Six times the IU basketball head coaching position opened up beginning in 2000 when Bob Knight was fired.
And to varying degrees, each time former IU star guard Steve Alford was thought to be a candidate to take over in Bloomington.
But it doesn’t appear Alford was a top candidate in the latest search that ended with Darian DeVries being named the 31st head coach of the program. And with that comes a realization it isn’t in the cards for the 60 year old Alford to ever be the Indiana coach.
That’s something he’s at peace with.
“I always go to Isaiah 55. It talks about God’s thoughts are greater than my thoughts, God’s ways are greater than my ways. I couldn’t be more blessed, I am so grateful for my path,” Alford said on Don’t @ Me on Outkick.
Alford says he relishes his more than 30 year coaching journey, and all the people he met along the way.
“I knew nobody the places I went. I knew nobody at Manchester, nobody at Missouri State, nobody at Iowa City, nobody in Albuquerque, I knew nobody in Los Angeles, and I knew nobody in Reno,” he said.
“That (Indiana) wasn’t my path, that was the Lord’s path. I look at it, all three of our kids have been blessed. The two boys married Albuquerque girls, my daughter married a Los Angeles man, and they are so happy. Tanya and I couldn’t be more blessed. I got to coach with my dad for nine years, I coached both sons. I got to coach with (his son) Kory who’s now doing a phenomenal job at Huntington, he’s been to four straight NAIA Tournaments.
“We’ve been blessed with our staff. I’ve had an Indiana guy on our staff everywhere I’ve been. All six places I’ve had Indiana players. So I’ve always had that connection to Indiana.
“Just trusting the process, trusting the journey and who I believe in, I’ve been kept out of bad situations, and the journey has rolled with me. We’ve won 14-15 conference titles along the way, we’ve been to 16 NCAA Tournaments, 700 wins, and I’ve done it with a lot of Indiana people and along the way I’ve met phenomenal relationships and friends so, I wouldn’t ask for any other path than what I’ve been on.”
Knight was an Ohio State alumnus who carved out his own path to Indiana. He ended up coaching against the Buckeyes but never for them. Similarly, Alford’s career never led him to the top post in Bloomington.
But if Alford carries any resentment for the way things have played out, you’d never know it.
“Tanya and I have donated to the (IU) program since we left in 1987, we’ll continue to do that,” he said. “We’re big fans, I watch every game when we’re not playing, I’m a huge supporter and huge fan. It just wasn’t my path, and I very much appreciate the path I’ve been on,” Alford said.
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