Alford to rake in $975,000 a year

by Steven Fernandez

Daily Lobo

If you're wondering how high the expectations are for Steve Alford, look no further than his wallet.

Alford, officially introduced as the new UNM men's basketball head coach on Friday, will be making an annual salary of $975,000 - nearly twice the amount of former head coach Ritchie McKay, who was fired Feb. 22.

UNM Athletics Director Paul Krebs said Alford's salary is necessary if the Lobos are going to be one of the elite teams in the nation.

"We aspire to have a great basketball program," he said. "We aspire to compete with the best. And if you want to compete with the best, you need to pay the best, and that's what we're willing to do."

While Alford's salary trumps the $500,000 that McKay earned annually at UNM, it is a step down from Alford's $1.2 million salary at Iowa.

Alford was given that much money as a coach in the Big Ten Conference - a league full of national championship contenders and big-name schools. In the Mountain West Conference, Colorado State hired Tim Miles as its new head coach Thursday with a yearly salary of $400,000.

UNM has to pay nearly $600,000 to McKay after buying out the remainder of his contract.

David Schmidly, UNM's next president, said Alford is a great hire for the basketball team.

"This is an exciting day for the University," he said. "I want to congratulate Paul. I think he's done a marvelous job."

Krebs said the reason UNM targeted Alford and focused on bringing him on board was his basketball credentials.

In 16 years coaching college basketball, Alford has posted an overall record of 308-183. Eleven of those teams qualified for the postseason, including seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

During his eight years at Iowa, he had seven straight winning seasons and led the Hawkeyes to two Big Ten Tournament Championships.

Alford said UNM has what it takes to be a successful basketball program.

"I think the University of New Mexico is an institution and has the things in line basketball-wise to make a really big push on the national scene," he said.

In addition to his eight years at Iowa, Alford has experience and success with smaller-profile schools. He coached at Missouri State from 1996-99 and took the Bears to the Sweet 16 in 1999.

Moving from the Big Ten to the MWC, Alford said UNM isn't at the bottom of the pack.

"I wouldn't say that it's a mid-major," he said. "It's who you think you are. I want it to be a national brand."

To go along with his coaching experience, Alford played for some big-name coaches. He played at Indiana in college and won a national championship in 1987 playing for Bob Knight.

He also played in the NBA from 1987-90, including a stint with the Dallas Mavericks under Don Nelson.

Alford said learning from successful coaches will help him in his tenure at UNM.

"There's not anybody better in our game than Coach Knight," he said. "And then professionally, to be able to play for guys like Don Nelson and John MacLeod, these were great coaches. I've tried to take a little bit from all of them but then, obviously, coach with my own personality."

Leaving Iowa wasn't the easiest decision he's made, but Alford said he's comfortable taking the job at UNM.

"That transition isn't always easy when you end up leaving some kids that mean an awful lot to you," he said. "But with that said, it makes it very enjoyable when you come to a place like this that's so committed to basketball and so committed to doing it the right way. I think it comes at a really great time in my career."

A breakdown of the annual salaries of head coach Steve Alford and his top assistant, Craig Neal, compared to former head coach Ritchie McKay and his top assistant,

Brad Soucie:

Alford - $975,000

Neal - $250,000

McKay - $500,000

Soucie - $90,000

As a player

1983 Indiana's Mr. Basketball

1984 Gold medal winner with U.S. Olympic Basketball Team

1984-87 player at Indiana University under Bob Knight

1984-87 Indiana team MVP

1987 NCAA National

Champion

1987 Indiana Big Ten MVP

1986-87 All-American

1987-88 Dallas Mavericks

1988-89 Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors

1989-90 Dallas Mavericks

As a head coach

(308-183 overall record):

1992-95 Manchester College - Three-time conference coach of the year

1996-99 Missouri State - NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 1999

2000-07 Iowa - Two-time Big Ten Tournament Champions, three NCAA Tournament appearances