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Friday, April 1, 2011 | 6:27 p.m.
KSNV: Lon Kruger Leaving UNLV?
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Ryan Greene discusses the potential departure of Lon Kruger as the UNLV Men's Basketball coach.
Related stories
- Lon Kruger changes course, accepts head coaching position at Oklahoma
- UNLV players, recruits react to news of Kruger's departure
- Jerry Tarkanian: Oklahoma's athletic department has deep pockets
- So, who's the odds-on favorite for Kruger's job?
- A look at Lon Kruger's coaching history at UNLV
- The coaches who have led the Rebels through the decades
This is the opportunity the UNLV basketball program needed.
The Rebels couldn’t have accomplished anything more with Lon Kruger at the helm of the program. As strange as that sounds considering Kruger — who agreed to a reported seven-year, $16 million contract Friday to become Oklahoma’s coach — brought in his seven-year tenure Rebel Fever back to Southern Nevada, it was obvious this year that the program had hit its ceiling.
At best, they had become a team that gets eliminated in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
While for some schools that’s nothing to be ashamed of, and something that was purely a fantasy at UNLV before Kruger was hired in 2004, the expectations have always been higher in Las Vegas.
Give Kruger credit for taking the program to another level. They went from a team that was annually on the NCAA Tournament bubble, to a program that periodically squeaks into the top 25 rankings, wins significant games and is again well-thought-of nationally.
But there is so much more to accomplish. And, with the way the Rebels have performed the past two years, it appeared they had maxed-out their potential. UNLV has played in four of the past five NCAA tournaments, but was eliminated in the first round the past two years. This year, the Rebels were manhandled by Illinois in embarrassing fashion.
The loss was a signal that changes had to be made. A shake-up — whether it was with assistant coaches, recruiting strategies or player development — was needed.
It appears Kruger has helped the program take that step. His departure opens the door for UNLV to bring in a fresh face, someone who can build on the foundation Kruger laid and take the program to new heights. Yes, even higher than 2007, when the Rebels advanced to the Sweet 16, winning their first tournament game since reaching the Final Four in 1991.
The new coach — let me join the hordes of people lobbying for former Rebel Dave Rice — needs to be someone who understands the program’s rich tradition and lofty expectations.
The Rebels are the darlings of Las Vegas. They are the professional sports team in a city that has no such franchise.
The new coach needs to be able to sell that message to recruits. Kruger was great at developing players — Louis Amundson and Joel Anthony had no business being in the NBA until Kruger arrived — but did a sub-par job on the recruiting trail. With nationally respected high school programs Findlay Prep and Bishop Gorman High in UNLV’s backyard, it’s safe to say Kruger repeatedly came up short in attracting top-tier talent. That needs to change.
While several are surely steaming that Kruger elected to leave, you can’t fault his logic. Oklahoma plays in a major conference, its games are televised by a respected network and the athletic department has unlimited resources.
At UNLV, dealing with a budget crisis would have been part of moving forward.
Now, Kruger has a fresh $16 million contract. And, UNLV has a chance to make a fresh start.
I commend you for stating the obvious about Kruger that everyone else always seemed to be afraid to say.
I really think Findlay Prep coach Michael Peck is the right guy for this job. Everyone is talking about Dave Rice and Theus forget about them. If you want a young, hungry coach with the ability to recruit and coach em up he's the guy!
I like the way you put a positive spin on such a unexpected and potentially devistating event in UNLV basketball. I'm not 100% with you yet... but I want to be :)
www.RebelReign.com
I agree with you Ray. UNLV was maxed out under Kruger bring in Rice!
My concern is with the kids/young men that are thinking about coming to UNLV as well as the current team members. Their heads are probably muddled up with the rumors of he was staying or going. I felt that he was a great coach. My hope is that UNLV pursues Dave Rice. I dont believe that Theus, with baggage from NMST, would be a good fit. Rice would be leaving a BYU team with experience in the post season. While I still believe BYU was a one man team, it does take a team to make it that far in the tournament. With the possibility of going against North Carolina next season and games with Louisville and Kansas State; I believe a coach with experience in high-profile games is the way to go.
Wrong. UNLV would have had an amazing year if Willis was healthy and Shaw and Wallace were in the mix. Kruger had it all in place this year but things outside of his control bit him in the rear. He did a great job with the hand he was dealt. Kruger leaving is not good.
Brewer you are way off in your estimate. UNLV will feel another 10+ years of garbage basketball now that Kruger is gone unless the recruits that said that would come here actually do. Most teams dream of having a NCAA team each year (under Kruger we have had) and now it's going along the way side because not only does UNLV have issues paying for education, but now will feel the brunt of paying for another basketball coach in a down economy that has not seen the light of day in years and will not see the horizon in the near future. Basketball is the ony thing the city had going for it, and this is a major hit. I can't wait to see 2 years from now people asking for the head of the basketball coach that gets hired.
