UNLV Athletics Director Erick Harper has officially announced the release of Runnin’ Rebels head coach Kevin Kruger after four seasons with the team. During his tenure, Kruger compiled an overall record of 76-55 but was unable to lead the team to the NCAA tournament.
The Runnin’ Rebels concluded their season last Thursday in the Mountain West Tournament against Utah State, finishing with an overall record of 18-15 and an 11-9 conference record. This follows a season in which Coach Kruger guided the Rebels to the quarterfinals of the NIT postseason tournament.
With this change, UNLV will be searching for its 17th head coach this offseason. The Rebels have not participated in the NCAA tournament since 2013, when Dave Rice led the team.
In the coaching market, notable candidates include legendary Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery, who was released after 15 seasons, and Ben Johnson, who was let go after four seasons at Minnesota. While this is a brief list, a clearer picture of potential coaching options will likely emerge following March Madness.
