ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks said Thursday they have hired Lon Kruger as their new coach and will introduce him at a news conference.
Kruger, who led Illinois to the second round of the NCAA tournament in March, met with Hawks executives in Atlanta on Wednesday and was hired by general manager Pete Babcock to replace Lenny Wilkens, who resigned last month after a dismal 28-54 season.Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche declined to discuss Kruger's contract length or terms, but published reports say he will receive a five-year deal worth $10 million.
Unlike Tom Izzo, who led Michigan State to the national championship and was courted by the Hawks but turned the job down, Kruger is not readily seen as a college coach who might find success in the NBA.
That doesn't bother Babcock.
"If I have to take some hits, I will," the GM told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"It's my responsibility to make the right decision for our franchise. I can't worry about whether it's a popular one," Babcock said. "I wanted to go outside the box and hire someone who has a blue-collar ethic and who could establish longevity."
Kruger said his interest in the professional game -- as opposed to college basketball -- has been more from the perspective of a fan.
"You zero on teams you know, coaches you know or when you know players," he told the Journal-Constitution. "But I have noted the two games are becoming more similar each year. NBA is having a strong influence on the college game with pick-and-roll stuff, the basis of the triple post."
Kruger told the (Champaign, Ill.) News-Gazette on Tuesday he did not want the job, but the newspaper reported he changed his mind after late-night talks with Babcock.
Kruger has a record of 318-223 in 18 years at Texas-Pan American, Kansas State, Florida and Illinois. He took the Gators to the Final Four in 1994 and was 71-48 in four years with the Illini.