Okay why not jump out ahead boldly. TJ has a couple interesting assistant coaches with him now at UNLV. I was surprised at the staff he put together. Two were voted top assistants in MWC their first year. Their experience would stack up well in any conference. Would they join him at ISU?
First up. None other than Kevin Kruger. Kruger, who was the point guard on UNLV's 2007 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team as a senior under his father, former Runnin' Rebel head coach and current Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger, returned to Las Vegas after spending three years as an assistant coach for the Sooners (2016-19). With Kevin on the coaching staff, Oklahoma made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Second is Tim Buckley.
Buckley served as a scout with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves for two years (2017-19) before joining the staff at UNLV. Prior to that, he was at Indiana under Tom Crean as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach.
During his nine years in Bloomington (2008-17), the Hoosiers were nationally ranked, won Big Ten championships, made multiple NCAA Tournament runs, recruited McDonald's All-Americans and developed All-Americans who went on the NBA, including 2013 National Player of the Year Victor Oladipo.
Third bench coach is Demarlo Slocum. Slocum, a Las Vegas native, came to UNLV after serving as an assistant coach at Utah for eight years (2011-19), which included multiple NCAA Tournaments and a total of seven postseason appearances. He was also instrumental in the development of three NBA First Round Draft Picks while at the Pac-12 school.
Slocum is an Eldorado High School graduate and was the head coach of the Las Vegas Prospects AAU team for five years. During his tenure, the Prospects were ranked among the top five AAU teams on the west coast. Slocum has worked at various collegiate basketball development camps across America, as well as the West Coast All-Star Camp and the Adidas Superstar Camp.
First up. None other than Kevin Kruger. Kruger, who was the point guard on UNLV's 2007 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team as a senior under his father, former Runnin' Rebel head coach and current Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger, returned to Las Vegas after spending three years as an assistant coach for the Sooners (2016-19). With Kevin on the coaching staff, Oklahoma made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Second is Tim Buckley.
Buckley served as a scout with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves for two years (2017-19) before joining the staff at UNLV. Prior to that, he was at Indiana under Tom Crean as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach.
During his nine years in Bloomington (2008-17), the Hoosiers were nationally ranked, won Big Ten championships, made multiple NCAA Tournament runs, recruited McDonald's All-Americans and developed All-Americans who went on the NBA, including 2013 National Player of the Year Victor Oladipo.
Third bench coach is Demarlo Slocum. Slocum, a Las Vegas native, came to UNLV after serving as an assistant coach at Utah for eight years (2011-19), which included multiple NCAA Tournaments and a total of seven postseason appearances. He was also instrumental in the development of three NBA First Round Draft Picks while at the Pac-12 school.
Slocum is an Eldorado High School graduate and was the head coach of the Las Vegas Prospects AAU team for five years. During his tenure, the Prospects were ranked among the top five AAU teams on the west coast. Slocum has worked at various collegiate basketball development camps across America, as well as the West Coast All-Star Camp and the Adidas Superstar Camp.
