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Steve Alford releases apology about handling of case at Iowa

By Daily Bruin

April 11, 2013 12:49 p.m.

UCLA basketball coach Steve Alford released an apology this morning addressing concerns about his actions from when he was the coach of Iowa.

Since Alford’s hiring, questions have arisen about his handling of a case in which one of his students was accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student. He proclaimed the innocence of his player, Pierre Pierce, before the case had made its way through the legal system.

In his introductory press conference last week, Alford defended his actions when asked about the situation and said that he had done what Iowa asked him to do, a claim that the school has contested.

But on Thursday morning, UCLA Athletics released statements from both Alford and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero.

“I wanted to believe he was innocent, and in response to a media question, I publicly proclaimed his innocence before the legal system had run its course. This was inappropriate, insensitive and hurtful, especially to the young female victim involved, and I apologize for that,” Alford said in the statement.

“I have learned and grown from that experience and now understand that such proclamations can contribute to an atmosphere in which similar crimes go unreported and victims are not taken seriously.”

Guerrero’s statement said that the hiring was based on Alford’s successful career and noted that while the coach made a mistake 11 years ago, he had grown because of it.

On Thursday morning, before the statement was released, the Daily Bruin editorial board published a piece calling for an apology from Alford.

Compiled by Emma Coghlan, Bruin Sports senior staff.

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