UCLA’s Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky on Friday exponentially increased the speculation that head coach Steve Alford would be heading home to Indiana to coach his alma mater, but it looks like that won’t be the case.
Shortly after the defeat, Alford told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman by what appeared to be text message that he isn’t taking the Indiana job and is staying at UCLA.
“I am Absolutely 100 percent not going to Indiana,” said Alford. “Staying at UCLA. I am happy. Love it here. Have a great class coming in, and brand-new practice facility. Obviously, I love my alma mater. Committed to UCLA. I am not going to talk to Indiana. I am staying a Bruin.”
Alex Bozich of Inside the Hall also shared the comments Alford made when asked about the Indiana vacancy in his postgame press conference.
Full comments from Steve Alford tonight: pic.twitter.com/Tfh9b7hZys
— Alex Bozich (@insidethehall) March 25, 2017
Alford brushed off rumors of his interest in the job in the days after Tom Crean was fired despite whispers that he had already received an offer from the Hoosiers. While it wouldn’t have been surprising if his sentiment changed after his third Sweet 16 loss in four seasons as head coach of the Bruins, Alford seems content with staying in Westwood and will look to run it back next season with the second-ranked recruiting class in the country coming in.
