Steve Alford to speak at GCC men's event June 18

Sunday, June 8, 2014
Steve Alford

Greencastle Christian Church will offer the men of the community a unique opportunity when it welcomes an Indiana basketball legend on Wednesday, June 18.

Current UCLA coach Steve Alford will speak to the men of GCC and the community from 6-7 p.m. that evening in the church worship center.

Alford will encourage the crowd with stories of his Christian faith, leadership and maybe talk a little basketball too.

Best remembered in the Hoosier State as a two-time first team All-America selection who led Indiana University to the 1987 NCAA championship, Alford's basketball roots run much deeper.

Alford grew up watching his father Sam coach at various high school stops around the state. Playing for Sam at New Castle in 1983, Alford led the state in scoring with 37.7 points per game. His production garnered the 1983 Mr. Basketball Award.

At Indiana, Alford played for Bob Knight, earning three All-Big Ten selections as well as becoming the Hoosiers' all-time leading scorer (later eclipsed by Calbert Cheaney).

He also played for Knight on the 1984 gold medal U.S. Olympic team.

Alford was drafted into the NBA by the Dallas Mavericks and played professionally for four seasons.

Since becoming a coach, Alford has had stops at Manchester University, Missouri State, Iowa and New Mexico.

In his first season in Los Angeles, Alford led the Bruins to a 28-6 record and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance.

Doors open for the event at 5:30 p.m., with Alford set to speak from 6-7 p.m.

However, the end of Alford's speech won't be the end of the Indiana basketball legends for the evening. Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer and current Cloverdale coach Pat Rady will be the guest speaker during dinner, which is set for 7-8 p.m. in the GCC gym.

A Roachdale native, Rady is the second all-time leader in Indiana coaching victories and has bookended his long career with Putnam County coaching jobs at Bainbridge and Cloverdale.

Tickets are free, but attendees must register for the event in advance, either online or in person at the church. Visit www.greencastlecc.org and look for the registration tab on the "What's New" page.

Although tickets and the dinner are free, a free-will offering will be collected during the event.

GCC is located at 620 Primrose Lane, Greencastle. Anyone with questions may contact the church at 653-5816.

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