Manhattan
The Kansas State men’s basketball team appears close to announcing a few members of Casey Alexander’s inaugural coaching staff with the Wildcats.
Not surprisingly, his staff will have connections to his former post at Belmont.
At least two of Alexander’s former assistants at Belmont are set to join him in Manhattan. There is a strong likelihood that more will end up working alongside him inside Bramlage Coliseum.
Sean Rutigliano is reportedly ready to join K-State as an assistant after he most recently worked as a head coach for Colby, a Division III basketball program in Maine. Rutigliano went 16-9 this past season at Colby.
Before he became a head coach, he worked as an assistant under Alexander at both Belmont and Lipscomb.
Alexander recommended Rutigliano for the Colby job when it came open.
“Sean Rutigliano is the total package,” Alexander said last year. “He has a creative basketball mind and is committed to excellence on both ends of the floor. He’s a gifted teacher, expressive communicator, and genuine relationship builder.”
Kerron Johnson, a young basketball mind who spent the past four years working for Belmont, will also follow Alexander to K-State.
He shared on social media earlier this week that he had arrived in Manhattan and was ready to get work.
Johnson, 35, is a former Belmont point guard who helped the Bruins reach the NCAA Tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He is one of the most decorated players in school history. His name appears in the Belmont Hall of Fame.
As a coach, he has helped mentor several guards in recent years, including Ben Sheppard — who went on to become the No. 26 pick (by the Indiana Pacers) in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was also viewed as a valuable recruiter and a good scout.
Johnson’s brother is a well-known athlete. Kerryon Johnson was a star running back at Auburn. He then played three seasons with the Detroit Lions. He is currently the running backs coach at East Tennessee State.
Two other Belmont coaches to keep an eye on are for positions at K-State are JJ Butler and Luke Smith.
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Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.