Former Kansas coach Ted Owens elected to College Basketball Hall of Fame
Former Kansas men’s basketball coach Ted Owens has been selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Foundation announced Monday.
Owens is one of three coaches in this year’s class, joining Jay Wright and Tubby Smith. The six-member Class of 2026 also includes former college stars Danny Ainge (BYU), Glen Rice (Michigan), and the late Walt Hazzard (UCLA).
The inductees were chosen by the Blue Ribbon Selection Committee, a panel of college basketball leaders and administrators, with the selection process overseen by the NABC.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri.
Owens leaves lasting legacy at Kansas
Owens spent 19 seasons as Kansas’ head coach from 1963 to 1984, compiling a 348-182 record and a .657 winning percentage. His 348 victories rank fourth in program history, trailing only Bill Self, Phog Allen, and Roy Williams.
During his tenure, Owens guided the Jayhawks to six Big Eight Conference championships and earned Big Eight Coach of the Year honors five times. He also led Kansas to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including Final Four runs in 1971 and 1974.
Current Kansas head coach Bill Self celebrated the announcement on social media, writing, “Couldn’t be happier for my great friend! Well deserved.”
Owens coached several Kansas legends, including Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth, and Walt Wesley, all of whom have had their jerseys retired at Allen Fieldhouse.
His induction places him among an elite group of Jayhawk greats already enshrined in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, including Danny Manning, Clyde Lovellette, Dean Smith, and Phog Allen. Owens also becomes the sixth of Kansas’ eight head coaches to earn Hall of Fame recognition.
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