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UCLA Basketball: Steve Alford’s Letter to Bruin Fans, Gives Back Extension

By Mike Regalado

Jan 3, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford looks on against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford looks on against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford writes a letter to the Bruin fan base about the product of this past season, which includes returning a contract extension.

This past season was a low for the UCLA Basketball team as they finished 15-17 overall and 6-12 in conference, which was only good enough 10th place in the Pac-12.

In reaction to this, UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford had sent a letter via email to “UCLA Family, Friends, Alumni and Supporters” to address the state of Bruin hoops.

It is the first time that Alford or the UCLA Athletic Department has made a statement since the Bruins were bounced from the Pac-12 Tournament on Wednesday, March 9.

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Alford starts the letter by stating that he has been “dissecting” the program since UCLA’s first round exit from the Pac-12 Tournament and holds responsibility for the final outcome of the season. “There’s nothing that I can say or write that will change that fact. This happened under my watch, it begins and it ends with me. The buck stops here.”

Alford addresses an array of areas where the team needs improve, but the biggest news is that the Bruin coach is returning the one-year extension on his contract that he received after the 2013-14 season, his first with UCLA.

Alford claimed that it was because him and his staff “fell short not only of our own expectations, but the expectations of [UCLA Athletic Director] Dan [Guerrero].”

This is a surprising move by Alford as it is not often coaches return contract extensions. This at least shows that he is well aware of the team’s deficiencies and is taking responsibility for his actions, to an extent.

With UCLA retaining Alford, it is clear that the Bruin coach will be expected to win next season. Along  with an experienced core of upperclassmen consisting of Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Thomas Welsh, UCLA will have the #5 recruiting class in the nation — including Naismith High School Player of the Year Lonzo Ball — which should help the Bruins improve for the 2016-17 season.

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Alford added that he wants to “earn the extension back”, but with him being on the hot seat, the question is “how many wins and accolades will be enough to attain that goal and help him keep is job?”