A 36-Year Career Comes to a Close
Steve Alford, who turns 62 in November, announced he will retire after the 2026-27 season, his eighth leading Nevada and his 36th as a head coach. He had two years remaining on his contract after this season, worth a combined $2.95 million in guaranteed money. Alford said in a news release that after 36 years he feels it is the right time to step away from the bench, adding that he and his wife Tanya have loved their time in Reno and embraced the community. He thanked the University of Nevada for the opportunity and said he looks forward to finishing the season with a team he believes in.[S1]
Nevada athletic director Stephanie Rempe said in a news release that Alford has been an important part of Nevada athletics for nearly a decade, leading with consistency, integrity and a commitment to developing young men. She noted he helped Nevada remain one of the Mountain West's most competitive programs during a period of significant change in college athletics, and thanked him and Tanya for their contributions. University president Brian Sandoval also praised Alford's dedication, love of his players and leadership, calling his time with the university an era of achievement, growth and success.[S1]
From Indiana Star to Six-Program Coach
Alford was a high school star at New Castle Chrysler High in Indiana, where he played for his father, Sam. He stayed in state for college, playing for Bobby Knight at Indiana from 1983-87, winning a national championship in his senior season. A two-time All-American, he also won an Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as a 19-year-old rising sophomore. The 26th pick of the 1987 NBA draft, Alford played four seasons in the league before moving directly into coaching at age 26.[S1][S2]
Alford rebuilt Manchester University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, reaching the NCAA Division III championship game in 1995. He then moved to Division I, coaching Missouri State for four seasons, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1999. After that, he became head coach at Iowa, where he won two Big Ten Tournament titles and reached the postseason six times. He then made a surprising move from the Big Ten to New Mexico, where he had his greatest coaching success, winning 155 games in six seasons, four Mountain West regular-season titles and two conference tournaments, reaching the NCAA Tournament three times.[S1][S3]
UCLA Tenure and Nevada Legacy
After success at New Mexico, Alford was hired to replace Ben Howland at UCLA before the 2013-14 season. He reached the Sweet 16 in 2014, 2015 and 2017, but never won a regular-season conference title and was fired midway through the 2018-19 season with a 7-6 record. He finished his UCLA tenure with a 66.3 winning percentage, including 61.1 percent in league play. Just days after Nevada lost Eric Musselman to Arkansas, the Wolf Pack hired Alford in April 2019 on a record-breaking 10-year, $12.6 million deal.[S1]
In seven seasons at Nevada, Alford has gone 137-88 overall and 71-56 in league play. He led the Wolf Pack to NCAA Tournament berths in 2023 and 2024, both losses, and to an NIT quarterfinal in 2026. Nevada has averaged 19.6 wins per game under Alford, including a 24-win season last year. The program has yet to reach a Mountain West Tournament title game during his tenure, with its best conference finish being second place in 2020 and 2024. Alford's final season will feature a team that returns starters Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems and adds a strong transfer class, making Nevada a favorite in the new Mountain West.[S1][S2]
