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Former Kansas men’s basketball coach Ted Owens is finally receiving one of the sport’s highest honors. The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced Monday that Owens will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.
Owens coached the Jayhawks for 19 seasons from 1964-83, compiling a 348-182 record that still ranks fourth in program history behind Bill Self, Phog Allen and Roy Williams. During his tenure, Kansas captured six Big Eight regular-season championships, eight Big Eight Holiday Tournament titles and one conference tournament championship while advancing to the NCAA Tournament seven times.
His best postseason runs came in 1971 and 1974 when the Jayhawks reached the Final Four. Current Kansas coach Bill Self said the recognition has been a long time coming.
“We’re all so happy for Coach to receive this honor,” Self said in a press release. “In my opinion, it’s been overdue. Considering not only what he did for his respective employers, what he has done for the game overall has been terrific.”
Self also praised Owens’ impact away from the court.
“I have become very close friends with Coach and he’s one of the most unselfish leaders I’ve ever been around,” Self said. “I don’t know that I’ve ever met a coach who is as proud of his past players as Coach is. I am so happy for him, and I can’t wait to celebrate with him and his family.”
Owens coached five Kansas All-Americans during his career — Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth and Walter Wesley — all of whom have had their jerseys retired by the program. He was also a five-time Big Eight Coach of the Year and earned National Coach of the Year honors from Basketball Weekly in 1978.
Owens joins an accomplished 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes former Villanova coach Jay Wright, longtime coach Tubby Smith and former college stars Danny…
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Publish date : 2026-07-14 13:00:00
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