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Nevada hires ex-UCLA coach Alford to replace Musselman

UCLA v Arizona

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins claps during a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Nevada moved quickly to replace one big-name coach with another.

Nevada hired former UCLA coach Steve Alford on Thursday, four days after Eric Musselman left for Arkansas. They agreed to a 10-year deal.

Nevada athletic director Doug Knuth says landing a coach of Alford’s caliber is a testament to the program’s support from the university and local community. He says Alford will be formally introduced at a Reno news conference Friday at 2 p.m.

Musselman built up the Wolf Pack in four seasons, leading them to the NCAA Tournament three straight years before leaving for the SEC and the Razorbacks.

Alford returns to the Mountain West Conference, where he had some of his biggest successes. He spent six seasons it New Mexico, leading the Lobos to the NCAA Tournament three times, including a trip to the third round in 2012. Alford went 155-52 at New Mexico.