Head men’s basketball coach Jack Murphy is proud to announce the hiring of Kevin Kruger to his coaching staff for the upcoming 2014-15 season.

"I’d like to thank Coach Murphy for the opportunity to work at Northern Arizona," said Kruger. "Big things are happening here at NAU and I’m happy to be a part of it. I can’t wait to be a part of the NAU takeover."

Kruger spent last season on the Oklahoma men’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant under his father and OU head coach Lon Kruger. Kevin Kruger’s hiring marks as a return to the Grand Canyon State as he played three seasons for Arizona State from 2003-06. After earning his degree from ASU, Kruger transferred to UNLV to play for his father Lon, who was the UNLV head coach prior to moving to Oklahoma. In his one season at UNLV in 2006-07, Kruger helped the Rebels reach the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. He earned All-Mountain West Third Team honors, and all-tournament team accolades.

"Kevin is coming to us after a one-year stint at Oklahoma as a graduate assistant, and a stellar collegiate and professional career," said Murphy. "He’s a great addition to our staff and I know he will fit right in to the Lumberjack way."

Kruger was named an honorable mention All-Pac-10 and second team NABC District 15 selection in his third and final season at Arizona State. Also a Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honoree, Kruger left the Sun Devils fourth in career free throw percentage, fifth all-time in three-pointers made and attempted and seventh in three-point percentage.

Kruger had professional basketball stints in Bulgaria, Italy, China, Mexico, Belgium and Germany in addition to training camp invitations with the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks. He also played with the Utah Flash and Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Developmental League before landing his graduate assistant role with Oklahoma.

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