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UCLA Basketball: Three former NBA coaches that can replace Steve Alford

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts during the second half against the Liberty Flames at Pauley Pavilion on December 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts during the second half against the Liberty Flames at Pauley Pavilion on December 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – UCLA Basketball
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – UCLA Basketball /

3. Jeff Hornacek

  • NBA Experience: Utah Jazz assistant (2011-2013), Phoenix Suns (2013-2016), New York Knicks (2016-2018)

Jeff Hornacek has not had the greatest coaching career in the NBA. After a promising first year with the Phoenix Suns in which the team finished above .500, Hornacek’s coaching career went downhill. In five seasons of coaching, Hornacek has a 161-216 record.

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To be fair, Hornacek was not inserted in the best situations in his short coaching career. He came to a Phoenix Suns team that stripped everything down and started a rebuild, which led to tanking, which of course led to a bad record as head coach.

Then he went to the New York Knicks, who at the time were run by Phil Jackson, which turned out to be a complete disaster. Take any Knicks coach from the last 20 years and chances are you won’t be impressed with the outcomes.

What makes Hornacek a nice fit for the college game is the impact he had on it as a player. Although he was a good NBA player and even made an all-star team, he also had a big impact on Iowa State in his college days.

Hornacek’s number 14 is one of seven numbers retired by Iowa State. Hornacek took Iowa State to the Sweet Sixteen in 1986, snapping the school’s 42-year drought since its last NCAA Tournament win.

That first win since 1944 happened after Hornacek sent the game into overtime and then proceeded to hit the game-winner against the Miami RedHawks.

UCLA Fires Alford, the details. dark. Next

That success story is naturally something that Hornacek can build on as a college coach and something he can preach to his players. Hornacek walks the walk, he has been the guy to turn an entire university around. He can carry that knowledge into coaching and recruiting to help UCLA return back to form.

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