Kruger hires ORU assistant

By Mike Baldwin
NORMAN – Chris Crutchfield, an assistant at Oral Roberts the past four years, has been by hired by OU men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger, according to sources.
When he was introduced two weeks ago, Kruger said he wanted a proven recruiter with Texas and Oklahoma ties.
Crutchfield has 11 seasons in the two states, including seven years in Texas. He was on TCU coach Neil Dougherty’s two years and also spent four years at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
At Tyler, Crutchfield compiled a 35-28 record two seasons as head coach. Including two years as an assistant at Tyler, Crutchfield recruited and coached 20 players that went on to play Division I basketball, including two All-Americans.
Crutchfield joins Lew Hill and Steve Henson, two assistants Kruger brought with him from UNLV.
Reportedly a candidate for the Lamar head coach opening that went to former Texas Tech coach Pat Knight, Crutchfield has 10 years Division I experience.
In addition to four years at ORU under Scott Sutton and the two seasons at TCU, Crutchfield was on New Mexico State coach Lou Henson’s staff for four seasons, including two 20-win seasons.
Crutchfield began his career at Nebraska-Omaha, his alma mater. He spent one season as an assistant at Texas-San Antonio before moving on to Tyler Junior College.