Nabc's Basketball Fundamentals: Ball Handling

This product was authored by Human Kinetics based on the contributions of: Lon Kruger, head basketball coach for the Atlanta Hawks, has had his share of success as a basketball player and coach. Before signing on as head coach with the Hawks, Kruger was the head coach at the University of Illinois, where he led the Fighting Illini to an 81-48 overall record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Kruger compiled a 318-233 record in his 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including six years at the University of Florida. Kruger's 1994 Gator squad posted a 29-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in school history. He guided Florida to postseason play four times. Before his stops at Florida and Illinois, Kruger spent four seasons at his alma mater, Kansas State University. He began his college head coaching career at Texas-Pan American University in 1983. As a coach, he received the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year award in 1992 and 1994, the NABC District Coach of the Year award in 1988 and 1994, and the State of Illinois Collegiate Coach of the Year Award in 1997. In 1999 he was inducted into the State of Kansas Hall of Fame and selected to the NABC Silver Anniversary Team. An outstanding athlete at Kansas State, Kruger starred in both basketball and baseball and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Astros. Kruger and his wife, Barbara, have two children, Angie and Kevin, and reside in the Atlanta area.