Steve Alford seems to have worn out his welcome in Westwood.
A banner calling for the firing of the UCLA basketball coach was spotted flying over campus on Thursday. It read, “Final Fours Not First Fours #FireAlford,” in reference to the Bruins’ loss to St. Bonaventure in the First Four play-in.
This is currently flying over UCLA tonight. pic.twitter.com/szsZiHf0ku
— /r/CollegeBasketball (@redditCBB) March 15, 2018
The “FINAL FOURS NOT FIRST FOURS” banner is officially airborne over Westwood. #FireSteveAlford pic.twitter.com/t4bWZPaBlP
— Barstool UCLA (@UCLABarstool) March 15, 2018
@JoshRebholz @UCLAAthletics @UCLAMBB @UAbasketball @latbbolch #FireAlford pic.twitter.com/gBxnOouISM
— Ben Esfandi (@BiGbAdBeNyO) March 16, 2018
Alford has gone 117–57 (.672) in his five seasons coaching the Bruins and has made three Sweet Sixteen appearances over that span. But the First Four loss capped off a disappointing 21-12 campaign for UCLA this time around. Alford also presided over a horrific 2015-16 season where the Bruins went just 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament altogether, resulting in Alford voluntarily returning the one-year extension he had at the time.
Granted, UCLA is slated to have another stacked freshman class coming in next year, and Alford’s current extenion runs through the 2020-21 season. But the Bruins faithful already saw one prominent coach of theirs fired after a similar campaign was waged, and it looks they’re trying their hand at it again.
