Steve Alford is a former basketball player/guard who played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1987 to 1991. He is currently the head coach of the University of California basketball team. Prior to joining UCLA, Steve worked with the University of Iowa basketball team, as well as New Mexico University and Machester University basketball teams. Steve began his coaching career in 1991 and has been active for over two decades. Learn more about him below.
Steve Alford Bio
The talented trainer was born as Stephen ToddAlford on November 23, 1964 in Franklin, Indiana. He grew up in New Castle, Indiana with his parents Sam Alford and Shana Alford. He was inspired to play basketball from the age of three while watching his father who was coaching in high school at that time. Steve began his basketball career while attending New Castle Chrysler High School.
During his high school career, Steve Alford was awarded the Indiana Mr. Basketball trophy while leading his team to the state championship in 1983. Although the team played well, they lost to Connersville in the quarter-finals. Steve was also part of the US Olympic team that won the Olympic gold medal at the Olympics.
After his high school career, Steve also attended Indiana University where he played for the basketball team. At Indiana, Steve became the all-time leading scorer with a record 2,438 points. Having finished his college career, Steve was named Big Ten MVP in 1987 as he led the team to win the NCAA Tournament. he was also a first-team All-Big Ten and All-American selection.
He joined the 1987 NBA draft and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the draft. He played four seasons with the Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors. He recorded 176 assists and 744 points during his professional career.
Coaching career
Finishing his four-year professional career with the Dallas Mavericks, Steve began his coaching career in 1991. He was hired as the University of Manchester basketball coach in 1991 halfway through the season. and spent three full seasons with the team. During his Manchester career, he was 20-8 in his first season, 23-4 in his second season and 31-1 in his final season with the team. He was named Coach of the Year by the Indiana Collegiate Conference three times and in 1999; he was inducted into the Manchester Hall of Fame.
After leaving Manchester, he was recruited by Southwest Missouri State University, where he led the basketball team from 2005 to 2009. While there, Steve went 78-48 and also led the team in Sweet 16 tournament in 1999. Steve left the team after the 1998/99. season.
In March 1999, Steve was named head coach of the University of Iowa basketball team. Although his time with the team lasted from 1999 to 2007, the coach led his team to win the Big Ten tournament in 2006 and he resigned the following year so he could accept offers from the University. from New Mexico. He joined the University of New Mexico in 2007 and his career lasted until 2013.
Prior to the inception of the 2013/14 regular base season, Steve signed a seven-year contract with the University of California basketball team worth $18.2 million, and his career took off. been flourishing to date. He led the Bruins to win the 2014 Pac 12 tournament and all 16 tournaments 16 times.
Salary: how much does Steve Alford earn?
Steve Alford is undoubtedly one of the most successful college basketball coaches and his outstanding records speak for themselves. The college basketball coach has worked with many college basketball teams; becoming one of the highest paid coaches in college basketball. He signed a seven-year contract worth $18.2 million with UCLA in 2013 and has an annual salary of $2.6 million. Amazingly, Steve is the fourth paid coach for the IPC 12 and the 23rd highest paid college basketball coach in America.
Family: wife and son
Steve Alford was born to American parents Sam and Sharan Alford. His family is well-grounded in sports; Steve’s father is a talented high school basketball coach and he taught him everything he knows about the sport. Steve ended his career in high school under the guidance of his father and he continues to follow the same path as his father. Today, he has become a successful head coach and is doing well. There is not much information about his mother and we cannot determine if he was their only child.
Besides his coaching career, Steve is also a family member and father of three children. He has been attached to his longtime love named Tanya Alford. The amazing woman grew up in New Castle, Indiana, and she met Steve in fifth grade. The duo began their relationship during their junior year in high school. After five years of successful relationship, the couple tied the knot in a lavish wedding held in 1987. They were blessed with three sons, Kayla, Kory and Bryce.
Just like their dad, Steve’s kids are also rooted in the game. They played on their dad’s team when he was in New Mexico and when he joined the Bruins from UCLA in 2013, they also came with him. . His son, Bryce Alford, currently plays for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunders. The shooting guard joined the Thunders in 2017 after going unprepared in the NBA Draft.