Steve Alford Willing To Listen To Oregon Job Opening

Quite a busy today in hoops within the Mountain West and yet here is more news of a Mountain West coach possibly on the move.  The latest is New Mexico's Steve Alford who just guided the Lobos to a surprising second round loss in the NCAA tournament while posting a record of 30-5 and is a candidate for the Oregon coaching job. 

Steve Alford said he will listen if someone calls but is not looking to leave New Mexico:

"I think you always listen, you listen to everything," Alford told the newspaper. "But right now, I’m listening to my heart, and I’m listening to my stomach more than anything, and that is, I’m a Lobo.

"I’m not going anywhere. This is where I want to be. Our recruits know that. We’re not done with what we’re trying to do here … you always listen, you’re crazy not to at least listen to things, but listening and hearing things are usually a little different."

"It’s flattering, obviously, when you get talked about, that means you’re probably doing a pretty good job," Alford told the Journal. "But I’ve said all long that I’m a Lobo, I love it here … I love the leadership (at UNM). The leadership’s what brought me here.

Listening is never a thing fans want to when regarding job openings, but all signs point to Alford staying at New Mexico.

He was two high school age sons who play basketball in the area, plus the school is in process of doing a 60 million dollar renovation of The Pit.

"One of the things I’ve learned, is you have to have the support of the administration, and that administration has got to know what they’re doing. Here at UNM, I’ve got the support of that administration and they know what they’re doing … I couldn’t imagine passing the new Pit off to somebody else."

The only thing that could turn his head toward Eugene is cash.  Currently Alford is making $1.1 million with incentives and while New Mexico can bump up salary so much they do not have Phil Knight money.

The other candidate to be considered is Texas A&M's Mark Turgeon.