He truly might be the most underrated one too. He was also a shortstop on the Kansas State baseball team. On April 1, 2011, Kruger accepted the head coaching position with the Oklahoma Sooners, replacing the fired Jeff Capel. After 45 years in coaching, the last 10 coming as the head basketball coach at Oklahoma, Sooners coach Lon Kruger is retiring at the age of 68. Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger talks to his players during a time out against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 22, 2021, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. — Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) March 25, 2021 Congratulations and happy retirement to Lon Kruger - a man who demonstrated leadership and … Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list, and Oklahoma will likely approach the search differently than Iowa State did with T.J. Otzelberger. Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger reacts during the first half of a first-round game against Missouri in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil … I'm already a fan, don't show this again. Kruger was named the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1973 and 1974, after being named the Big Eight Sophomore of the Year in 1972. This year, the team finished with a record of 16-11 and went 9-8 in the Big 12 conference. [7] Despite his success, he was not immune to criticism, having won just one regular season conference championship in his lengthy college coaching career (Illinois tied for the Big Ten title in 1997–98). Since that Final Four run, the Sooners haven’t made the same kind of impact on the national stage, though Kruger’s team has still been very talented. Send MSN Feedback. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kruger compiled a … Carmel was led by Miller's 74. NORMAN (KOKH) - Oklahoma Sooner's Men's Basketball coach Lon Kruger is retiring after 35 seasons as a head coach, the last 10 at OU.       Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball head coaches, Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball head coaches, Florida Gators men's basketball head coaches, Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball head coaches, UNLV Runnin' Rebels head basketball coaches, Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball head coaches, Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins, List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach, https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1974.html, http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26292605/ranking-2019-ncaa-tournament-coaches-players-1-68, "Ron Kantowski eulogizes a 'wacko' NCAA rule that, while used innocently enough by UNLV's Lon and Kevin Kruger, left the door open for 'unintended consequences, Lon Kruger changes course, accepts head coaching position at Oklahoma, String Music: Inside the Rise of SEC Basketball, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lon_Kruger&oldid=1014326408, College men's basketball head coaches in the United States, Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball coaches, Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball coaches, Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball players, Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball coaches, Pittsburg State Gorillas men's basketball coaches, Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball coaches, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 March 2021, at 13:28. He is one of four active coaches who have had three teams in the Elite Eight.[13]. On March 17, 2013, Kruger became the only head coach in Division I history to lead five programs to the NCAA tournament when the Sooners were named a No. According to Stats Perform, when OU hosts No. Prior to accepting the head coaching position at UNLV in 2004, Kruger was the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Kruger accepted the vacant position at Illinois. 1 … [15], National champion   Brett Cigelnik and Dave Krueger had matching rounds of 88 for the Mustangs. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. The Sooners played some impressive basketball earlier in the season, at one point knocking off three consecutive top 10 opponents in a very tough Big 12. We appreciate your input! Oklahoma men's basketball coach Lon Kruger will retire from coaching, sources have confirmed to The Transcript.       Conference tournament champion. On February 25, 2017, Kruger earned his 600th career head coaching victory as the Sooners beat Kansas State 81–51 in Norman. Hell of a career. This team is an NCAA Tournament contender on a yearly basis. Kruger played college basketball for Kansas State University. Here we have three categories. He took over the Sooners program after Jeff Capel III was fired in 2011 and took the Sooners to new heights. 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Kruger was born and raised in Silver Lake, Kansas. This is an impressive position and the Sooners will not consider just anyone to take over what Kruger started. [1] Kruger also tried out with the Detroit Pistons, and played professionally in Israel. Friday at 4:31 PM Dan. The Hawks failed to make the playoffs and Kruger was fired midway through the 2002–2003 season. First, […] He has served as the head coach of the University of Texas–Pan American, Kansas State, the University of Florida, the University of Illinois, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).       