Cy Alexander Biography

Cy Alexander, longtime men's basketball coach at South Carolina State University was ready for a new challenge. In April of 2003, after 16 very successful seasons at SCSU Alexander chose to accept the challenge of resurrecting the basketball program at Tennessee State University. Although it had been awhile Alexander was intimately familiar with the rigors of resurrecting a basketball program.

In 1987, Alexander, after 11 years as an assistant basketball coach at Howard University in Washington D. C. took the helm of the South Carolina State basketball team, a team left for dead, having experienced nine consecutive losing seasons, he turned the Bulldog's basketball program into a virtual overnight winner.

Alexander, upon leaving South Carolina State described his 16 years at the Bulldog's helm as a pretty good run, an understatement of significant proportions considering the condition of the Bulldog program when he arrived.

All Alexander did in his "pretty good run" from (1987-2003) was take SCSU to five postseason NCAA Tournaments, prior to his arrival the Bulldogs' had never been. He coached the South Carolina State team to six Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championships, additionally the Bulldogs won five MEAC tournament crowns in seven tries and his Bulldogs finished either first or second in the conference in 13 of his 16 seasons as head coach compiling a 191-79 (.707) MEAC record.

Talk about resurrection, in Alexander's first season coaching the South Carolina State University Bulldogs they had a winning 16-13 (.551) record. His second season the Bulldogs set a school record going 25-8 (.758), won the MEAC regular season crown, the school's first ever MEAC Tournament title and the Bulldogs first ever trip to the postseason NCAA tournament.

Talk about consistency, in Alexander's last season his Bulldogs went 20-11 (.645), 15-3 (.833) during the MEAC regular season and enjoyed another trip to the postseason NCAA Tournament. Alexander received his third MEAC Coach of the Year award following the 2002-03 season, his last at SCSU.

In addition to Alexander's Coach of the Year awards he was named Palmetto State Coach of the Year by the Greenville Basketball Club, been named to the South Carolina State University basketball Hall of Fame as well as the Catawba (where he played his college ball) Hall of Fame.

Alexander serves on the NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional Advisory Committee, is a member of the Black Coaches Association and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

There is another side to Cy Alexander which is important to point out and is illustrated by a recent gesture he made to his alma mater. Alexander has established a scholarship in his name at Catawba to fulfill his desire to help future generations of student athletes and in recognition of the help he received when he was a student athlete. The scholarship will be earned by a student who is a member of the Catawba men's basketball team, of good character and morals and is academically in good standing.

Of his generous gift Alexander said: "I hope this small token of appreciation will help enrich another student athlete's life, helping him gain an education and move toward other endeavors in adulthood."

Catawba College Senior Vice President Tom Childress expressed appreciation to Alexander for his scholarship gift and for leading by example. Cy is a terrific guy and we're especially proud of his career, said Childress. He took his love of the game and his sociology degree from Catawba and found a place in the world where his passion could translate into a strong influence on the lives of new generations of student athletes.

Alexander holds a B.A. in sociology from Catawba and a Master's in Student Personnel Administration and Counseling from Howard University.

Alexander is married to Cecelia Perry of Raleigh, N.C., they are the parents of a daughter, Joi.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Assistant basketball coach at Howard University eleven years
South Carolina State University head basketball coach sixteen years
Coached SCSU Bulldogs to five postseason NCAA Tournaments
Coached Bulldogs to six Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championships
Led Bulldogs to five MEAC tournament crowns in seven tries
Finished either first or second in the conference in 13 of his 16 seasons as head coach
Coached Bulldogs to a 191-79 (.707) MEAC record
Set school record 25-8 (.758) his second season at SCSU
Three-time MEAC Coach of the Year
Named Palmetto State Coach of the Year by the Greenville Basketball Club
Named to the South Carolina State University basketball Hall of Fame
Named to the Catawba Hall of Fame
Serves on the NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional Advisory Committee
Member of the Black Coaches Association
Member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches
Holds a B.A. in sociology from Catawba
Holds a Master's in Student Personnel Administration and Counseling from Howard University