Fansided

5 candidates to replace Avery Johnson at Alabama

By Brad Berreman

AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Head coach Steve Prohm of the Iowa State Cyclones coaches from the bench in the first half of play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Head coach Steve Prohm of the Iowa State Cyclones coaches from the bench in the first half of play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

3. Steve Alford

Alford entered the 2018-19 season firmly on the hot seat at UCLA, and 7-6 start with a four-game losing streak led to his firing before Pac-12 play even started.

Alford went 124-63 over five-plus seasons in Westwood, and he was 20 games over .500 (55-35) in conference play. But failing to advance past the Sweet 16, and an exit in the First Four in 2018, put Alford’s job in jeopardy and at least he wasn’t left dangling all season.

Over 24 seasons as a head coach, at Missouri State, Iowa, New Mexico and obviously UCLA, Alford has a .654 winning percentage (509-269). His recruiting acumen has never really been a question, but injuries and more serious health issues took some of that talent away at UCLA and Alford was unable to coach up the players that remained.

Before dismissing Alford as a poor fit for Alabama, or the SEC more specifically, consider Tom Crean. The former Indiana coach seemed to pick the job at Georgia, when he had some other early rumored options, and after a poor first season there’s promise coming via the sixth-ranked 2019 recruiting class in the country (via 247Sports).

Alford’s UCLA buyout, reported at the time of his firing to be a little more than $4.4 million in total (including the prorated remainder of his 2018-19 salary, may help him consider taking a full year out of coaching to reset. But he should still get some calls about job openings, and Alabama could be an under-the-radar suitor.