Lon Kruger has been hired as the new head coach of Oklahoma Sooners basketball after making the postseason in six of his seven seasons with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. He's also a two-time SEC Coach of the Year for his early-'90s work with the Florida Gators. He's reportedly been hired to Oklahoma for a seven-year, $2.2 million-per-year deal, a doubling of his UNLV salary.
↵↵↵
↵↵↵
↵Atlanta Hawks fans will recall Kruger as the coach who promised the team's fans a playoff berth before the 2002-03 season after his first two campaigns produced losing records. His confidence led the franchise to guarantee $125 season ticket-holders a postseason. The team even began referring to itself as "the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks."
↵Kruger was fired after the Hawks started 11-16 -- the squad ended up 35-47 and wouldn't reach a postseason until 2008. Still, he's clearly proven himself to be a capable college coach.
↵For more on Kruger, visit Crimson And Cream Machine, Big 12 Hoops, and Mountain West Connection.
↵