Another major college basketball program has tried but failed to land Brad Stevens.

Butler's Brad Stevens is UCLA's top target in its search for a new coach, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

A source close to the situation said Friday that Stevens will remain at Butler despite being the top target in UCLA's search for a new men's basketball coach.

In an earlier text message to ESPN, Stevens reaffirmed his coaching status at Butler, but he also left the door slightly ajar by saying he would not comment on "any other speculation or situation."

"I'm the coach at Butler," he wrote.

Stevens offered another possible hint at his future Friday morning with a tweet that read: "Love walking thru Hinkle [Fieldhouse] in the morning... Anxious to get started on our spring workouts next week."

Stevens, who guided Butler to the national championship game in 2010 and again in 2011, has been the top target for just about any major job opening during the past three years, but always has been thought of as a tough fish to land. He was born and raised in Indiana, went to college at DePauw, never has held a college coaching job anywhere other than Butler and has professed a love for the lifestyle in his home state.