There were obvious indicators that suggested he might one day end up becoming a basketball coach.
?Coaching,?? said Chris Kraus, ?is in my blood. My dad coached for a long time, and I always knew being a point guard and being a coach?s son that at one point or another, I?d be moving over to that profession.??
After six years as an assistant coach at three schools, the coach?s son and the former point guard from Markham, Ontario, is now in charge of his own Div. 2 men?s college basketball program.
Kraus has been hired as the head coach at Stonehill College, his alma mater, replacing Brockton native David McLaughlin, who left last month after bringing the Skyhawks to new heights to become the associate head coach at Northeastern University.
Seven years after helping Stonehill reach the semifinal round of the NCAA Div. 2 tournament for the first time as a senior point guard, the 30-year-old Kraus is the 14th coach in program history.
He was McLaughlin?s top assistant the past three seasons after working in Canada as an assistant at Acadia University for one year and Brandon University for two years.
?It?s unbelievably exciting to have this opportunity and be in this position,?? said Kraus on Tuesday afternoon. ?I?m humbled. I?m excited for the challenge and excited to be leading this program. It?s a dream come true for me.
?Dave has done an unbelievable job putting Stonehill on the map and getting it to the place where it is. I?m excited to keep the tradition going and keep it where it is and hopefully continue to grow and move it forward.??
Said director of athletics Brendan Sullivan: ?As an alumnus of Stonehill and the basketball program, I know Chris is committed to enhancing our success and I have complete confidence that Stonehill basketball with flourish under his guidance.??
Kraus played for his father, George, in high school at Markham District in Ontario, not far from Toronto.
The ability to learn from his father started Kraus on a path to coaching at an early age, then playing for and coaching with McLaughlin helped as well. The Skyhawks went back to the Final Four in 2012 with Kraus working for McLaughlin.
?Playing for my father over the years in high school, just watching him coach, he?s been a big mentor,?? said Kraus, whose mother, Mary, teaches golf. ?I?ve tried to model myself after him and what I?ve learned from him. He was a big, big influence.
?With Dave, having learned from him as a player, he was also my mentor not only when I coached the past three years but when I started coaching and asked for him advice and guidance.??
Kraus has an advantage with his new job after being in the program four years and being on the bench the past three season.
?We can keep the continuity and keep the family together,?? said Kraus. ?I think it?s a major advantage. Everyone is coming back. I know the system from the inside out.
?The guys know me. They trust me. They believe in me and I trust and believe in them. I think it?s a great partnership. We?re going to go through a lot of bumps and bruises, but I think we can grow and learn together and be very successful together.??
Kraus knew nothing about Stonehill when he was recruited by the basketball program more than a decade ago. He was looking to attend a school in the United States and play in the NCAA, and after making a visit to Stonehill, a match was made.
?Once I made my visit to campus, I knew this was the place for me,?? said Kraus, whose staff will include Mike Quinn and Patrick Lee and one other assistant. ?I fell in love with the school on my visit.
?It?s obviously been the right choice and a great place. Stonehill is my home now. I love it. I love and absolutely cherish this place.??
Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.
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