Rex Alexander

Rex Alexander
Biographical details
Born(1924-06-01)June 1, 1924
Union County, Kentucky
DiedMarch 28, 1982(1982-03-28) (aged 57)
Grayson County, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma materMurray State University 1949
Playing career
Men's basketball
1946–1949Murray State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Men's basketball
1949–1954Murray State (assistant)
1954–1958Murray State
1958–1965Murray State (assistant)
Baseball
1955Murray State
Head coaching record
Overall45–54 (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]

References

  1. ^ a b "RacerHistory.com - Complete Murray State Basketball Historical Archive". racerhistory.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Rex Alexander". Murray State Racers Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Alexander Named Basketball Coach at Murray State". Chicago Tribune. June 2, 1954.
  4. ^ "Luther Switches to Murray State". The Washington Observer. March 8, 1958. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Murray State Distinguished Professor" (PDF). www.murraystate.edu. [dead link]
  6. ^ "Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame". Murray State University Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Western Cage Signee". Daily News. May 14, 1971. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  8. ^ http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/alexander_troy00.html [dead link]
  9. ^ "Four killed on state roads". Daily News. March 29, 1982. Retrieved June 14, 2024.