It's good to be Steve Alford

Folks, if your college basketball coach was 76-26 in his first three years at your school, you'd want to keep him happy.

So it is at New Mexico, where Steve Alford just got a contract-extension and pay raise. He is now under contract through 2020.

From this story at koat.com:

As part of the extension will be a Lobo until 2020. His salary will increase by $145,000. This year he will pocket more than $1.1 million.

In 2014, Alford's base salary will increase by another $240,000. It's an extra financial boost UNM made sure to delay.

"I think there's a recognition of the success he has had, but we also knowing the current state of the economy we though it was prudent to backload that," said UNM Vice President of Athletics Paul Krebs.

If Alford decides to leave, he will have to pay UNM $400,000.

Alford said he got several feelers from other schools last spring, but told his agent not to return any calls.

New Mexico was 30-5 last season. He coached the Lobos to the second round of the NCAA tournament, something he also did at Iowa in 2001.