Steve Alford to UCLA

[EaglesPhan36]

Surprised I did not see anyone talking about this.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ucla-hires-steve-alford-basketball-162858765--ncaab.html

My own opinion is that it's as queer a hire as Howland was when he got brought in. Alford has proven to be a great regular season coach in mid-sized conferences and he manages almost every year to underachieve in the post-season. Don't see much of an upgrade at the hiring point, but perhaps he'll prove me wrong.

This just seems like a mediocre hire. It's a name, but I don't sense any excitement about it.

[qb1789]

Wheres the clown who said he knew Shaka was gonna be hired???

[onlooker]

He signed a "letter of agreement" for a 10 year extension last week with New Mexico too. Maybe they gave him some heat about the first round exit.

[meader99]

Wonder if his kids will transfer. One was a redshirt freshman this year and Bryce averaged 37.5 points a game as a high school senior and was signed on to go to New Mexico.

[darrell74]

He signed a "letter of agreement" for a 10 year extension last week with New Mexico too. Maybe they gave him some heat about the first round exit.

our press ran him out

I see one of those scumbag beat writers I'll beat their ass.
I worked the games outside the Pit at a local restaurant and made good money because of it.
Now, I just took a paycut because the attendance will be down.

Sad day here in New Mexico.

We have a history of running decent coaches out, and it's quite sad.


Also, the year extension was a lie. That was never a done deal.
Bad news reporting is what that comes down to.

[seaborneq]

Is this true or speculation?

[onlooker]

Is this true or speculation?

True.

[TwoWays]

He's looking to take revenge on Reggie Miller

[EaglesPhan36]

I got $10 that New Mexico ends up with a better coach.


Craig Neal named interim coach, might get a long look at getting the gig period. Players have already made it known they want him as the coach. Unless someone falls in their lap from a mid-Major who is a hotshot fukk, I think this Nealy guy will get it.

[No coincidences]

Alfraud.

[darrell74]

I got $10 that New Mexico ends up with a better coach.


Craig Neal named interim coach, might get a long look at getting the gig period. Players have already made it known they want him as the coach. Unless someone falls in their lap from a mid-Major who is a hotshot fukk, I think this Nealy guy will get it.

hope you're right,
basketball is biggest out here

[ChalkyDog]

This is surprisingly a great hire considering their absolute need to ink one as quickly as possible due to the blatant public rejections by both Shaka/VCU and Stevens/Butler.

This is a great hire mainly because 1) he is 100% different from Howland and runs his program, system and locker room with much more appeal to this generation of ball players.

Howland was stale, an asshole, and nobody in the community liked him - and it got to the point where most stopped respecting him.

2) this could instantly make a huge impact in the recruiting world by giving UCLA and Alford an instant "in" to the Aaron Gordon recruitment due to the families love for Alford and the location and program of UCLA. Right now, there is little question, Aaron Gordon is going to be a Wildcat, and hopefully by weeks end. However, there is a real possibility that this new found situation at UCLA can put enough doubt into the kids head, via his parents and handlers, to make him delay.

If Alford is able to land Gordon, it becomes instantly easier to make every kid on that roster like Kyle Anderson, Tony Parker, etc stay, instead of transferring (which was going to happen if Howland stayed).

Also, UNM didn't have a trash class for next season, and he already has ties (and will probably hire) the coach to the top AAU program on the west coast in the Oakland Soldiers (Aaron Gordon's AAU team, FWIW).

[flipside2469]

I hope he fails miserably and sets UCLA basketball back 10 years. F you, UCLA! Hope you like your new 'regular season' head coach.....cause that's all you're getting.

[cameron]

As a UCLA fan, ANYBODY is better than Howland. Hes lost more quality players for us then any coach in the nation. Alford is much better at keeping players and will hopefully get Gordon to come play for us.

[James D]

Ucla still thinks its a premier program and it's not. The old glory years mean nothing in the modern era. Ask any stud HS prospect who John Wooden is and they more likely will guess a porn star then a college basketball icon. Howland took ucla to three straight final fours in his tenure and if Kevin Lowe didn't bolt after freshmen year they probably have another banner hanging in the rafters .
I have nothing against ucla but there sense of themselves is way off

[EaglesPhan36]

This is surprisingly a great hire considering their absolute need to ink one as quickly as possible due to the blatant public rejections by both Shaka/VCU and Stevens/Butler.

This is a great hire mainly because 1) he is 100% different from Howland and runs his program, system and locker room with much more appeal to this generation of ball players.

Howland was stale, an asshole, and nobody in the community liked him - and it got to the point where most stopped respecting him.

2) this could instantly make a huge impact in the recruiting world by giving UCLA and Alford an instant "in" to the Aaron Gordon recruitment due to the families love for Alford and the location and program of UCLA. Right now, there is little question, Aaron Gordon is going to be a Wildcat, and hopefully by weeks end. However, there is a real possibility that this new found situation at UCLA can put enough doubt into the kids head, via his parents and handlers, to make him delay.

If Alford is able to land Gordon, it becomes instantly easier to make every kid on that roster like Kyle Anderson, Tony Parker, etc stay, instead of transferring (which was going to happen if Howland stayed).

Also, UNM didn't have a trash class for next season, and he already has ties (and will probably hire) the coach to the top AAU program on the west coast in the Oakland Soldiers (Aaron Gordon's AAU team, FWIW).

That will be nice and all, but it's all going to come down to him winning in the NCAAs. If he hasn't made a couple deep runs within the next five years, he'll be looking for a new job. I do think they probably couldn't have gotten much better as far as a "name" - but I'm not sure a name was what they needed. Honestly think they could have used a fresh, younger face on the bench. But I know that's not really how "elite" programs or programs who think they are elite operate. Should be interesting.