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Lonnie Duane Kruger (born August 19, 1952) is an American college and professional basketball coach who is currently the men's basketball head coach of the University of Oklahoma. Kruger played college basketball for Kansas State University. 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). ==Biography== Lon Kruger was born and raised in Silver Lake, Kansas. 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 named the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1973 and 1974, after being named the Big Eight Sophomore of the Year in 1972. He was also a shortstop on the Kansas State baseball team. As basketball coach of the Wildcats, he led K-State to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons as head coach and the Elite 8 in 1988—a team featuring future NBA'ers Mitch Richmond and Steve Henson—before losing to the arch-rival Kansas Jayhawks, the eventual national champion. Prior to accepting the head coaching position at UNLV in 2004, 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 in 2003 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 2003 season. Kruger also held head coaching positions in collegiate basketball at the University of Texas-Pan American (1982–1986), Kansas State University (1986–1990), the University of Florida (1990–1996), and the University of Illinois (1996–2000). While at Illinois, he became the only Big Ten coach to successfully sign three consecutive Illinois Mr. Basketball winners, after inking Sergio McClain, Frankie Williams, and Brian Cook between 1997 and 1999. Kruger is one of five coaches to take four different teams to the men's NCAA basketball tournament. In the process, he led the University of Florida to its first-ever Final Four appearance in 1994. Kruger was an assistant coach under Rudy Tomjanovich for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal.〔(1998 USA Basketball )〕 His son, Kevin, took advantage of a new NCAA rule, called Proposal 2005-54,〔("Kruger transfers to play for father" ), ''Associated Press'', July 10, 2006〕 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. On February 9, 2008, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels beat Colorado State 68–51 at home, for his 400th career win. On April 1, 2011, sources confirmed that Kruger had accepted the head coaching position with the Oklahoma Sooners, replacing the fired Jeff Capel.〔Ryan Greene, "( Lon Kruger changes course, accepts head coaching position at Oklahoma )," ''Las Vegas Sun'' (April 1, 2011). Retrieved April 2, 2011.〕〔Matt Youmans, "(Kruger leaves UNLV, heads to Oklahoma )," ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'' (April 2, 2011). Retrieved April 2, 2011.〕〔"(Kruger leaving UNLV for Oklahoma )," ''The Los Angeles Times'' (April 2, 2011). Retrieved April 2, 2011.〕 Kruger's new Oklahoma Sooners compensation package purportedly exceeds $2.2 million annually.〔 Despite his success, he has not been immune to criticism, having won just one regular season conference championship in his lengthy college coaching career (Illinois tied for the Big 10 title in 1997-98).〔(GoAZCats.com Message Board )〕〔(Cougar Board )〕 However, Kruger generally enjoys a positive reputation overall.〔(Championship Week Preview )〕 On November 30, 2012, Kruger earned his 500th career head coaching victory as his Oklahoma Sooners beat Northwestern State 69-65 in Norman.〔http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/113012aab.html〕 On March 17, 2013, Kruger became the only head coach in Division I history to lead five programs to the NCAA tournament when his Sooner team was named a 10 seed in the event's South region.〔http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031713aaa.html〕 On March 20, 2015, Kruger became the only head coach in Division I history to win an NCAA tournament game with 5 different programs. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lon Kruger」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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