His big brother first introduced him to Bison Baseball long before he became a solid part of the program in the early ‘90s. After playing four years and graduating, Matt Alexander returned to his hometown and married his high school sweetheart. We learned about his teammates, campus memories and family when he sat down this week with LipscombSports.com.
What years did you compete for Lipscomb?
I played baseball for Ken Dugan, Al Austelle, Andy Lane, and Roy Pardue from 1990-1993.
What teammates were most memorable?
I have fond memories of every teammate for one reason or another, but the majority of my memories took place with Brian Mast (4-year roommate) and High Rise next door neighbors Brent McNutt, John Beyer, Stephan Britt, Scott Shannon, and Raymond Harvey. When I look back and remember my favorite “off the field” memories, these guys were usually involved in some form or fashion.
What degree have you earned?
I received my Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication from Lipscomb in 1994.
Why did you attend Lipscomb?
Baseball. In the mid-80s, I tagged along when my older brother visited Lipscomb as he hoped to be their next first baseman. Keep in mind they were pretty fresh off two NAIA National Championships and a great 1984 season. He later decided to attend the University of Kentucky to study architecture, but that visit really planted a seed with me. A few years later I attended Coach Dugan’s summer baseball camp and things really started to fall into place. I had other opportunities, but I kept coming back to Lipscomb because it just felt like the right place for me, especially since I grew up in the Church of Christ.
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
The run we made in 1991 to win the District 24 Championship. That was a fun team made up of some great guys and fierce competitors. It was pretty special to win that championship on Ken Dugan Field during its inaugural season.
The other memorable event happened my freshman year when Brent McNutt slid hard into Flagler’s pitcher covering home plate. The pitcher took exception to Brent’s hard-nosed slide, resulting in Raymond Harvey sprinting from the on-deck circle and tackling that guy. That was my first ever bench clearing brawl.
Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?
The easy answer is Coach Dugan because he was and still is a legend. He did things the right way, ran the program like a professional, and expected the same from his players. He not only influenced my athletic career, but he impacted my life in a number of ways. He was such a great role model, and I really didn’t understand or appreciate his influence until I grew up a little and had real life responsibilities. As a side note, I haven’t thrown a piece of ice at anyone in a restaurant since that moment Coach Dugan taught me a valuable lesson.
What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here?
I remember it as a small, close-knit community where you seemed to know everybody on campus. Everyone typically ate in the dining hall, hung out in Bison Square or inside the Student Center between classes. Chapel met every day, so it was an opportunity to see folks and visit.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb?
The importance of hard work, time management, and ways to get along with people that don’t necessarily come from the same background, perspective, values, etc. That’s also what makes college athletics special. I came to Lipscomb knowing no one, but because of baseball we lived together, ate together, competed together toward the same goals and had a blast doing so while being able to get a Christian education.
Who were your favorite professors?
They were all wonderful, but I especially enjoyed Bible and Speech Communication classes with Marlin Connelly.
What do you do now?
I am the Production Operations Manager at LSC Communications in my hometown of Glasgow, KY. We are a web offset commercial printer of magazines, catalogs, and retail inserts.
Tell us about your family:
One month after playing my last game at Lipscomb, I married my high school sweetheart, Vickie Montgomery Alexander. Vickie is in her 13th year of teaching at Glasgow Middle School. We have two daughters, Bailey (23) and Brook (19). We enjoy spending our weekends camping and boating on the lake.
FAST FINISH
- Favorite food: Angry Amberjack sandwich at The Back Porch in Destin, FL
- Favorite sports team: Kentucky football. I’m hoping to see an SEC football championship in my lifetime.
- Pet peeve: Baseball teams go to the bullpen too early. Starting pitchers should be expected to go longer.
- Rather ride or drive? Drive
- Pick one – salad or dessert: Neither…I’d get extra fries
- Dream vacation spot: Anywhere to park the camper and be on a lake
- Early morning or late night person? Early morning for sure
You can reach Matt by email at malexander@glasgow-ky.com and connect on Twitter: @matt_alex11
