Report: UCLA signs Steve Alford to become new head basketball coach

A report by ESPN's Andy Katz are saying that Steve Alford is leaving New Mexico to be UCLA's new basketball coach. The Bruins have come to an agreement with the New Mexico coach on a seven-year contract worth $2.6 million per year. This comes after firing Ben Howland after a second round ouster in the NCAA tournament.

The agreement with Alford comes less than two weeks after Alford had agreed to a new 10-year contract with New Mexico that reached into the $2-million-per-season range, including base salary, bonuses and incentives.

This is more of a surprise since many consider UCLA to be one of the top jobs in the country. The Bruins were spurned by Butler's Brad Stevens and VCU's Shaka Smart. It's obvious that many don't view it that way. Washington's Lorenzo Romar, Marquette's Buzz Williams, and NC State's Mark Gottfried were rumored to be candidates.

I don't know how this turns out, but  Alford is leaving a loaded Lobos team for whoever takes over. Alford will face a ton of pressure trying to coach up to the UCLA standard set long ago by JohnWooden.

Brad Stevens And Shaka Smart Invited To Sing At Wrigley

The Chicago Cubs want Shaka Smart to sing at a game during the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field. Of course he'll be singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame".

Smart says he would take the invitation if given. Butler's Brad Stevens has also been invited. He sang at Wrigley last year after the Bulldogs' run to the finals last year. Both coaches are Cub fans. Smart has called Chicago a second home.

"Chicago is my favorite city in the whole country, and I've spent a lot of time in the city of Chicago as a kid," Smart said. "It was kind of a second home for me.


"I'm a big Cubs fan, probably been to -- conservatively -- 50-60 Cubs games over the years. I once caught a Ryne Sandberg foul ball at my grandfather's feet. So I'm a big Cubbies fan."


Smart is a hot name in coaching circles and should capitalize on his hotness right now. Just don't make a bad decision by taking the N.C. State job.