A Class Act

Appreciation poured in from around the country as news broke that Lon Kruger was retiring after 45 years in coaching, 35 as a head coach and the last 10 at Oklahoma.

A True Class Act, A Man of Integrity, Honor, High Character and Respect. A Leader, A Teacher and Difference Maker. It was truly an Honor playing for. Thank u for believing in me and helping become the Man and Player I am today. The Game will truly miss u Coach, Happy Retirement pic.twitter.com/GEivix6jFa
— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) March 26, 2021

I often think to myself what this duo could've done with more years together & get sad because I know it would've been special. Hall of Fame Career.?? Good Luck with Retirement Coach @LonKruger ?? pic.twitter.com/ly67v6nrbX
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 26, 2021

Go get your Flowers?? Thank You For Everything!! Enjoy the retired life! pic.twitter.com/2xao1KPcfA
— De'Vion Harmon (@DeVionHarmon11) March 25, 2021

Can't thank coach enough for all he's done for myself, my family as well as the Sooner program! https://t.co/BzM3P41eCY
— Carlin Hartman (@CarlinHartman) March 25, 2021

Hall of Fame Coach, Hall of Fame Man. Happy Retirement Lon and Barb. Enjoy the grandkids! @LonKruger pic.twitter.com/ZK3HAoW5NU
— Coach Kelvin Sampson (@CoachSampsonUH) March 25, 2021

The first word that comes to mind with Lon is admiration. I just admire the type of coach and person he is. He is one of the best to ever do it and an even better person off the court. He is also a tremendous K-Stater.

I wish him and Barb all the best in retirement! #EMAW https://t.co/2JuT8EJGEl
— Bruce Weber (@coachbruceweber) March 25, 2021

Lon Kruger is one of the most genuine people I know. He was not only a great coach but a better person. @OU_MBBall pic.twitter.com/NrM80fuN4z
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) March 26, 2021

We r losing a Man in coaching that has been gr8 for guiding young ppl. I wish LON KRUGER ?@OU_MBBall? the best in his future as he'll be able to follow his son Kevin new Head coach @unlv? . Lon took 5 teams to ?@marchmadness? HOF worthy ! https://t.co/FKvuBcmKk8
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 25, 2021

Here's one added thing about Lon Kruger that I forgot to mention earlier.

College basketball is really gonna miss him.

When people mention the elite people involved in college basketball, Lon's name will always come up.

Hell of a coach. Even better person.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 26, 2021

According to sources at @OU_MBBall, the amount of profanities uttered by Lon Kruger in ten years of practices: Zero.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) March 26, 2021

Over the last 10 years, @LonKruger's genuine leadership, coaching talent, and true desire to serve others have inspired us both on and off the court. Thank you, Coach Kruger, for always representing the very best of the Sooner Nation. https://t.co/ZUy06LYMib
— Joseph Harroz, Jr. - OU President (@OU_President) March 25, 2021

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

It's been an honor to work alongside you, @LonKruger!

Enjoy retirement! pic.twitter.com/GcF9M5C0bB
— Sherri Coale (@sherricoale) March 26, 2021

Difficult to put into words what Lon Kruger meant to @OU_MBBall. He re-established us and made us a fixture in the NCAA Tournament. But beyond that, he represented himself and our university as well as any coach ever has. It has been a pleasure to work alongside him.
— Kenny Mossman (@Kenny_Mossman) March 25, 2021

I can't tell you how many times in the last 10 years I've said to myself, "how would Lon Kruger handle himself in this situation?" Great basketball coach is several notches down the list of things I most respect about Coach. Lon & Barb Kruger are Hall of Fame human beings..(cont)
— Toby Rowland (@TRowOU) March 25, 2021

Congrats to ?@LonKruger?, watch out if your in a golf match with this guy. pic.twitter.com/sh7pc4b0Kw
— Bob Stoops (@CoachBobStoops) March 26, 2021

Congratulations and happy retirement to Lon Kruger - a man who demonstrated leadership and class on and off the court. Your legacy will live on at OU.

