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[64NIT]

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UNLV fires head coach Kevin Kruger after 4 seasons.

[Da Coach]

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...las-vegas/men/

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

[Tommy]

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...las-vegas/men/

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

Coach! You didn't mention Lon Kruger coached the Illini! Remember Frankie Williams and Sergio McLain!

[Da Coach]

Coach! You didn't mention Lon Kruger coached the Illini! Remember Frankie Williams and Sergio McLain!

Yes, he coached at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV, and Florida.
Here is his career record - Lon Kruger Coaching Record | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

[Tommy]

Always liked him! That was before I grew disdain for all PC’s.

[Da Coach]

Iona parts ways with head coach Tobin Anderson after only 2 years. He took over after Rick Pitino left 2 years ago. He was 16-17, 10-10 in the MAAC in 2023-24 and 17-17, 12-8 in the MAAC in 2024-25. - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/iona/men/

[yoda]

Coach! You didn't mention Lon Kruger coached the Illini! Remember Frankie Williams and Sergio McLain!

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

[Da Coach]

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.

[Steve Zalutsky]

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!!!!

[Tommy]

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

Good info, Yoda. Thanks for the links! Makes me like Lon even more!

[Da Coach]

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.

[OhRotanes]

https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/1902045070032785882

Pete Thamel is saying that DeVries is not a candidate for the Iowa job.

[yoda]

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.

[Braves2006]

McCollum to Iowa and DeVries to Indiana would be my guess. We shall see

[Afreck2430]

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.

Being mentioned that Devries to Indiana is being finalized now