Lon Kruger to be named OU coach

[BoulderSooner]

he built the florida program .. and then left for illinois .. he took florida to a final four
During his six-year stint at Florida, Kruger transformed the Gators from a program that was not a factor in the SEC race to a team that posted a single-season school-record 29 wins and went on to postseason play four times. The year before Kruger took over the program (1989-90), Florida finished 7-21 overall and 3-15 in the SEC. In six seasons in Gainesville, Kruger twice led the Gators to the NIT and twice to the NCAA Tournament. His crowning achievement came in 1994 when he directed UF to a 29-8 mark and a trip to the NCAA Final Four.

he also rebuilt UNLV
Kruger took over a program at UNLV in 2004 that had gone through a period of significant instability, with nine different head coaches in the previous 13 seasons. Over that span, the program made just two NCAA Tournament appearances, both first-round exits.

now 4 ncaa in the last 5 years .. and he almost always gets to the second round

 

[Big Old Booger]

If he accepts, OU would be the 2nd best program he's been at with the best being Illinois.

At Illinois he inherited a program in shambles after Henson retired and they were on NCAA probation. He resurrected that program and was the first IU coach to ever sign in 3 straight years the Illinois POY. Before he left IU to take the Hawks job, IU was ranked in the preseason top 10 for the next year, and Bill Self took them to an elite 8, and probably should have advanced to a Final 4.

The team was stacked.

At KSU, Texas Pan-AM, Florida, and UNLV he inherited programs in shambles. He did great at all 4.

 

[soonernation75]

What? The guy has nearly 500 wins as a head coach, and has been to the NCAA Tournament 13 times.

He would probably lead among Big 12 coaches in number of NCAA Tournaments appearances.

This would bring stability to the program and get it back on track. Plus, Lon would probably retire here.

He would win, bring the program back, and leave it in great shape. In my opinion.

Yep. This would be a big time hire.

 

[MikeInNorman]

Underwhelmed, at best.

 

[billyball]

I don't know much about Kruger. Is he a good recruiter? Does he have ties to a specific area?

 

[seniorsooner]

please please please let this be true!!!!!!!!!

 

[scrybe]

If this IS true, I'd like to add that Joe C. has, indeed, hit a homerun.

 

[seniorsooner]

I don't know if it's a home run, but it's definitely a run scoring double.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

If this IS true, I'd like to add that Joe C. has, indeed, hit a homerun.

not quote a homerun. Ground rule double
or a ball that hit off the top of the wall and is being reviewed to see if it is indeed a homerun

 

[Dave4OU]

Very Good Hire

 

[Tony]

Goodman from Fox sports just tweeted it isn't a done deal but they're in talks and OU wont take no for an answer

I don't want him if we have to bully him into accepting the job. But I want him.

 

[Big Old Booger]

If this IS true, I'd like to add that Joe C. has, indeed, hit a homerun.

I agree 100%.

If somebody can't get behind this hire, then I don't know what to say. He is perfect for this situation. Squeaky clean and his teams win.

He would clean up this mess, and get us on the right track before retiring and then we can make a bigger name hire at that point.

 

[StoopsBros]

http://tweetbe.at/ncaa/trend/1mnDj-lon-kruger/

 

[jazziz24]

If true, according to post on the UNLV boards, we're doing them a favor.

 

[seniorsooner]

I don't want him if we have to bully him into accepting the job. But I want him.

Yeah we don't want to get into a Dana Altman/Gene Stephenson type of situation.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I don't know if it's a home run, but it's definitely a run scoring double.

LOL...after rumors of Weber, Robinson, and mentions of Sendek, Kruger is by far the best option.

 

[WTSooner]

If this IS true, I'd like to add that Joe C. has, indeed, hit a homerun.

I wouldn't go that far.

But it's a solid hire, and a really, really good hire at this point.

 

[scrybe]

I still think it WAS a homerun, but I'll agree to downgrade it to an inside-the-parker.

 

[Max Power]

I still think it WAS a homerun, but I'll agree to downgrade it to an inside-the-parker.

I'll go with Standing double with 2 runs scored

 

[coolm]