Eastern Michigan has hired Jay Alexander as its new head coach, replacing Jake Boss, who left earlier this summer to take over the Michigan State program. Alexander spent the last six seasons as the head coach at Wayne State (Mich.), where he led the Warriors to a school-record 36 wins and a conference title in 2008. The 36-year-old was a standout shortstop and center fielder for Wayne State from 1993-96 before joining the Warriors as an assistant under Rod George. Alexander became the head coach when George died in 2002.

“When we started the process of searching for a new head baseball coach, the name Jay Alexander was at the top of our list,” EMU director of athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg said in a statement. “Coach Alexander had tremendous support from the entire baseball community and we are excited that he will be here to continue the strong legacy of success our baseball program has built under previous head coaches Ron Oestrike, Roger Coryell, and Jake Boss.”