogs finished 25-8, broke the school record for wins and advanced to the NCAA tournament after winning the school's first MEAC tournament title. Alexander was now on his way to piecing together what became one of the most successful coaching runs in MEAC history.

Alexander's efforts helped him win three MEAC Coach of the Year honors while at S.C. State, including the 2003 honor for leading the Bulldogs to their fifth MEAC crown. His S.C. State teams received the prestigious American Sports Wire Black College National Championship three times (1996, '98, '00). In 1996, he was named American Sports Wire National Coach of the Year. He is also a member of the S.C. State Hall of Fame. After the '03 season, Alexander became the head men's basketball coach at Tennessee State University. Alexander spent six seasons with the Tigers. Alexander is a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, who has a 344-308 career record over 22 seasons. He will be the ninth Aggie men's basketball coach of the modern era.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION