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Kevin Kruger

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For the politician, see Kevin Krueger.
Kevin Kruger
Kruger in 2022.
UNLV Runnin' Rebels
PositionHead coach
LeagueMountain West Conference
Personal information
Born (1983-05-01) May 1, 1983 (age 41)
McAllen, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolWalton (Marietta, Georgia)
College
NBA draft2007: undrafted
Playing career2007–2013
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2016–present
Career history
As player:
2007–2008Utah Flash
2008Lukoil Academic
2009Utah Flash
2009NSB Napoli
2010Utah Flash
2010Soles de Mexicali
2010–2011Utah Flash
2011–2012Okapi Aalstar
2012–2013Los Angeles D-Fenders
2013Eisbären Bremerhaven
As coach:
2014–2016Northern Arizona (asst.)
2016–2019Oklahoma (asst.)
2019–2021UNLV (asst.)
2021–presentUNLV

Kevin Michael Kruger (born May 1, 1983) is an American basketball coach and former player, currently the head coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Born in McAllen, Texas, Kruger played high school basketball at George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, Georgia and college basketball at Arizona State and UNLV. Kruger then played professional basketball from 2007 to 2013, including multiple stints with NBA Development League teams Utah Flash and Los Angeles D-Fenders.

After retiring from playing basketball, Kruger became a college basketball coach, beginning as assistant coach at Northern Arizona from 2014 to 2016. Kruger later worked under his father, head coach Lon Kruger, as an assistant coach at Oklahoma from 2016 to 2019. Returning to UNLV, Kevin Kruger was an assistant coach from 2019 to 2021 before becoming head coach in 2021.

Early life and college basketball career

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Kevin Michael Kruger was born in McAllen, Texas in 1983.[1] His father, Lon Kruger, was head men's basketball coach at the University of Texas Pan American at the time.[2] Kevin Kruger then grew up in Kansas, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia, as his father later was head coach at Kansas State University, the University of Florida, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Atlanta Hawks.[2]

He attended Centennial High School in Champaign, Illinois, where he was a member of the basketball team. At the conclusion of his sophomore season, he moved to Marietta, Georgia, where he attended George Walton Comprehensive High School,[3] graduating in 2002.[1]

From 2002 to 2006, Kruger attended Arizona State University, redshirting his true freshman season in 2002–03 before playing at guard for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2003 to 2006.[1] Kruger had 43 starts in three seasons, including all 28 games in the 2005–06 season. His .812 free throw percentage was fourth best in Arizona State history. As a junior in 2005–06, Kruger averaged 15.0 points and led in minutes per games at 38.96.[1]

After graduating from Arizona State in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in justice studies, Kruger transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to play his senior season under his father, by then the head coach for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels.[4][1] In his senior season of 2006–07, Kevin Kruger averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on a UNLV team that advanced to the 2007 Sweet 16.[5][6][7]

Pro basketball career

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Kruger was not drafted after his collegiate career;[8] he was later invited to the Orlando Magic's training camp.[9] Before the season began, he was cut and drafted by the Flash, the Utah Jazz's D-League team.[10][11] He had a career high 35 points against the Reno Bighorns on March 1, 2009.[citation needed]

Kruger played for Okapi Aalstar in the Ethias League's 2011–2012 season. They won the Belgian Cup against the Antwerp Giants, 96–89 in overtime, a game during which Kruger scored 31 points.

Coaching career

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Kruger began his coaching career at Northern Arizona as an assistant for two seasons before joining his father's staff at Oklahoma.[12][13] In 2019, he returned to UNLV as an assistant coach under T. J. Otzelberger. When Otzelberger departed for the Iowa State head coaching position, Kruger was promoted to head coach of the Runnin' Rebels on March 21, 2021.[14][15][16]

Head coaching record

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College

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UNLV Runnin' Rebels (Mountain West) (2021–present)
2021–22 UNLV 18–14 10–8 5th
2022–23 UNLV 19–13 7–11 7th
2023–24 UNLV 21–13 12–6 4th NIT Quarterfinals
UNLV: 58–40 (.592) 29–25 (.537)
Total: 58–40 (.592)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Player Bio: Kevin Kruger". UNLV. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gordon, Sam (March 25, 2021). "Ex-UNLV coach Lon Kruger retiring, moving to Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Lyon, Austin (2002-04-13). "Morrison Takes Dunk Crown". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  4. ^ Katz, Andy (July 7, 2006). "Kruger to play for father at UNLV – without penalty". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Kevin Kruger College Stats". Sports Reference College Basketball. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. ^ Guiremand, Steve (2009-08-24). "Kevin Kruger to play in Italy". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  7. ^ "Oregon bumps off UNLV". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  8. ^ "2007 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  9. ^ Povtak, Tim (2007-09-18). "There is no keeping Outlaw away from camp". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  10. ^ "Flash Take Guard Kevin Kruger With Top Pick in 2007–08 Draft". NBA Development League. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  11. ^ Greene, Ryan (April 13, 2010). "Wrapping up third season as a pro, Kevin Kruger still happy on the hardwood". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Murphy Adds Kevin Kruger to Men's Basketball Staff". nauathletics.com.
  13. ^ "MBB Adds Kevin Kruger as Assistant Coach". soonersports.com.
  14. ^ "Kevin Kruger Named New Men's Basketball Head Coach". unlvrebels.com.
  15. ^ "UNLV men's basketball promotes assistant Kevin Kruger to head coach". ESPN. 22 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Kevin Kruger Named New Men's Basketball Head Coach".
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