After his playing retirement, Alexander worked as an analyst for the University of Virginia radio network and the Raycom Sports-produced ACC Network. He joined ESPN in 2009 as a college basketball analyst.
Early life
Alexander developed his passion for basketball through playing at a YMCA in Waynesboro, Virginia, where a man his mother dated served as the program director.[1] He started his high school basketball career at Waynesboro High School.[2] Alexander transferred to Flint Hill School for his junior season and emerged as among the top college basketball prospects.[2]
Alexander played for the Virginia Cavaliers from 1991 to 1995. He was selected to the All-ACC second-team as a sophomore in 1993 when he averaged 18.8 points per game.[4] Alexander suffered a broken right ankle during the opening game of the 1993–94 season and did not return for the year.[4] He was granted a redshirt but announced in October 1994 that he would not play out his fifth year of eligibility and instead turn professional in 1995.[4] He averaged 16.6 points per game during the 1994–95 season until he suffered another season-ending broken right ankle during a game on February 8, 1995.[4][5]
Alexander's 401 career assists are eighth highest in Cavaliers history and he ranks 24th on the team's all-time scoring list with 1,286 points.[6]
Professional career
Alexander was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 29th overall pick of the 1995 NBA draft.[6] He had his best season in the National Basketball Association in 1996–97 when he averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 assists.[7] Alexander was relegated to a little-used reserve with the Spurs and was waived on February 27, 1998.[8] Alexander was sought after as a free agent and signed with the Denver Nuggets five days later.[8] He re-signed with the Nuggets on January 22, 1999.[9] Alexander averaged 2.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game with the Nuggets during the 1999–2000 season.[10] On January 29, 2001, he joined the Orlando Magic on a 10-day contract.[10] Alexander spent the rest of the season with the Magic although he received limited playing time.[11]
Alexander joined the Roanoke Dazzle of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) during the 2002–03 season.[7] He totalled 306 assists which was an NBDL single-season record.[7] Alexander played in Italy for Virtus Roma during the 2003–04 season and averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[7] He returned to the Dazzle for the 2004–05 season and averaged 16.4 points and a league-leading 8.3 assists per game.[7] On February 28, 2005, Alexander signed with the Charlotte Bobcats as the team needed to improve their depth at the point guard position.[7] It was his last stint in the NBA.[6]
On October 1, 2008, Alexander was announced as the analyst of Virginia Cavaliers basketball radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Koehn for the 2008–09 season.[12] He joined the radio team because he had ambitions of joining the coaching staff of Cavaliers head coach Dave Leitao.[13] Alexander worked in the role for three seasons until his departure in 2011 because he wanted to prioritize his television and coaching pursuits.[14]
Alexander joined ESPN as a broadcaster in 2009.[6]
Coaching career
On September 26, 2011, Alexander was announced as an assistant coach for the NCAA Division III basketball team at Hampden–Sydney College.[15] He served in a part-time volunteer role.[14] Alexander wanted to join a Division III staff so he could still instruct at his Cory Alexander Basketball School,[14] which he founded in 1995.[6] He had ambitions of receiving a coaching job at an NCAA Division I school.[14]
Alexander has served as an assistant coach at Oak Hill Academy.[13]
