March 26, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS --- University of New Mexico head coach Steve Alford was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. Alford was one of 14 members in the Class of 2009, along with NBA coaches Gregg Popovich and Scott Skiles.

Alford is just the eighth honoree to be selected in his first year of eligibility joining other notable Indiana products Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird. If you are wondering what took so long for Alford's induction, there is a 26-year waiting period after high school graduation.

Alford is a 1983 graduate of New Castle Chrysler High School where he played for his father, Sam. Steve earned Indiana's Mr. Basketball Award as a senior when he averaged 37.7 points a game. Alford went on to become an All-American at Indiana University, leading the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA title.

Alford was recently named the 2009 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Lobos to a share of the league title at 12-4. The Lobos were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. In two seasons at UNM, Alford's teams have earned 46 wins, the most by a New Mexico head coach in his first two seasons.

Alford, 44, is in his second season in charge of Lobo hoops and his 18th year as a collegiate head coach. He was named UNM's 19th head coach on March 23, 2007.

Alford, who has never been an assistant coach is his career, has a 354-204 (64%) career record in his 18th season as a head coach, 46-21 at New Mexico. His teams have qualified for postseason play 13 times, produced 15 winning seasons and reached 20 wins on 10 occasions.

Prior to New Mexico, Alford spent eight seasons at the University of Iowa where he compiled a 152-106 record, including a school-record seven consecutive winning seasons and six postseason appearances. The Hawkeyes won two Big Ten Conference tournament titles (2001 and `06).

Prior to Iowa, Alford posted a 78-29 record in four seasons (1992-95) at NCAA Division III Manchester (Ind.) College and a four-year (1996-99) record of 78-48 at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). The Bears defeated Wisconsin and Tennessee to advance to the Sweet 16 of the 1999 NCAA Tournament before losing to top-ranked Duke in the regional semifinals. In 1997 Alford led the Bears to a 24-9 record (second in the Missouri Valley Conference) and a trip to the National Invitation Tournament.

Manchester advanced to the 1995 NCAA Division III championship game before suffering its first defeat in 32 games to place second in the nation. Alford was named Indiana Collegiate Conference coach of the year in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and his record was 74-13 over his final three seasons.

Lobos Men's Basketball

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