Thank you, Coach Kruger! #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/E9JMp1ZMft
— Univ. of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) March 25, 2021

Congratulations Coach Kruger on a great career! Thank you for everything you did for the game of basketball in our state. https://t.co/rJ7ao544L5
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 25, 2021

Congratulations on your retirement, Coach! https://t.co/zzvmjy1SeZ
— UNLV Athletics (@UNLVathletics) March 25, 2021

Congratulations and Happy Retirement to Coach Kruger!

Thank you for all you did for Illinois Basketball! pic.twitter.com/GIekUGItmR
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) March 25, 2021

Congratulations to @LonKruger on retiring. Part of our Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor, but more importantly, forever part of our family. Peace & Love #RallyTheValley #UTRGV #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/gdP2RtzKyj
— UTRGV Men's Basketball (@UTRGVmbb) March 25, 2021

Lon Kruger is a great example for all @NABC1927 - a teacher , a server , a man who made the profession and the game better !!! Can not forget his efforts with @CoachesvsCancer #FRIEND https://t.co/RhpSOQaMEN
— Phil Martelli (@PhilMartelli) March 26, 2021

3/25/17, the day after I was hired in my current position, I received a call from ?@LonKruger?. He wished me well & asked that I call if I ever needed any help/advice. We competed a few times a yr, but I respected him as much as anyone in the game. Enjoy retirement. #Salute pic.twitter.com/pVbb5B3KF1
— Mike Boynton (@thacoachmike) March 25, 2021

Class act ?? pic.twitter.com/V5vdJvyxA5
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) March 25, 2021

Thank you @LonKruger for everything you did for the Big 12 and our coaching industry. Your friendship throughout the years and what I learned competing against you has had a huge impact on me personally and professionally. Wish you nothing but the Best!! pic.twitter.com/sx88L0lZZh
— Scott Drew (@BUDREW) March 25, 2021

Coach Kruger, thank you for making college basketball a better game. Thank you for making college coaching a better profession. Every time we played, our team and coaching staff got better through the competition. Much respect. Thank You. @LonKruger pic.twitter.com/3DF5JKT9TY
— Chris Beard (@CoachBeardTTU) March 25, 2021

A Wildcat for life

Congrats on your retirement, Coach @LonKruger. pic.twitter.com/KGKIdtk0iJ
— K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) March 25, 2021

Favorite Lon Kruger Story: Every single Oklahoma practice was open to the general public. Every single one. Tremendous for the community.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 25, 2021

My favorite Lon Kruger story.

Thank you for everything, Coach. pic.twitter.com/PFZsCcbfoO
— Ben Coldagelli (@BenColdagelli) March 26, 2021

I've only been to one coach's practice that a.) you're encouraged/allowed to be there and b.) every player comes and shakes your hand thanking you for coming.

195 wins, 7 NCAA Tournaments and a Final Four weren't bad for Lon Kruger either.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) March 25, 2021

Won't meet a nicer coach than Lon Kruger. Before the #Sooners left for the Final Four in 2016 he shook everyone's hand that was there to see them off. All at once I realized he wanted to shake my hand ... thanked me for our coverage too. One of a kind! pic.twitter.com/14s0yYzEGq
— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) March 25, 2021

Updated Lon Kruger story, with longtime assistant Chris Crutchfield on Lon Kruger the family man and Ryan Spangler on Kruger the coach, including a story involving a McDonald's breakfast stop: https://t.co/CaDohcolqX #Sooners
— Ryan Aber (@ryaber) March 25, 2021

Thanks @LonKruger for your 45yr #amazing years in coaching thanks for mentoring me as a young 19y/o on the US Men's National Team that won gold @panamgames1983 we had fun enjoy retirement.#allthebest #oklahomamensbasketball #thankyou pic.twitter.com/SjN0fVnlbf
— Michael Cage (@Exhoopsmc) March 26, 2021

Thank you, @LonKruger! pic.twitter.com/8mC7gTaAiG
— NABC (@NABC1927) March 25, 2021

Congratulations on an extraordinary coaching career, @LonKruger!?? We'll miss seeing you on the sidelines, but look forward to your continued leadership and support of our #CoachesvsCancer and @AmericanCancer mission. pic.twitter.com/ttd1BNgnic
— Coaches vs. Cancer (@CoachesvsCancer) March 25, 2021

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