Congrats to Coach Kruger! Lon Kruger Named to National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame - Florida Gators
Great guy. I spoke with him a few months ago for a column I wrote. Today I messaged him a note of congrats. He instantly messaged back… “Thanks, Brent. I hope you are enjoying the summer with the kids”.
“We really enjoyed Gainesville, and it’s a great University. People ask us about our favorite stops – and sometimes it relates to the age of your kids. We went to Florida and they were 6th and 3rd graders, and because of their activities . . . you get involved and meet a lot of families. And because of all that – the kids, and the families and the University . . . we talk of Florida as our most favorite stop,” Kruger said.
He did get to coach at K State, his alma mater, before taking the UF job. I was pleasantly shocked that he left K State for UF. I don't think that he liked the Illinois job. He was too clean to recruit Chicago.
Funny that Kruger recruited HOF Mitch Richmond (born in Ft Lauderdale) to K State and yet couldn't recruit Vince Carter to UF. Mitch was a great 2 guard that just happened to play when MJ was playing.
Got this signed plaque signed by Coach Kruger after the first Final Four ever for the Gators. What an amazing team and a keepsake full of memories from a great coach that quit before being run out of town.