Alford adds coach, says decision his

UCLA men’s basketball coach Steve Alford disputed the account of a former assistant who told The Times that Alford told him he was let go at the request of athletic director Dan Guerrero.

Alford, in a statement announcing the hiring of Murry Bartow to replace assistant David Grace, said Grace’s dismissal was his call and that he had Guerrero’s support. Grace said Saturday that Alford had pinned the move on Guerrero, and that the AD denied being involved in the decision.

“David and I have differing accounts of our conversation,” Alford said in the statement, “but the bottom line is that I thank him for his impact here and wish him the best.” — Ben Bolch

Virginia hired former WNBA star and USC great Tina Thompson to coach its women’s team. It’s the first head job for Thompson, 43, who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame this year . ... Washington State named Kamie Ethridge its women’s coach . ... Former Duke coach Vic Bubas, who led the Blue Devils to three Final Fours in 10 seasons, has died at 91. Bubas went 213-67 from 1959-69 and won the first of his four Atlantic Coast Conference titles in his first season . ... Freshman Wendell Carter Jr. joined Duke’s other starters in declaring for the NBA draft. Kentucky’s Hamidou Diallo also will enter the draft . ... Guard Kameron McGusty is transferring to Miami after two seasons at Oklahoma. North Carolina State’s Omer Yurtseven is transferring to Georgetown. ... Daedra Charles-Furlow ,a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer who played on Tennessee’s 1989 and 1991 championship teams, has died at 49.