A little feeling I'm getting about Kruger...

[Soonerman]

So the euphoria has worn off with the hire, but I'm still thrilled about it to say the least.

However,all I've heard over the past 24 hours is that Kruger loved it in Vegas and he pretty much only came to OU for the money. I might be totally off base here, I just hope he'll be fully committed to the job 110%. I know he's technically got 2.2 million reasons to be happy and he's had plenty of success turning around programs...but, he's 598and he's been accused of being too "vanilla" or laid back or whatever. I don't know. I might just be rambling. It's been a long day.

Can anyone clear this crazy thought out of my head?

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Gotta admit that I have been having the same thoughts, especially after reading the article about his players not attending his impromptu departure meeting.... The part where he told them that he turned us down twice.... etc.

I guess that at the end of the day, it is a business, and just because money was his motivator, doesn't mean that he won't go all in on the job. By all accounts he has always been a very accountable coach, and he seems to be very professional about conducting business. Only time will tell I guess, but his track record seems to be in OUr favor.

Very legit concerns Soonerman. I have been thinking about the same thing.....

 

[HeismanWatch]

So the euphoria has worn off with the hire, but I'm still thrilled about it to say the least.

However,all I've heard over the past 24 hours is that Kruger loved it in Vegas and he pretty much only came to OU for the money. I might be totally off base here, I just hope he'll be fully committed to the job 110%. I know he's technically got 2.2 million reasons to be happy and he's had plenty of success turning around programs...but, he's 598and he's been accused of being too "vanilla" or laid back or whatever. I don't know. I might just be rambling. It's been a long day.

Can anyone clear this crazy thought out of my head?

You're rambling and you don't know.

Regardless, Lon Kruger loves coaching basketball PERIOD. It's his passion, so don't discount that fact. He also was terrified of the cutbacks that UNLV was facing, which was going to affect athletics. He is also terrified at the beating Las Vegas took in the recession. He is from Kansas, so he is comfortable with this area. He will be in the spotlight more so at OU than at UNLV, if he succeeds. His contract isn't a $2.2M seven year guaranteed contract, so he wins or he leaves. At his age, he isn't looking forward to another move and/or jeopardizing his $2.2M, knowing he was only making $1.1M at UNLV and NO raise in sight, e.g. see cutbacks.

I wouldn't worry too much about one of the greatest competitors in the game of basketball both as a college player and a coach. He could coach junior high basketball and you'd see his passion. That's what coaches do.

If you don't believe the great place Norman, Oklahoma is with it's campus, success in all sports, facilities, and administration, then just ask Bob Stoops why he twice turned down the opportunity to return to his dream state, Florida, where he has many friends.

Lon Kruger is friends with Bob Stoops, so I have no doubt he understands the options that Bob Stoops has anywhere in the country, but choses to stay in Norman for now.

At 58 he is just two years older than Rick Barnes, and six years younger than Coach K.

 

[boksooner]

So the euphoria has worn off with the hire, but I'm still thrilled about it to say the least.

However,all I've heard over the past 24 hours is that Kruger loved it in Vegas and he pretty much only came to OU for the money. I might be totally off base here, I just hope he'll be fully committed to the job 110%. I know he's technically got 2.2 million reasons to be happy and he's had plenty of success turning around programs...but, he's 598and he's been accused of being too "vanilla" or laid back or whatever. I don't know. I might just be rambling. It's been a long day.

Can anyone clear this crazy thought out of my head?

598 is pretty old to be coaching

 

[greenbug]

I've got my concerns too. Plus it doesn't seem like he's a good recruiter.

 

[Dave4OU]

598 is pretty old to be coaching

The Methuselah of College Coaching

 

[rickjames]

I've got my concerns too. Plus it doesn't seem like he's a good recruiter.

Well apparently UNLV had a top 15 recruiting class this year

 

[Iknowzilch]

Lon Kruger is friends with Bob Stoops, so I have no doubt he understands the options that Bob Stoops has anywhere in the country, but choses to stay in Norman for now.

At 58 he is just two years older than Rick Barnes, and six years younger than Coach K.

Kruger and Stoops have been together at a University (K-State) for only one year. They just missed each other at Florida. Now Gillespie and Stoops were friends. Stoops and Kruger acquainted for sure. I don't know to what degree with either one but Gillespie has been to Stoops office on numerous occasions and has the same agent.

 

[soonerhappy]

desperation hire..and money talks..If LK would have held out a bit longer he could have taken over the football program too..

 

[skyvue]

What if it had been Buzz Williams who changed his mind and came to OU? Or Brad Stevens? Would you have experienced the same nagging doubts?

You can rest assured that they, too, would have been coming for the money -- they're both happy where they are, much as Coach Kruger was in Las Vegas.

 

[AdaSooner]

What if it had been Buzz Williams who changed his mind and came to OU? Or Brad Stevens? Would you have experienced the same nagging doubts?

You can rest assured that they, too, would have been coming for the money -- they're both happy where they are, much as Coach Kruger was in Las Vegas.

^
This.

Williams made it clear that his dream job was UT. Doesn't mean he would not have done a good job at OU. Everyone knew that Stoops loved living in Florida when he took the OU job. He's still here twelve years later.

Kruger was successful at Illinois, Florida, K-State and every other stop along the way. He'll do the same at OU. Why would he suddenly "coast" through the remaining years of his career, when he has never done that anywhere he has ever been? Makes no sense to me. His comment about the money doesn't worry me at all. I appreciate his honesty.

 

[sooner8]

As with any hire you are not going to make everyone happy.Let's hope that Kruger comes to OU with the fire & passion that we need to get this program back where it should be & get the fans excited about it!!Big $$$ or not!!Go Sooners!!!!!

 

[seniorsooner]

Some of our fans are really stupid. By this rationale of thinking, ANYONE we hired other than Terry Evans would have "just come for the money". Idiotic.

 

[soonernutt]

We can't have it both ways. We all wanted Joe to pony up and get a good coach here and that's what happened. We can't now say that it's a negative that we have a money-grubbing coach.

 

[Jason]

Kruger is a professional. Who cares what enticed him to come to Norman. He'll do a great job while there. End of story.

The only person who overanalyzes worse than a woman is a message board poster.

 

[skyvue]

The only person who overanalyzes worse than a woman is a message board poster.

Yes, all women overanalyze. What's up with that, am I right, people?

Sheesh.

 

[Jason]

Yes, all women overanalyze. What's up with that, am I right, people?

Sheesh.

Yes, I was being totally serious.

Sheesh.

Btw, thank you for making my point for me.