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He may not make any fashion runways or red carpet appearances wearing it, but Lobo men’s head coach Steve Alford likes a basketball net around his neck.
It’s a symbol of success, and UNM’s sixth-year head coach has donned the look a lot.
The Lobos traditionally cut the net to celebrate capturing a title, but the head coach gets the last snip. Alford has cut down the net and thrown it around his neck four times in the last five seasons. He led UNM to Mountain West regular-season titles in 2009, 2010, 2012 and, most recently, Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a program. It’s not just ‘Come win games,’” Alford said moments after the Lobos cut the net. “It’s truly a program and I appreciate the players and administration for buying in and believing in us.”
Alford has become one of the best coaches in UNM history, with 151 wins and 50 losses. The .751 winning record is the best any UNM coach has had in his first six years.
He’s already fourth in school history for men’s basketball coaching wins. With six more wins, Alford will tie Roy Johnson for third. Dave Bliss recorded the most wins with 246 and Bob King is second with 175.
Alford holds a 67-25 record in Mountain West Conference games and a 92-11 mark in games at The Pit.
Each generation of Lobos nets more and more wins with Alford at the helm. Seniors Chad Adams and Jamal Fenton have 104 career wins, all under Alford. That mark beats the previous best, which was set a year ago by A.J. Hardeman and Phillip McDonald. That duo had 102 wins under Alford.
“He has established a winning program. Since coach Alford has got here, he has started winning,” Adams said. “He is a winning coach and has a winning attitude. Everything about coach is winning.”
Alford doesn’t put up with nonsense either, Adams said, and his top players aren’t exempt.
Star guard Kendall Williams missed time this year for showing up late for team functions. Williams hasn’t had any problems since, and he’s been one of UNM’s most consistent contributors. He scored a career-high 46 points against Colorado State on Feb. 23.
That disciplinary action turned into a joke during Saturday’s postgame celebration, with Alford and some players teasing Williams about the incidents. But it also shows Alford puts discipline ahead of winning.
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“He is a great example,” Adams said of Alford. “I fought his authority a little bit when I got here and everything has worked out. I stuck with it and we came out on top of it, four times now.”
Then, of course, there’s Alford’s cherry blazer. It’s the same jacket he’s worn since he became UNM head coach in 2007. Alford said he gets friendly ribbing from family and friends for it, and is compared to used car salesmen and security guards.
When Alford wears the blazer for home games, The Pit crowd erupts with excitement as he steps on the floor. Attendees have good reason to get excited. The Lobos are 25-4 this season and 12-2 in conference play.
Alford said his daughter Kayla has suggested he remove the jacket’s gold buttons and replace them with silver ones to match UNM’s school colors. Alford said he refuses to alter the coat, as it’s not a tradition he is willing to mess with.
“It wouldn’t be the jacket they gave me when they hired me,” Alford said. “I don’t want to mess with that. I don’t want to mess with karma. I think what takes the red blazer over the top is when you can put a net around it.”
