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UCLA Basketball: Steve Alford given 1-year extension after 31-5 season

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins applauds during a timeout in the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on January 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins applauds during a timeout in the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on January 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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It was announced this morning that UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford has been given a one-year extension to his contract which keeps him in Westwood until the 2020-21 season.

A year and a half after UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford gave back a one-year extension (which was given to him after his very first season), UCLA Atheltic Director Dan Guerrero has awarded the extension back after the Bruins went 31-5 during the 2016-17 season.

RELATED: UCLA Women’s Basketball announces their complete 2017-18 schedule

Alford will be starting his fifth season in 2017-18 and this extension keeps him in Westwood until 2020-21. Originally, Alford gave back his extension after underachieving in the 2015-16 season when UCLA went 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament.

If you remeber, that was when airplanes and trucks roamed the area around Westwood with banners and signs calling for Alford’s termination. In a letter to the UCLA fanbase, Alford stated that he would earn back his extension, which the AD believes he has done.

Last season, Alford brought in one of the most talented recruiting classes in his tenure which included Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu. Along with a core consisting of Isaac Hamilton, Bryce Alford, Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh, the Bruins bounced back in a big way.

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UCLA was the second highest scoring team in the land (89.8 ppg) which was fueled by Leaf’s team-high 16.3 ppg and Ball’s nation-leading 7.6 assists per game, the Bruins posted their best record in the Alford era, going 31-5.

During this season, UCLA was one of the most explosive teams in the nation. One of the biggest highlights of the year happened when the Bruins took down the #1 Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington. UCLA won 97-92, which was the most points a John Calipari-led UK team has allowed.

UCLA also returned to the NCAA Tournament and made it as far as the Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately, Kentucky avenged their non-conference loss by beating UCLA 86-75 and giving the Bruins their exit from the Big Dance.

Alford continued to do well on the recruiting trail as the 2017-18 season will introduce 5-star PG Jaylen Hands, SF Kris Wilkes, 4-Star PF Cody RIley, C Jalen Hill and 3-Star shooting guards LiAngelo Ball and Chris Smith.

Next: UCLA Basketball: 2017-18 schedule finalized with times and television

Though UCLA loses five players from last season (four starters), the Bruins have reloaded. Hopefully that continues into 2019 as UCLA works toward Alford’s first Pac-12 regular season championship.