Kruger shares secrets of success in new book

Wonder why UNLV basketball head coach Lon Kruger isn’t yelling at his players? It’s probably because he’s too busy yelling at you in his new book, “The Xs and Os of Success.”

Written alongside friend D.J. Allen, Kruger lays out a game plan for success in business using the same philosophies that took the Runnin’ Rebels into the NCAA Tournament and beyond.

Though Kruger doesn’t shy away from the typical basketball clichés, his lessons are just as unique as his presentation. Every lesson starts with a “Pre-Game,” where Kruger introduces his idea in the general context of basketball. That usually involves Kruger beginning at a program and installing his philosophy and how he’d best explain it to his new set of coaches and players.

Lon Kruger wants everyone to succeed with his new book, even Mountain West Conference referees. Photo by Devin Loretz

The lesson moves to the “Game Time” section as Kruger details a real life scenario in his coaching career that utilized his philosophy. Sports is often a metaphor for this as he explains that you can’t see things through a fan’s eyes, and that you can’t be prepared for March if you’re not preparing to get better for each game in November.

In the “Post-Game” round up, Kruger explains what this means to a business person and its real life integration. Maybe you replace fans with stockholders or, if you’re in a more cutthroat scenario, girlfriends.

It doesn’t matter if you’re coming off a 20-loss lifetime streak, Kruger can get you into the NCAA Tournament of Life (but instead of winning a trophy, you’re rewarded with a trophy wife). And with 40 lessons, the book may be more valuable than your UNLV education (or it may replace it after the latest budget cuts).

Some of Kruger’s lessons are simple: compete for results. Others sound a bit unfamiliar – like living life backwards – but they’re rooted in the same philosophy of success that helped Kruger create championship mentalities at Kansas State, Florida, Illinois and UNLV.

The book isn’t without its shortcomings. In no way does it prepare you for a one-on-one with Wink Adams or explain how Curtis Terry wasn’t relegated to the bench after missing 30-foot 3-pointers (though that chapter on ‘The Failure Cycle’ has his name written all over it).

Instead it’s a solid set of life lessons from a man who has succeeded in the basketball world, who got there through his sound business ideas.