Steve Alford gives back extension as penance for bad season

— -- Instead of going back to the drawing board after a 15-17 mark and a 10th-place finish in the Pac-12, UCLA Bruins coach Steve Alford has gone about re-drawing his contract.

Alford, in a letter sent to Bruins fans and supporters, said he is returning the one-year contract extension he signed with the school after the 2013-14 season.

"At the end of the day, year three was clearly not up to UCLA standards. My coaching staff and I fell short not only of our own expectations, but the expectations of [athletic director] Dan [Guerrero], the Chancellor and you, our fans," Alford said in the letter. "As a coaching staff, we intend to earn that extension back."

The extension is for the 2020-21 season and was signed after Alford led the program to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2008.

"I earned an extension in our work year one, didn't earn things in this season, the right thing to do is give the extension back," Alford explained to ESPN.

The announcement comes after two separate banners flew over campus this past week seeking Alford's removal as coach.

Guerrero said he respects Alford's decision and thinks the move shows how committed the coach is to the program.

"I thought it was a strong statement to the UCLA community about Steve's commitment to this program and his belief in where we're headed," Guerrero told ESPN's Andy Katz. "It's relatively unprecedented as far as I can tell."

UCLA went just 6-12 in the Pac-12 this season and was 0-3 against crosstown rival USC. It was the first time the Bruins had lost three times in one season to the Trojans since 1954.

The future may be bright in Westwood, however, as UCLA has the No. 4 recruiting class coming in next season including five-star recruits in point guard  Lonzo Ball and forward T.J. Leaf.