Conference regular season champion   In his six seasons with Florida, Kruger compiled a 104–80 mark. Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger reacts during the first half of a first-round game against Missouri in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil … College basketball is a cesspool, but no one ever has a bad thing to say about Lonnie Kruger, the pride of Silver Lake, Kansas. Without further ado, let’s get right into the list. He brought fantastic talent like Buddy Hield and Trae Young into the program and certainly left his mark on this Sooners program. On March 25, 2021, it was announced he planned to retire. His coaching career began soon after and by 1982 he had accepted his first head coaching job at Texas-Pan American. As basketball coach of the Wildcats, Kruger led K-State to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons as head coach and the Elite Eight in 1988 — a team featuring future NBA players Mitch Richmond and Steve Henson — before losing to archrival Kansas Jayhawks, the eventual national champion. They defeated No. In 2007, Kruger led the Runnin' Rebels to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, which was the team's first trip there since Jerry Tarkanian led it in 1991. While there, he became the only Big Ten coach to successfully sign three consecutive Illinois Mr. Basketball winners, after inking Sergio McClain, Frank Williams, and Brian Cook between 1997 and 1999. From Kansas State, Kruger moved south to the University of Florida, taking over a program that had limited success not only nationally, but in the Southeastern Conference. It was a strange time. He also played a season of minor league baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and was invited to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys as a quarterback.[2]. After a fantastic coaching career spanning five decades, Lon Kruger recently announced his retirement, leaving Oklahoma Basketball after ten years as their head coach. Oklahoma announced the news on … No scandal came within four counties of OU basketball while Kruger was in charge. 10 seed in the South region. The controversial rule was repealed for the following season due to what some claimed were the unintended consequence of allowing players with undergraduate diplomas to immediately begin playing for another school without sitting out for any time.[4]. Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger talks to his players during a time out against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half during the second round …       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion Since hired to embarrassing but genuine fanfare amidst a packed McCasland Field House, Lon Kruger gave Sooner basketball everything it needed. We’re going to be taking a close look at a number of potential candidates to take over as head coach at Oklahoma. Under Kruger's leadership, the Sooners finished the 2020-21 season with a 16-11 and were a No. Kruger, 68, coached Oklahoma to seven NCAA Tournaments, including this … ... has confirmed. He had guys like Buddy and Trae Young. Kruger won while at Texas-Pan American and Kansas State; took Florida to their first Final Four, and won plenty of games at both Illinois and UNLV. Tommy Schofield shot an 83 for the Corsairs, while teammates Mike Wilkinson and … Announced on Monday evening, Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger is retiring after 45 years in coaching. Kruger’s among college basketball’s elite in many eyes not just for what he did, but how he did it. Kruger sat in the same chair he has all season to field questions, yet this time for an emotional exit interview. He made the Tournament all but two years at a football school, where expectations really aren't that crazy. Kruger played college basketball for Kansas State University. 25 years ago (1996): Illinois introduced Lon Kruger as its new basketball coach to succeed Lou Henson, who retired after 21 seasons with the Illini.       Postseason invitational champion   Who are the potential candidates to replace Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lon Kruger, who is retiring after 10 seasons with the Sooners? Kruger reached his second career Final Four, this time with Oklahoma, in 2016. The 10-year OU men’s basketball coach called it … [14]. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports, Oklahoma Basketball head coach Lon Kruger Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports. I don… Kruger was an assistant coach under Rudy Tomjanovich for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal. [5][6][7] Kruger's new compensation package reportedly exceed $2.2 million annually. In 10 seasons as head coach with the Sooners, Kruger was 195-128. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 All Rights Reserved. This includes seven NCAA March Madness appearances and the Final Four in 2016. Locked; Game Thread: Illinois vs Drexel. Minnesota announced Monday that it is hiring Xavier assistant Ben Johnson, a former Gophers player and assistant, to replace Richard Pitino as the program's basketball … As a point guard, Kruger led the Kansas State Wildcats to back-to-back Big Eight championships in 1972 and 1973 under coach Jack Hartman. Kruger was one of only three coaches ever (the other being Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith) to lead five programs to the NCAA Tournament. This season, Illinois is 16-4 in the best league. The Sooners have competed year in and year out in a very tough conference; and a Big 12 coaching job is certainly attracted to many names in the coaching circles. Sooners head men's basketball coach speaks about program, retirement on March 26 Sources revealed that Lon Kruger was retiring as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball program on Thursday, bringing the curtain down on a quietly successful 10-year tenure. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on All College Basketball and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Throughout an impressive career, Kruger took five different teams to the NCAA Tournament and also spent three seasons helming the Atlanta Hawks. Kruger is expected to inform the team at a meeting Thursday afternoon. This past season, Oklahoma went 16-11, falling to undefeated Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma men's basketball coach Lon Kruger is retiring after 10 seasons with the Sooners, The Oklahoman has learned. On February 9, 2008, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels beat Colorado State 68–51 at home for Kruger's 400th career win. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger announced his retirement Thursday, ending a 35-year Division I college head coaching career that included taking five schools to … [12] The feat was later matched by Tubby Smith in 2016 when he took Texas Tech to the tournament. Lon Kruger is the best basketball coach you've heard of but don’t pay any attention to, and Monday afternoon he sends his Oklahoma Sooners out against the No. After he was let go by Florida, he was succeeded by Lon Kruger. DeVoe served as the head coach of the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team from 1992 to 2004. On March 20, 2015, Kruger became the only head coach in Division I history to win an NCAA tournament game with five programs. He was a ninth-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in the 1974 NBA Draft. Own a piece of history! We’ll be focusing on six candidates for now, but don’t be surprised to see a lot more names pop up for the position in the coming days, including one of Oklahoma’s current assistants like Carlin Hartman. Kruger was born in Kansas and played guard at Kansas State back in the early 1970’s. Lonnie Duane Kruger (born August 19, 1952) is a retired American college and professional basketball coach who was most recently the men's basketball head coach of the University of Oklahoma. It was as head coach of the Hawks that Kruger guaranteed season-ticket holders in 2003 that the Hawks would make the playoffs or get a $125 refund. His teams have participated in 17 NCAA Tournaments, including 2 Final Fours (1994 with Florida; 2016 with Oklahoma). He's been at Oklahoma since 2011 and took them to a Final Four. Kruger has a career record of 674–432. Kruger led Oklahoma to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2016. Lon Kruger was — and is — the consummate nice guy, and he’s all the proof you need that nice guys don’t always finish last. "Apollo 50," our hardcover book about the … ATLANTA -- Lon Kruger must make people care about pro basketball in Atlanta again. Kruger and his Sooners are in the midst of one of the toughest stretches of games in college basketball history. [8][9] However, Kruger has generally enjoyed a positive reputation. That win total is a Big Ten school record, breaking the 15-win mark from 1984 and 2005. We take a look below. Lonnie Duane Kruger (born August 19, 1952) is a retired American college and professional basketball coach who was most recently the men's basketball head coach of the University of Oklahoma. Kruger accepted the job at UNLV in 2004. He was named SEC coach of the year in 1992 and 1994. After ten brilliant years under Kruger’s leadership, the Oklahoma job is open and whoever is hired next will be inheriting a much better program than ten years prior. For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of … OU men's basketball head coach Lon Kruger is retiring after 10 seasons coaching the Sooners, the program confirmed Thursday afternoon. In the process, he led the University of Florida to its first Final Four appearance in 1994. They may not currently be in the same stratosphere as a Kansas or Baylor at the moment, but with the right hire and the right recruiting, there’s no reason this team can’t compete for Big 12 championships. His son, Kevin, took advantage of a new NCAA rule, called Proposal 2005–54,[3] before the 2006–2007 season to transfer from Arizona State and immediately play for his father at UNLV without sitting out one year. Dan. Lon Kruger is one of the best coaches in the game. 9 … Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger reacts during the first half of a first-round game against Missouri in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil … [10], On November 30, 2012, Kruger earned his 500th career head coaching victory as the Sooners beat Northwestern State 69–65 in Norman.[11]. *The 2020 NCAA tournament was canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. “First of all, he’s a gentleman of all gentleman,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said last week, unprompted, about Kruger’s character. 9 Alabama on Saturday, the Sooners will become the first team since the Stats Inc. database started in 1996 to face six top-10 teams in one calendar month. To the Transcript at Kansas State 81–51 in Norman close look at a number of potential candidates to Oklahoma. Coach with the Sooners to new heights brought fantastic talent like Buddy Hield and Trae don kruger basketball into the and... 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