Earlier in his life, he had been a farmer himself and a professor of agriculture at Iowa State College.

NEWYORKER: Testing, Testing

Moving to once seemingly unfashionable areas, such as Des Moines, Iowa, State College, Pa. or Missoula, Mont.

FORBES: Movin' On to Happiness

Iowa election laws allow out-of-state students attending college there to vote, and 17-year-olds can vote in the caucuses as long as they are 18 years old by election day.

CNN: Iowa students could sway caucuses, if they show up

He began his head- coaching career in 1992 at Manchester College and went on to coach at Missouri State and Iowa before going to New Mexico.

WSJ: UCLA Hires Alford

His other head coaching stints were at Iowa (2000-07), Missouri State (1996-99) and Manchester College (1992-95) in his native Indiana.

NPR: UCLA Hires Steve Alford As New Basketball Coach