The Nevada Wolfpack has ended their head coaching search by hiring former UCLA head coach Steve Alford for the position. The move came after former Nevada head coach Eric Musselman took the head coaching vacancy with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Get the full rundown on the storied career of Steve Alford.#BattleBorn pic.twitter.com/fFtcYy5LXy
— Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) April 12, 2019
Steve Alford was fired by the UCLA Bruins this past season and replaced by an interim head coach. The Bruins would spend months searching for a new head coach but would finally settle on Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin. The search for Nevada wouldn’t take anywhere near as long. The deal with Alford is ten years in total.
Nevada’s athletic director Doug Knuth had the following to say about the hire. “There is no better coach than Steve Alford to continue the rise of Nevada basketball and we are excited for the next chapter, to get a leader of Coach Alford’s caliber is a testament to the support of our community and our university. There is a great tradition of Wolf Pack basketball and the future is even brighter.”
With seven of the last 11 Mountain West titles being claimed by us or our new head coach, we’re thrilled to have Coach Alford onboard!#BattleBorn pic.twitter.com/2YNQlzi3oz
— Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) April 12, 2019
The head coach spent 2013-2018 with the Bruins and led them to a 124-63 record and several NCAA Tournament appearances. He was with New Mexico before that and also led them to several NCAA Tournaments and an overall record of 155-52. He also reached the Sweet 16 three times with the UCLA Bruins.
This was an ideal hire for the Nevada Wolfpack after losing their phenomenal head coach to the Arkansas Razorbacks. The head coach can keep the program on its feet right away, but he has some players to pull back from the transfer portal now.
