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Men's basketball: Steve Alford gets down to business

With a staff to hire, players to meet and a program to revitalize, much work lies ahead for new coach

By Jeremy Fowler
Saturday, March 24, 2007

Steve Alford, the University of New Mexico's 19th men's basketball coach, answered questions at an introductory news conference while a media horde fired away. Alford, 42, will make $975,000 a year to answer questions - and win. Alford is easily the highest-paid coach in Lobos history, surpassing previous coach Ritchie McKay's $500,000 per year.

Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

Steve Alford, the University of New Mexico's 19th men's basketball coach, answered questions at an introductory news conference while a media horde fired away. Alford, 42, will make $975,000 a year to answer questions - and win. Alford is easily the highest-paid coach in Lobos history, surpassing previous coach Ritchie McKay's $500,000 per year.

Lobos basketball players Derek Oestreicher (from left), J.R. Giddens and Daniel Faris laugh as their new coach, Steve Alford, makes a joke about the potential of playing Iowa this coming season. Alford spoke Friday at an introductory pep rally. Earlier, Alford, a former Indiana star, met with his team and received glowing reviews from players.

Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

Lobos basketball players Derek Oestreicher (from left), J.R. Giddens and Daniel Faris laugh as their new coach, Steve Alford, makes a joke about the potential of playing Iowa this coming season. Alford spoke Friday at an introductory pep rally. Earlier, Alford, a former Indiana star, met with his team and received glowing reviews from players.

Steve Alford wait to be introduced at a news conference as New Mexico's newest men's basketball coach.

Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

Steve Alford wait to be introduced at a news conference as New Mexico's newest men's basketball coach.

What the Lobos say

Here are comments from five Lobos players about the hiring of former Iowa coach Steve Alford:

"Of course I've heard of him. He's Steve Alford. He's going to be a hard-nosed coach. If he wants to meet with me, I'll be in his office. He does control me now."

- Junior guard J.R. Giddens

"He's a no-nonsense type of coach who teaches you to respect authority. You feel his presence when he comes in a room. That's something we needed as players. We have talent, but we need the discipline part. With all the off-court issues that everybody heard about this past year, I think all that will be eliminated. I'm extremely happy about it and excited about next year."

- Junior guard Jamaal Smith

"I'm looking forward to building relationships with him. He's got a lot of experience as a coach and player, so hopefully that experience will rub off on us. Everyone knows who he is. He's a big name. He hit seven 3-pointers in the (1987) National Championship game."

- Sophomore guard Chad Toppert

"I'm excited. I've heard a lot of rumors about him, both good and bad, but I feel he's a real good fit for our program. I hope the bad rumors aren't true."

- Freshman guard Roman Martinez

"He wants to get up and down the floor, man-to-man defense. That's about all I know."

- Freshman center Derek Oestreicher

So the candy-shell-red blazers are out of the way.

Now all that remains is, well, everything for Steve Alford, the University of New Mexico's 19th men's basketball coach as of Friday.

Talking in front of hundreds at the introductory pep rally on UNM's campus is the first of several steps for the former Iowa coach to restore his new program.

There are player evaluations.

Solidifying a coaching staff.

The scholarship situation.

Former Iowa recruits.

Oh yeah, and the blueprint for rebounding from one of the worst seasons in Lobos history with a 15-17 record.

Alford, who sported the red jacket on stage, must do all this from two states - his new home of New Mexico and Iowa, where unfinished business will be resolved.

"It's going to be a busy time," said Tanya Alford, Steve's wife. "The kids will be finishing up school and we have to sell our house. Steve will be coming back and forth a lot. But we're eager to get started here. I've heard great things about New Mexico."

Alford, along with carry-over Iowa assistant Craig Neal, might need some time before assembling a winner, or even stepping onto the court.

First, the plan is to market Iowa guard Adam Haluska for a professional career.

Alford, 42, hasn't even talked to each UNM player individually, let alone grasped whether or not J.R. Giddens dribbles too much.

A coaching staff to aid Alford and Neal should form some time after the Final Four, said Alford, who wouldn't confirm any candidates.

But assistants won't have to fuel Alford in his new post.

"My itch is New Mexico," Alford said. "I've had that for the last two weeks, and the itch has gotten stronger. This is where I'm excited to land with a program. My family isn't going to move any time soon. This is a place I hope we can call home for a long, long time."

The Alford family - complete with daughter Kayla and sons Bryce and Kory - left the news conference before the 5 p.m. meeting with boosters. It will spend the weekend in Albuquerque before returning to Iowa.

More glad-handing will follow. Once Alford hits the court and breaks in his office chair, his players will know what to expect.

"He let us know off the bat (in a Saturday meeting) that an authority is here," junior guard Jamaal Smith said. "If grades are slacking, he's going to be on us. He'll show up ahead of time in class. He'll do a good job of making sure we're in check. I'm thrilled for that."

Added Alford: "I'm going to treat every player the same. I have to get in the gym and see them. Those on scholarship, they do what they have to do. It's not like I'm coming in here and taking scholarships away. With that, you must do what you're supposed to be doing."

Alford jumped ship on a Big Ten team to take over a program whose attendance has dipped from the 16,000s to 12,853 per game under former coach Ritchie McKay, who was fired Feb. 22.

In Alford's eyes, the move isn't a regression, but a triumph.

"I think this is a bigger step," Alford said. "Everybody wants to compare the Big Ten with the Mountain West and Iowa to New Mexico, but the commitment is here. If we can get it going and people can see how passionate we are and doing it the right way, you're going to see The Pit get back to that volume we're all used to."

Moving on: As one Lobo enters, another exits.

Junior guard Jeffrey Henfield, a junior college transfer last season, is leaving the team, UNM players said Friday.

Henfield averaged 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in a disappointing debut season with the Lobos.

Henfield, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday, is likely taking the Division-II route.