| | Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Just after Lon Kruger was introduced as
the coach of the Atlanta Hawks, Illinois athletics director Ron
Guenther promised the school's players he would find a replacement
capable of leading them to an NCAA title.
"Everyone might be looking at this as having a new coach and
being in a reconstruction year, but I can't look at it that way,"
forward Sergio McClain said Thursday.
"This is my senior year. I was looking forward to winning a
national championship next year."
Guenther promised a speedy and expansive search for a coach. He
said he wants someone who has head coaching experience.
Players said they weren't expecting Kruger to leave before a
season when the Illini would return all five starters from a squad
that went 22-10 last season.
"It's a very scary situation, playing under coach Kruger ...
and then turning it over to a different system," McClain said.
"That's a delicate situation."
Kruger said he called as many of his Illinois players as he
could to tell them, adding that they were all supportive of his
decision. He planned to meet with his players Thursday night.
"They were great," said Kruger, who choked up a little when
asked about his Illinois players during his news conference in
Atlanta. "They made it easier than it could have been."
McClain and teammate Cory Bradford said no Illini are talking
about transferring because of Kruger's departure.
Guenther felt he had to take the rare step of addressing the
players as a group. None expressed ill will toward Kruger, who took
what is believed to be a five-year, $10-million deal from the
Hawks. Kruger earned $750,000 a year at Illinois, where he was
81-48 in four seasons.
Players said they hope to get a coach who will stick with the
up-tempo, defensive-style that Kruger employed.
"We're just going to leave that in Mr. Guenther's hands,"
Bradford said. | |
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