Alford To New Mexico...Tubby To Minnesota

UNDATED (AP) _ While the Final Four participants will be determined this weekend on the court, the also-rans are making some coaching changes: <br/><br/>-- Steve Alford is leaving Iowa to be the head basketball

Friday, March 23rd 2007, 9:17 am

By: News On 6

UNDATED (AP) _ While the Final Four participants will be determined this weekend on the court, the also-rans are making some coaching changes:

-- Steve Alford is leaving Iowa to be the head basketball coach at New Mexico. Alford has a 152-106 record in eight seasons with the Hawkeyes. He guided the team to three NCAA tournament appearances and two Big Ten tournament titles.

-- Tubby Smith is leaving the University of Kentucky to become the head basketball coach at Minnesota. He'll be introduced as the Golden Gophers' 16th coach Saturday. Smith's ten-year reign at Kentucky started with a national championship, but he's come under fire in recent years.

-- Colorado State has named former North Dakota State coach Tim Miles as the Rams' new coach. He replaces the fired Dale Layer, who was dismissed after a 17-13 season.

-- In the women's game, Rene Portland has resigned. She had been Penn State's women's coach since 1980. Earlier this season, she became the ninth coach in Division I women's basketball to win 600 games. Earlier this year, a former Penn State player settled a discrimination lawsuit against Portland.

-- Arkansas will introduce Louisville's Tom Collen as its new women's basketball coach Friday. That's according to a school official.