RENO, Nev. – Nevada Wolf Pack Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Alford announced today that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, closing out a head coaching career that spans 36 seasons and includes stops at six different NCAA programs. Alford, who enters his eighth season leading the Wolf Pack, carries a career head coaching record of 724-386.

"After 36 years, I feel like this is the right time to step away from the bench," Alford said. "Tanya and I have loved our time in Reno, and have embraced this amazing community and built lifelong friendships. I want to thank the University of Nevada for the opportunity to lead this program, and I am looking forward to finishing this season the right way, with a team I believe in. God has richly blessed our family in so many ways through basketball and we are very grateful. I'm excited to see God's direction in the next chapter."

Alford's 724 career wins rank 10th among all active Division I coaches. He also ranks third all-time and second among active coaches in career Mountain West victories, with 143. He is one of only two coaches in NCAA history (the other being Rick Pitino) to lead six different programs to the NCAA Tournament (Manchester College, Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State), Iowa, New Mexico, UCLA and Nevada). Alford has made 16 combined NCAA Tournament appearances across his career, 13 at the Division I level and three at the Division III level, including three Sweet 16 appearances in five full seasons at UCLA.

"Steve Alford has been an important part of Nevada Athletics and Wolf Pack Basketball for nearly a decade, leading the program with consistency, integrity, and a deep commitment to developing outstanding young men," Director of Athletics Stephanie Rempe said. "Throughout his tenure, he helped Nevada remain one of the Mountain West Conference's most competitive programs while navigating a period of significant change in college athletics. His teams have been a source of pride, energy, and positivity for Wolf Pack fans, creating memorable wins and special moments in Lawlor that have energized Nevada's College Town. I want to thank Steve and Tanya for all they have done for Nevada Athletics and our community and I look forward to celebrating Steve's career throughout the season."

"Coach Steve Alford's dedication to the University of Nevada, his love of his players, the incredible leadership he has demonstrated, and the countless people he has touched throughout our community, leaves a lasting legacy of service and the very definition of what a college basketball coach should always strive to be," University of Nevada President Brian Sandoval said. "We have been incredibly fortunate to have Coach Alford as our men's basketball coach — his time with us has represented an era of achievement, growth and success that our University will always fondly remember. Lauralyn and I want to wish Coach Alford, his wife Tanya and his entire family all the best as he nears this important life milestone. In the meantime, we look forward to celebrating every moment of his final season leading our Pack."

Over seven full seasons at the Wolf Pack helm through 2025-26, Alford has won 137 games to date, an average of 20 per season, and has guided the program to five postseason invitations, including two NCAA Tournament appearances (2022-23 and 2023-24) and an NIT Quarterfinal berth in 2025-26. The team was also invited to the NIT in 2020 (canceled due to COVID) and 2025 (declined invitation).  The 2023-24 team returned Nevada to the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2019 and finished tied for second in a Mountain West that earned a record six NCAA Tournament bids. Under Alford, 12 Wolf Pack players have earned All-Mountain West honors, including three Mountain West Newcomers of the Year, the program's first Mountain West Freshman of the Year and a Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year.

Before arriving at Nevada in 2019, Alford spent six seasons at UCLA (2013-18), posting a 124-63 record with four NCAA Tournament appearances in five years, including three Sweet 16 runs, and coaching 11 NBA Draft picks, seven of them first-round selections. He spent six seasons at New Mexico (2007-13), winning four Mountain West regular-season titles and two conference tournament championships and earning three Mountain West Coach of the Year awards. Alford began his Division I head coaching career at Southwest Missouri State (1995-99) where he guided the Bears to the Sweet 16, and Iowa (1999-2007) where he won two Big 10 Tournament titles. Alford became a head coach at Manchester College (1991-95), where he was named conference coach of the year three times and led the Spartans to the 1995 NCAA Division III championship game.

This spring, Alford received the Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award from Athletes in Action, presented annually during NCAA Men's Final Four weekend to a coach who exemplifies character, leadership and integrity on the court and in the community.

A two-time consensus All-American at Indiana University under legendary head coach Bob Knight, Alford was the 1983 Indiana Mr. Basketball, a three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection and the 1987 Big Ten MVP. He led the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA Championship and finished his career as Indiana's all-time leading scorer with 2,438 points. Alford was inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and named to Indiana's All-Century Team in 2001, before being inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1984, he won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States men's basketball team under Knight, the last U.S. men's team to win Olympic gold as amateurs. Alford was selected 26th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and played four NBA seasons with Dallas and Golden State.

Alford and his wife, Tanya, have three children, Kory (married to Haley), Bryce (married to Ali) and Kayla (married to Gilbert), and four grandchildren. The Alfords have been longtime supporters of Make-A-Wish Nevada, helping lead the Wolf Pack men's basketball program's "Swish for a Wish" campaign into its fifth year, and were honored this year with Make-A-Wish Nevada's Legacy of Service Award for their work in the community.

A press conference will be held today at 5 p.m. inside Lawlor Events Center and will be open to the public. Parking will be available in the West Stadium Garage.

The press conference will also be streamed live on MW+, the home of Nevada Athletics and Nevada men's basketball. Fans can subscribe to MW+ at watch.themw.com/nevada and receive a special 15% discount on an annual subscription by using promo code WELCOME15 at checkout. The offer is valid through Sept. 30.