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March 9, 2006
Kansas State University fired men's basketball coach Jim Wooldridge today after the Wildcats lost to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 73-65, in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.No word on who the replacement will be as of now, but keep an eye on the conversation that certainly will arise about the possibility of former player and coach Lon Kruger returning to the Little Apple.Kruger coached at KSU from 1986-1990 and led the Wildcats to a school-record four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He also guided the 'Cats to an 81-46 record. His 1988 team went to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion Kansas.After coaching at KSU, Kruger coached at Florida and Illinois before taking over as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. After the stint in the NBA, Kruger returned to the college ranks where he currently coaches at UNLV.Rumor has it Kruger isn't happy in Sin City, though. That could make a return to Kansas State appealing. Plus, he grew up in nearby Silver Lake, so the job would bring him close to home.If Kruger comes home, it would be a slam dunk hire for K-State. He has proven he can win at the college ranks, and the reinvigorated men's basketball fan base in Purple Country would welcome him back with open arms.It's sad to see Wooldridge go, but it was a no-brainer. He had plenty of time to turn K-State into a winner, and it simply didn't work out. That doesn't change the fact that Wooldridge is a classy guy and without question was one of the friendliest coaches in the league. He was no doubt one of the most respected coaches off the court.Still, the bottom line is you have to win to keep your job, and Wooldridge didn't win enough. He never took his club to the NCAA Tournament, so his firing is justified.
Comments
mcoan (anonymous) says...
I would LOVE to see Lon come back. Bring him on...
March 11, 2006 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hobb2264 (anonymous) says...
No way will K-state hire Lon back. Anyone who knows anything about KSU basketball knows that Lon burned way too many bridges when he left in '89. While it sounds like a "slam-dunk", I think there are even better options on the market.
March 12, 2006 at 9:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )