Lon Kruger
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Lon Kruger (born August 19, 1952 in Silver Lake, Kansas) is an American basketball coach. Most recently he took the the UNLV Rebels to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1991.
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at UNLV in , Kruger was the head coach of the , Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. It was as head coach of the Hawks that Kruger guaranteed season-ticket holders that the Hawks would make the playoffs or get a $125 refund. The Hawks failed to make the playoffs and Kruger was fired midway through the season. Kruger also held head coaching positions in collegiate basketball at the University of Texas-Pan American (1982-86), Kansas State University (1986-90), the University of Florida (1990-96), and the University of Illinois (1996-2000). Kruger is one of five coaches to take 4 teams to the mens NCAA basketball tournament.
As a player, Kruger led Kansas State to back-to-back Big Eight championships in 1972 and 1973. 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.
Kruger's son, Kevin, took advantage of a new NCAA rule, called Proposal 2005-54,[1] before the 2006-2007 season to transfer from Arizona State and immediately play for his father at UNLV without sitting out one year. The controversial rule has been repealed for the next season due to the "unintended consequences" of allowing players with undergraduate diplomas to immediately begin playing for another school without sitting out for any time.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Kruger transfers to play for father", Associated Press, July 10, 2006
- ^ Kantowski, Ron. 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', Las Vegas Sun, January 7, 2007.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Jack Hartman |
Kansas State Men's Basketball Head Coach 1986–1990 |
Succeeded by Dana Altman |
| Preceded by Don DeVoe |
Florida Men's Basketball Head Coach 1990–1996 |
Succeeded by Billy Donovan |
| Preceded by Lou Henson |
Illinois Men's Basketball Head Coaches 1996–2000 |
Succeeded by Bill Self |
| Preceded by Lenny Wilkens |
Atlanta Hawks Head Coach 2000–2002 |
Succeeded by Terry Stotts |
| Preceded by Charlie Spoonhour |
UNLV Men's Basketball Head Coach 2004– |
Succeeded by incumbent |
Melick • Ahearn • Lowman • Merner • Clevenger • Knoth • Curtis • Corsaut • Root • Gardner (pre-war) • Cochrane • Rock • Knorr • Gardner (post-war) • Winter • Fitzsimmons • Hartman • Kruger • Altman • Asbury• Wooldridge • Huggins
Categories: American basketball coaches | American basketball players | Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball coaches | Florida Gators men's basketball coaches | Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball coaches | Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball players | UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball coaches | Atlanta Hawks coaches | People from Kansas | Living people | 1952 births
