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Coaching Carousel

Kevin Kruger is the son of Lon Kruger, who was a successful head coach at UNLV for 7 seasons (2004-2011), before leaving to take the Oklahoma head coaching job. UNLV.
Kevin Kruger was hired to take over a 12-15 program under previous head coach T.J. Oetzelburger in 2021. He did have some success, winning 18, 19, and 23 games his first 3 seasons. But they dropped to 18-15 this season, and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the 4th straight season.
UNLV record- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/nevada-las-vegas/men/

Here is an article suggesting 6 potential candidates UNLV "might target to replace Kevin Kruger" - https://www.reviewjournal.com/sport...might-target-to-replace-kevin-kruger-3320974/

I can't tell if this is satire or a serious article. Their list of candidates seems rather weak, except for Will Wade, who will be on everyone's list, and not likely to consider the UNLV job. 3 fired coaches, and one relatively low mid-major coach with a good season.
They list-
Eric Olen, UC San Diego coach- lead UCSD to the Big West championship, 81-62 in five seasons as a head coach
Porter Moser, Oklahoma coach (if he gets fired by Oklahoma)
Craig Smith, former Utah coach (already fired)
Josh Pastner, former Georgia Tech coach, fired in 2023 after 2 losing seasons and hasn't coached anywhere the last 2 years.
......................Record at Georgia Tech in 7 seasons- 109-114 and 53-78 in the ACC
Will Wade, coach at McNeese State
 
Da Coach said:
Kevin Kruger is the son of Lon Kruger, who was a successful head coach at UNLV for 7 seasons (2004-2011), before leaving to take the Oklahoma head coaching job. UNLV.
Kevin Kruger was hired to take over a 12-15 program under previous head coach T.J. Oetzelburger in 2021. He did have some success, winning 18, 19, and 23 games his first 3 seasons. But they dropped to 18-15 this season, and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the 4th straight season.
UNLV record- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/nevada-las-vegas/men/

Here is an article suggesting 6 potential candidates UNLV "might target to replace Kevin Kruger" - https://www.reviewjournal.com/sport...might-target-to-replace-kevin-kruger-3320974/

I can't tell if this is satire or a serious article. Their list of candidates seems rather weak, except for Will Wade, who will be on everyone's list, and not likely to consider the UNLV job. 3 fired coaches, and one relatively low mid-major coach with a good season.
They list-
Eric Olen, UC San Diego coach- lead UCSD to the Big West championship, 81-62 in five seasons as a head coach
Porter Moser, Oklahoma coach (if he gets fired by Oklahoma)
Craig Smith, former Utah coach (already fired)
Josh Pastner, former Georgia Tech coach, fired in 2023 after 2 losing seasons and hasn't coached anywhere the last 2 years.
......................Record at Georgia Tech in 7 seasons- 109-114 and 53-78 in the ACC
Will Wade, coach at McNeese State
Click to expand...

Coach! You didn't mention Lon Kruger coached the Illini! Remember Frankie Williams and Sergio McLain!
 
Tommy said:
Coach! You didn't mention Lon Kruger coached the Illini! Remember Frankie Williams and Sergio McLain!
Click to expand...
Lon is a near-lifelong close friend of Jim Molinari, they were teammates at Kansas State when they both played there in the early 70's
Then when Kruger was head coach at Oklahoma, he hired Jim as assistant- LINK

a couple more columns with stories about the two - LINK - LINK
 
There are several sources reporting that West Virginia head coach, and former Drake head coach Darian DeVries is in Iowa and might be ready to accept the head coaching job at the University of Iowa.
There is no official confirmation, and some reports suggest there are some issues yet to be resolved.
 
I believe Koch is from Peoria! It really would be great to have as many Peoria kids as possible! I would guess now that we have D.Richardson, maybe that would help recruit another Peoria kid! I would guess playing for your hometown would be special! Time will tell if we can bring in another Peoria kid via the Portal!!!!
 
yoda said:
Lon is a near-lifelong close friend of Jim Molinari, they were teammates at Kansas State when they both played there in the early 70's
Then when Kruger was head coach at Oklahoma, he hired Jim as assistant- LINK

a couple more columns with stories about the two - LINK - LINK
Click to expand...

Good info, Yoda. Thanks for the links! :) Makes me like Lon even more!
 
