New UCLA Coach Steve Alford steps out on a big stage — is he ready?

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) --UCLA has hired Steve Alford as its men's basketball coach.LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Steve Alford was hired as UCLA basketball coach on Saturday, spurning New Mexico days after he agreed to a new 10-year deal with the Lobos for a chance to run what he called ''the premier basketball program in the country.''Eleven days ago I thought New Mexico Coach Steve Alford was the perfect candidate for the UCLA coaching vacancy. It was the Wednesday I sat in Salt Lake City typing those words for a story in advance of the subregional that featured several coachingUCLA hired Steve Alford as basketball coach on Saturday, luring him from New Mexico days after he signed a new 10-year deal with the Lobos.Steve Alford, as coach of Iowa in 2006, talks to guard Dean Oliver during a game. Alford led Iowa to a 25-9 record that year, including the Hawkeyes' second

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