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Wednesday, Nov. 27
The Indiana Daily Student

sports

Sam Alford ends 40-year career

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa basketball coach Steve Alford will now have to work without his father at his side.\nSam Alford, who has been director of basketball operations at Iowa, will end a 40-year career in college and high school coaching when he retires Aug. 1.\nThe University made the announcement Thursday.\n"Dad has touched a lot of young people over the course of his career that has been dedicated to the game of basketball," Steve Alford said.\nSam Alford, 61, coached his son at Chrysler High School in New Castle, Ind., and was an assistant to him for four years at Southwest Missouri State, then joined him at Iowa in 1999.\nA member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Sam Alford was 452-245 in 29 seasons as a high school coach in Indiana, including a 300-188 mark in New Castle.\nHe was a head coach at three other high schools -- Monroe City, South Knox and Martinsville -- and spent two years as an assistant at Franklin High School.\n"I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of great people over the years," Sam Alford said. "The relationships I've had with the players, it's the most enjoyable part of coaching."\nSam Alford is a graduate of Franklin College, where he lettered in basketball, baseball, cross country and tennis. He averaged 21 points a game as a senior and led the nation's small colleges in free throw shooting. Steve Alford did the same in Division I as a freshman at Indiana in 1984.\n"He's left an imprint on me, and all of his players, on how to compete in the game of basketball and how to conduct yourself with the lifestyle you choose," Steve Alford said.\n"I'm very blessed to have my parents so close to my career and I hope they enjoy retirement because they deserve it"

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