Its like Real Estate - Location, Location, Location
In Basketball, it's recruiting, recruiting, recruiting!
Take SDSU coach Fisher. Not so great coach, but a great recruiter.
Mike Peck? Do you seriously want to take that risk?
Mike Peck has proven he can coach at the high school level with top-tier talent. Findlay is like a Kentucky-level program in high school basketball. It attracts top talent. Even Rick Barnes can coach top talent. Is Peck going to get top talent at UNLV?
He could be a head coach, but we shouldn't be willing to take that risk. Bring him on as an assistant if he's that good.
Ray, the only things I agree with you on are that this could be a good thing and that Rice should be the next head coach. I don't think Kruger had maxed out his potential at all.
I don't understand the baggage Theus had at New Mexico State? The Herb Pope deal was not his fault. He made New Mexico State a winner, something that didn't seem possible after McCarthy left. Theus should be announced as the new coach tomorrow. He will recruit the heck out of the local talent, plus probably gain some significant LA area kids, too. This needs to happen.
Nice job Ray with this article. It was clear that Livengood wanted to see strides to get this program to the next level. No NBA first round draft choices. Willis should have been an NBA first rounder and he is unlikely to be drafted. End of the day too many transfers not enough top high school talent which led to no on court leadership.
UNLV has better facilities than most in the country. Leader in national attendance. A top prep school in it's own backyard. Elijah leaves for Kansas, Billy to SDSU, Thompson, Joseph and Bradley for Texas. Findlays top player headed to Texas next year. Gutierez at Cal and likely Shabazz was gone too. Where were they on Leonard of SDSU? Marshall is a clear leader who is a local, but they could never add anymore as they were always taking a kid who was not getting time at a bigger program.
Reggie Theus can go into a recruits home and explain what NBA teams want. He brings this experience. He recruited nationally to of all places New Mexico State. If hiring an AAU Coach on staff would help get recruits - he would do it. Rice is a nice guy, but has never shown up on the radar for a single job - Big Sky or any other job. Let him get that seasoning first. Have Reggie hire Grant Rice to be on his bench. Let him take a shot at getting Stacey Augmon from the NBA to be on the bench with him and Sidney Green. If Rice was not connected to UNLV, would he even be on our radar? No and we should recognize this.
Lon was a first class guy and did a lot for the program. Livengood got Sean Miller to Arizona and now it is paying dividends.
Be it Ernie Kent, Tim Floyd, Reggie, Randy Bennett, Rex Walters, Tubby Smith, Greg Marshall, Chris Mack or Lorenzo Romar - they would step into a great situation. Schedule like Gonzaga taking on all comers be it at home or on the road. Wasn't Floyd in the same Bruce Pearl situation for Mayo only a few years ago?
Nice article Ray, while people might think people who are critical were hating on Kruger it was more to ask the question about his concept of taking the next step. After a flat performance against Illinois showing no fire during or after the game, while HBO shows a special on the Runnin Rebel great teams a week prior, all anyone wanted was to see growth forward after having a hyped team going into the season. If we have learned anything watching the past 2 NCAA Tourneys - you can recruit to smaller schools NBA talent and you can also compete against the big boys if you have fire.
THE ONLY thing i disagree with this article is David Rice,we need a coach with head coaching experience as UNLV basketball is too important to trust to an unknown. That leaves one choice Reggie Theus plus with his So Cal roots its a no brainer
Thanks Ray.........great article! I could not have said it better myself! All the best luck for Lon Kruger at Oklahoma.......Go "Running" Rebels!!!
"Major conference, respected network, unlimited resorces." UNLV lacks all of these, yet you think Kruger was not performing at the level the "tradition rich" UNLV program deserves? If you are still living in 1990, go down to the Sahara and wonder why they are closing. Because that's what happens when you don't make the investment to keep up with the changing market.
When all the factors surrounding the now open head-coaching job at UNLV are considered, especially the economic status of the school, the job is just not that attractive to a top-level or even a mid-level coach. The administration should do a thorough search, and hire a hungry young coach, maybe even someone that no ones even heard of.
The next Boeheim or Coach K is out there.
Ok..Lon is gone. But how did that happen with two years left? Did Livengood put Kruger on the short list because of performance , paycuts or both? What are we prepared to pay the next coach?
No to Theus...
What about Greg Anthony?..just throwin it out there.
When I here all the cliches like "program has hit the ceiling" and "we need a fresh face" it is obvious that UNLV will make the same mistakes in hiring that it always does. Former player, AD buddy, or someone Steve Wynn likes. If the people that hire don't understand what the job requires as far as ability is concerned then UNLV will just be a paycheck job. See Rollie Massimino....
I couldn't say it any better than this article, that Dave Rice is the best choice. Those in the know will agree..
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/forget-flash-...