Steve Alford to be named HC at UCLA
- Thread starter jdoggivjc
- Start date
To be fair to Alford, his previous stops were at places like Iowa and New Mexico.
The issue when you fire a guy like Howland is that unless you get an Izzo type coach, you are refreshing, not improving, in the coaching department. Sounds like that was needed though.
The issue when you fire a guy like Howland is that unless you get an Izzo type coach, you are refreshing, not improving, in the coaching department. Sounds like that was needed though.
If I was a five star high school player, as long as UCLA had a competent coach, they'd easily be my #1 pick. Ditto for USC football. To be a college sports star in LA on a top historical team couldn't be matched by anything else. They're both good schools too.
Everyone I know is shocked. He has two boys on his team- one will be a soph. The other incoming freshman. I guess now that they are done with high school, he feels he can bolt.
Before the Pit was renovated, it was 16k plus, with a town the size of Omaha with only one viable team to support.
So to recap. Passionate fans feeling screwed.
Before the Pit was renovated, it was 16k plus, with a town the size of Omaha with only one viable team to support.
So to recap. Passionate fans feeling screwed.
I've never fully understood what "snake oil" is or what it was supposed to do...but I'm still pretty sure that's what Alford uses to get his hair like that.
Hes lost as a 3-seed to a 14-seed twice. That's not a product of where he's been in previous stops. That's the product of being a lousy coach when the pressure is on.
Obviously, he wasn't their first choice and probably not their 2nd or 3rd either. You fire Ben Howland after his success at UCLA and you hire Alford...wtf? This is the best they could do? Maybe he will surprise everyone and have post-season success.
Al-Fraud excitement at Bruins Nation.
Steve Alford reportedly new UCLA head coach - Bruins Nation
...and on some fan site.
UCLA Basketball Forum
Steve Alford reportedly new UCLA head coach - Bruins Nation
...and on some fan site.
UCLA Basketball Forum
Clearly doing better in the tournament is desired, but you have to weight it to where he was at. Why punish him for getting places like UNM and Iowa to over-perform in the regular season? A good job to get those teams and programs those high seeds.
The comment-per-second on the ESPN story is some fun reading. There are those who think this is a brilliant hire because of his "proven winning record at Iowa and UNM," etc. and those who believe that UCLA has made the biggest mistake of the century to hire someone who has only a couple NCAA wins EVER. He fits in perfectly with LA (and not in a good way), but that fan base will eat him alive. And deservedly so.
Alford must be an amazing interview. All I have ever heard from people who have had any kind of personal interaction with the man is that he is a giant D-Bag.
He over performed at Iowa exactly 1 year. He was nowhere close to "over-performing" at Iowa. In fact, he underperformed at Iowa compared to the 20 year average that he took over.
And as others pointed out, New Mexico, only game in town, state, really. Big arena, poor conference.
Hasn't been out of the NCAA opening weekend since Savage Garden was topping the charts. And only there period a handful of times.
Bad hire.
Last edited:
Was he really "forced" out at Iowa? I may be remembering events incorrectly, but I thought he left more or less to New Mexico of his own volition. I do remember him being a giant ********* when he left, talking about how New Mexico was much more of a "basketball" school than Iowa.
Reread the posts. In regards to his 3-seed teams getting "upset"- over-performing in the regular season will lead to "upsets" in March. See Wisconsin this year.
Again, when you fire a coach that took you to 3 straight FF, unless you get an Izzo type coach, all hires will not measure up. UCLA needed to hit refresh, and Alford will do just that. Considering his previous stops were at places like UNM, Iowa, and Missouri State, he will do fine at UCLA.
Last edited:
