Vince Alexander, '89

August 15, 2012

Editor's Note: Oklahoma Baptist University alum Vince Alexander, a 1989 graduate, is a 2011 recipient of the OBU Alumni Association's Profile In Excellence Award. The award is given to a former student who has "demonstrated recognizable accomplishment in his or her profession, business, avocation, or life service in such a way as to bring pride and honor to the University." Each year, Profile In Excellence recipients are featured in OBU Magazine.

When Vince Alexander decided to attend OBU, he said he did not realize how the decision would change his life. Although the 1989 graduate was a Christian, taking religion classes and attending weekly chapel was a new experience for him.

"I learned so much more in depth about my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ," said Alexander, now the head men's basketball coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken. "Not only did it broaden my perspective, but I also became more disciplined in the Word of God and my spiritual walk."

Today he studies his Bible regularly and maintains daily devotions, practices he attributes to his time on Bison Hill. As captain of the Bison basketball team, he said he wanted to be a leader who "backed my talk with my walk." He also became involved with the Baptist Student Union (now Baptist Collegiate Ministries), which gave him the opportunity to meet students who were not athletes.

"I met my wife, Anita Reckart Alexander, at OBU, and she has also played a huge role in the man that I have become," Alexander said. His wife graduated from OBU in 1990. "I have no doubts that OBU was the school God chose for me, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be there."

Alexander said he believes his experiences at OBU have contributed to his success as a basketball coach, educator and person. He was named the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, 2008 NABC Region Coach of the Year, 2008 NABC All-Star Head Coach, and he coached the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Champs and 2010 Peach Belt Conference Tournament Champs.

"I was very blessed and fortunate to have some great mentors in Dr. Norris Russell, Judy Taylor and Dr. Pat Taylor, to name a few," he said. "These people took time to share with me essential qualities that would help me to not only become a successful coach, but husband and father as well. OBU is a great school and certainly a place where I would love to have my kids attend someday."

Click the following link to view a full list of previous Profile in Excellence recipients.