RON MALY HAS BEEN WATCHING THE PARADE GO BY FOR A LONG TIME. THIS IS ONE OF HIS WEBSITES.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Catching Up With Steve Alford

By RON MALY

While doing some channel-flipping late last night, I caught the last few minutes of
Steve Alford
Gonzaga's 87-74 basketball victory over UCLA. 


Now don't get the idea I'm a fan of either team. 

All I wanted to do was see how Steve Alford was behaving these days. 

Alford, of course, is the former Iowa coach [and all-American as a player at Indiana]. 

He had a 152-106 record from 1999-2007 at Iowa, but didn't leave Iowa City under the greatest of terms. 

In other words, he outwore his welcome and, when he told his bosses he was resigning so he could take the New Mexico job, not a tear was shed.  

Let's put it this way--Alford leaving for New Mexico was good for lots of people, including himself, his family, Iowa's fans and New Mexico's fans. 

Alford did well at New Mexico, then was the surprising [surprising to me anyway] choice to be UCLA's coach. 

Alford signed on for 7 years at $18.2 million per season. 

Not bad.  

I'll bet John Wooden, the best basketball coach UCLA ever had and maybe the best that collegiate basketball has ever had, rolled over in his grave when he heard those numbers.

Hand it to Alford. 

He did well in his first season with the Bruins, going 28-9 in 2013-2014 and making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the Big Dance.

That was good enough to get a one-year contract extension from his bosses at UCLA.

Three players from the 2013-2014 team were first-round draft choices by NBA teams, so things are different this season. 

Last night's 13-point loss to 9th-ranked Gonzaga made UCLA's record 8-3 heading into Saturday's game against the best collegiate team in the land, Kentucky, at Chicago. 

That's not going to be pretty--for UCLA, I mean. 

Alford's two sons are on his UCLA roster, and starting guard Bryce Alford scored 23 points last night. 

Kory, the other son, is a reserve and doesn't play much.  

As so often happens when sons play for their dad's team, Alford has received criticism from some UCLA followers, who say their presence on the roster takes playing time away from other players who are perhaps more talented. 

That goes with the territory. 

If anyone can handle it, Steve Alford can.