Krugers Team Up Again at Oklahoma

After losing two long-time assistants, Steve Henson and Lew Hill, to head coaching jobs immediately following OU's Final Four run in April, head coach Lon Kruger did not have to search long to fill one of those vacancies. Kevin Kruger, Lon's son, accepted a position on the Sooner bench after spending the past two seasons as an assistant at Northern Arizona (read release here).

The father and son recently sat down with Jessica Coody to speak about Kevin's return to Norman and what it will mean to share the same bench once more.

On how excited he is to join the staff here at Oklahoma:
“Very excited. It is nice to be back in Norman. It's nice to be back around mom, dad, the dogs, all of that. It's been a great couple weeks.”

On what made this the right time to return to OU as an assistant:
“I think I was able to go out and get some experience on the road. Also, some bench experience. Being involved in the huddles, in practice and game prep at NAU with Coach (Jack) Murphy. That gave him (Lon Kruger) the comfort level to be able to bring me back.”

Lon and Kevin Kruger

On if the familiarity with his dad's coaching style will help ease the transition to OU:
“I think it helps because I'll be able to understand him more than most people will. He wants his players to be able to figure things out. He expects them to think, and I assume he will want me to do that as a coach as well.”

On when he decided he wanted to be a coach:
“I've kind of always expected that is what I wanted to do when I was done playing. Once playing finished up, it just kind of made sense. I've loved every day of it. Being a part of it every day growing up, seeing the life we had growing up, how tight our family was, I think a lot of it was because of the competitive aspect and the coaching side of things. We all had that common goal and that common thing to center around, which was dad and whichever team he was coaching.”

On if his ability to relate to players will aide him on the recruiting trail:
“Hopefully it will. There are a lot of things in common that we (prospective student-athletes) have. This will be my fourth year out (from playing), so a lot of the trends and the things they talk about, I can relate to on some levels. But especially just the grind of going to practice, going to class, I'm just not that far removed. Hopefully I can bring that comfort level to them on that side of recruiting.”

On what he enjoys most about coaching:
“By far, being on the floor with them. During practice time, during individual workout times. From time to time, I still like to put on shoes and get out there and get after it with them a little bit until I can't walk for a few days. That's been the most fun, getting out there and developing them as players.”

On what he took away from OU's Final Four run this past season:
“Just the culture that is established here. From the coaching staff all the way down. Anyone involved in the basketball program, they represent themselves in a certain way. They don't want to embarrass OU, they don't want to embarrass Coach Kruger. That is something I want to get involved in. Hopefully it will be a seamless transition.”

"Just the culture that is established here. From the coaching staff all the way down. Anyone involved in the basketball program, they represent themselves in a certain way."
— Kevin Kruger

On his hunger to help guide OU's return to the Final Four:
“I can't even explain it. I see that trophy in his (Coach Lon Kruger's) office every day. As a player we were close, but not really that close (lost in the Sweet 16 at UNLV). We wanted to get there for him. Seeing that run this year, it lets you know it's attainable, but being around the program the last five years you know how hard it is and how much work they have put in. Just across the board from my dad to Shep (director of operations Mike Shepherd) to Renee (Forney, Coach Kruger's executive assistant), everybody involved.”

On his excitement for next season with the student-athletes who are returning:
“Very excited. It's a younger group. Christian James came in last year and played a lot of critical minutes. Khadeem's (Lattin) role will expand, Jordan's (Woodard) role will expand. Buddy (Hield), Isaiah (Cousins), Ryan (Spangler), Dinjiyl (Walker) – they will obviously be missed. That class doesn't come along that often, but next year's guys will have the ability to be a good team.”

Players Mentioned

Christian James

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