Michigan Basketball: From MGoBlue

Posted at 2:00pm -- 4/25/2010

From MGoBlue Press Release:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's basketball head coach John Beilein announced today (Saturday, April 24) the hiring of Bacari Alexander as an assistant coach for the Wolverine program.

"I am very excited about the addition of Bacari Alexander to our coaching staff," said Beilein. "From the very beginning of this search, I had specific qualities and characteristics I was looking for in our next basketball coach. Bacari fits that profile 100 percent."

"He has strong roots in Michigan and significant recruiting experience both here and in neighboring states," added Beilein. "He is a passionate teacher with strong communication skills. Bacari is a former post player and has a proven ability in the development of big men at the college level. With our young front court, that was an important factor in my final selection. I look forward to Bacari's immediate and very positive impact on the growth of our program."

"My family and I are very excited to be part of the Michigan family," said Alexander. "As a native of the State of Michigan, I feel very fortunate to be associated with such a great program. For a lack of better terms, this is a match made in heaven for me.

"I am anxious to start working with this young and developing team, and I am eager and motivated to recruit the kind of student-athletes that will put Michigan back to the top of the Big Ten."

Alexander comes to Michigan after a nine-year Division I coaching career, spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Western Michigan (2008-10). Working with the Broncos' young group of front court players, Alexander helped Flenard Whitfield make the MAC All-Freshman Team in 2009 while assisting WMU to its second straight Mid-American Conference West championship, its fourth in the last six years. WMU went 18-15 in 2010 with a runner-up finish in the west division of the MAC.

Before making his way to Western Michigan, Alexander spent one season (2007-08) in the MAC at Ohio where he helped the Bobcats finish 20-13 overall and 9-7 in the MAC. The team advanced to the second round of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.

Alexander began his coaching career spending six seasons at his alma mater, University of Detroit, under head coach Perry Watson. Alexander helped the Titans compile 96 wins in six seasons, including 53 victories in the Horizon League. The Titans finished .500 or better in conference play in five out of the six seasons with Alexander on staff.

Alexander played two seasons at Robert Morris, where he was named to the Northeast Conference All-Newcomer Team in 1995, before transferring to Detroit.

In his final two seasons, Alexander helped the Titans win a pair of Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular-season championships and reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (1998 and 1999). He started 57 of 62 games and was named to the MCC All-Defensive Team as a senior. Alexander played high school basketball at Detroit Southwestern.