A bit more history, if anyone cares...
Jim Molinari was a freshman backup point guard for Kansas State in 1973-74 when Lon Kruger was Kansas State's star senior point guard and the Big Eight (forerunner to the Big 12) Player of the Year.
Lon Kruger bio- Lon Kruger - Wikipedia​
Jim didn't play much as a freshman, but he got a little more playing time his sophomore year in 1974-75 after Kruger graduated, but after that season, Jim transferred to Illinois Wesleyan University. He played his junior and senior years (1975-1977) at IWU, and became famous mostly for passing the ball to 3-time All-American Jack Sikma. :)
That's the story Jim himself always told, though Jim was actually a pretty good player (he averaged about 10 ppg his senior year). After IWU, Jim went to DePaul Law School, where he got a law degree. He passed the Bar exam, but never practiced law, instead becoming an assistant coach at DePaul under Ray Meyer, then his son Joey, for 10 years. Then he got the Northern Illinois head coaching job in 1989, and the Bradley job in 1991.
Jim's bio- Jim Molinari - Wikipedia​

One other irony, Bradley played against Kansas State with Lon Kruger and Jim Molinari in March, 1974, in the 1st round of the now defunct National Commissioners Invitational Tournament. It was an 8-team post-season tournament started by the NCAA to compete with the NIT, but it only lasted 2 years. Bradley was invited to the first year of the tournament in 1974, and beat Lon Kruger lead Kansas State in the first round 68-64 in St. Louis in the old Checker Dome. I was there! Jim Molinari did not get into the game, though. Bradley then lost to USC in the 2nd round (semifinal), and then USC lost to Indiana in the championship.
 
rumors emerging, esp on Indiana message boards & Twitter, that Indiana is pursuing and offering in the range of $4 million
for Darian DeVries and possibly even Ben McCollum. Iowa also pursuing the same two guys but prob has less to offer.
 
yoda said:
rumors emerging, esp on Indiana message boards & Twitter, that Indiana is pursuing and offering in the range of $4 million
for Darian DeVries and possibly even Ben McCollum. Iowa also pursuing the same two guys but prob has less to offer.
Click to expand...

Being mentioned that Devries to Indiana is being finalized now
 
Afreck2430 said:
Being mentioned that Devries to Indiana is being finalized now
Click to expand...

It's a done deal - https://x.com/IndianaMBB/status/1902117833590313416

GmWqLETa8AESOoe
 
yoda said:
rumors emerging, esp on Indiana message boards & Twitter, that Indiana is pursuing and offering in the range of $4 million
for Darian DeVries and possibly even Ben McCollum. Iowa also pursuing the same two guys but prob has less to offer.
Click to expand...
funny how everyone here kinda thought this would happen, now waiting for McCollum to Iowa, but his team is still playing.
 
There are reports that DeVries contract is worth $7 million for 6 years at Indiana, plus IU will pay his buyout at West Virginia said to be $4.6 to $6 million.
Indiana has somewhere between $8 an $10 million of NIL money annually, and the deal with DeVries will give his son Tucker $2 million of NIL.
>> https://x.com/betterdorf/status/1902123169923600775

He will reportedly now be the 4th highest paid coach in the country. Not bad for a coach who has never won an NCAA Tournament game.
Indiana generates among the highest basketball revenues of any school. - https://x.com/ScottDochterman/status/1902130513701187770
That $31 million/year figure probably doesn't include most donations and other alumni support that goes to the Athletic Department general budget, but are derived mostly from basketball.
 
Da Coach said:
There are reports that DeVries contract is worth $7 million for 6 years at Indiana, plus IU will pay his buyout at West Virginia said to be $4.6 to $6 million.
Indiana has somewhere between $8 an $10 million of NIL money annually, and the deal with DeVries will give his son Tucker $2 million of NIL.
>> https://x.com/betterdorf/status/1902123169923600775

He will reportedly now be the 4th highest paid coach in the country. Not bad for a coach who has never won an NCAA Tournament game.
Indiana generates among the highest basketball revenues of any school. - https://x.com/ScottDochterman/status/1902130513701187770
That $31 million/year figure probably doesn't include most donations and other alumni support that goes to the Athletic Department general budget, but are derived mostly from basketball.
Click to expand...

Insane amount of money for a relatively new head coach. Will all that money comes a lot of pressure to perform, but he just guaranteed him and his son to be set for life.

Also he does have 1 NCAA win (although First Four) in 2021 vs Wichita State.
 
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