Steve Alford Left Iowa Because New Mexico is a Better Opportunity

When Iowa hired Steve Alford in 1999, he was one of the most sought after coaching commodities in the country, after what he built in Southwest Missouri State. The luster of his name -- what with the all-American accolades, national championship, and gold medal -- in the Big Ten surely didn't hurt matters with the Iowa basketball contingent. Excitement around the program led people to think they'd be a player in the Big Ten for the foreseeable future.

Eight years, a losing conference record, and a solitary NCAA tournament victory later, Alford fled the scene.

To hear it from him, though, he didn't move to escape a firing, nor was he pushed out by the athletic department. He left Iowa because he was presented with a better coaching opportunity. You know, leading the New Mexico Lobos.

"I just felt like at that time in my life, New Mexico was a better move," Alford said Saturday after a 67-55 loss to Virginia Commonwealth. "I still feel that way."

Really? It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that the State of Iowa was teeming with people ready to pack his bags and drive him all the way down to New Mexico themselves?

When asked about his job security at Iowa, Alford pointed to the fact his contract with the Hawkeyes ran through June 2011.

"I just thought it was a really good move," Alford said, "and a really good opportunity."

Look, I grew up a huge Alford fan, but this seems like he's had a bit too much coaching from Bob Knight. While I don't think he needs to sit here and give us the complete truth (yeah, they were definitely gonna fire my ass, so I had to find the best job I could. This is a good fit because I won't be under such constant scrutiny.), he does have the ability to not comment, or to just say he only wants to talk about his current job.

To me, this just sounds like a lie -- in an attempt to save face. Someone who knew him well at Iowa agrees:

"Steve Alford is an all-American young man and he left because he couldn't take the pressure," said Bill Krause, a Des Moines businessman and Alford's friend, during a 2007 interview. "It was around him everywhere and in everything he did."

He doesn't have near as much to worry about in the Mountain West Conference, and he likely won over many locals with a 24-8 record last season. This is probably the real reason it was a better opportunity: He'll actually have a job for the 2009 season and beyond.