Kansas State men’s basketball has a new look this season, thanks to first-year head coach Casey Alexander. So far, he’s already made an impact through recruiting and the transfer portal. But if he finds success on the court, what’s the price tag? The answer lies in his contract.
Details of Casey Alexander’s Contract and How It Compares
Alexander signed a five-year, 17milliondealwiththeWildcats amajorraisefromhistimeatBelmont.Accordingtoa2023reportfromtheBelmontVision,hewastheuniversity’shighestearnerthatfiscalyearandthebest−paidcoachintheMissouriValleyConference,withanannualsalaryof1.16 million.
Now, in his first season at Kansas State, that figure will more than double. By 2026–27, he’s projected to earn over $3 million. Naturally, there are performance-based incentives as well.
Incentives Built Into Alexander’s Contract
Reaching 25 or more wins earns a 25,000bonus.Atop−10finishintheseason−endingrankingsadds50,000.
The stakes get higher from there: an Elite Eight appearance triggers a 200,000bonus.Thatdoublesto400,000 for a Final Four run in his debut season, and triples to $600,000 if the Wildcats win a national title.
However, there’s a catch only one of those three postseason bonuses can be collected. For example, a Final Four loss means he only gets the Elite Eight bonus. The same rule applies to the Final Four and championship bonuses.
Additional bonuses are available for NCAA Tournament bids, second-round wins, and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. If Kansas State achieves all three in Alexander’s first season, he’d pocket another $150,000.
Did Kansas State Pay a Buyout?
As reported by the Topeka Capital-Journal, Alexander’s former school, Belmont, received a $600,000 buyout. If Alexander is fired without cause at Kansas State, he’s also entitled to compensation.
If the two sides part ways after his first season, Alexander would be owed 4million.Thatamountdropsby1 million each subsequent year until the contract ends.
Compared to former head coach Jerome Tang’s situation, the difference is stark. Tang’s buyout ballooned to nearly $18.675 million, placing Alexander’s deal in a completely different financial league.
As long as the first-year coach keeps winning, fans won’t have to worry about that clause. Even so, it would take more than one bad season for things to spiral that far.
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