Alford's gamble pays off; he proves he can coach

Sporting News, The, March 7, 1994 by Gene Wojciechowski

Manchester, Ind., is so small a town that the closest thing to graffiti is when some highschooler carves his sweetheart's name on a tree trunk.

But this is where former Indiana University star Steve Alford, 29, chose to begin his coaching career -- in obscurity . . . in Division III . . . in gyms smaller than the one he played in during his days at New Castle High School.

Rather than pursue a Division I assistant's job, Alford took a gamble on tiny Manchester College, enrollment 1,000. Alford became the school's head coach eight games into the 1991-92 season. The team was 0-8 and would finish 4-24.

Without the benefit of athletic scholarships, Alford began reshaping the program in the likeness of himself and the coaches for whom he played: his father, Sam; Indiana's Bob Knight; Golden State's Don Nelson.

Now look at Manchester. Last season, it won a school-record 20 games. This season, it finished 21-3 and was regular-season Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference champion for the first time in school history, and last Saturday won the conference's postseason tournament. Of three regular-season defeats, one came against Division I Ball State (by 11 points) and another on a buzzer-beater.

The moral of the story? If you're an athletic director or member of a coaching search committee, you might want to jot down Alford's name. He is ready.

"It's hard not to sit around and think about (a Division I) job," Alford says. "I have no idea what timetable there is. I do know the institution here has been very good to me."

And vice versa.

"I know I'm in a position now that I don't have to jump at the first Division I opportunity" he says.

Alford has yet to hear from Knight this season. Then again, Alford has a better record.

In fact, the last time the two talked, Knight tried to recruit Alford for the movie "Blue Chips." Alford, contrary to what he did during his playing career, decided to pass.