A season that started out with great promise is winding down with the University of Iowa fighting for a spot in the NCAA tournament. A 7-9 Big Ten record and the Pierre Pierce scandal have many wondering about the fate of Hawkeye coach Steve Alford. Alford admits that speculation is probably being used against him in recruiting by others schools — be he says that would be nothing new. He says it’s always been that way in his situation, with people saying he’s going somewhere else of that he’s on the “hotseat.” Alford says tells recruits they could say the same thing about lots of other coaches, but he says they don’t because he doesn’t think that’s the way to recruit. Alford says they try to stress the positive to recruits. He says they try to sell Iowa, sell the program and who they are, and he says if that’s not what a recruit wants, then they shouldn’t be there anyway. Alford says he’ll likely meet with Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby for an annual review in May — but his coaching future isn’t something he sits around worrying about. He says, “I’m a man of faith and I just know that, that things will be okay.” Alford says he hopes to be at Iowa as he says they’re making progress and doing it in the right way, and won’t change that no matter what type of pressure he faces. Iowa will opens the Big Ten Tournament Thursday in Chicago as the number seven seed against Purdue.
