The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame has revealed that Ted Owens, who led the Kansas Jayhawks for 19 seasons, will be inducted as part of its 2026 class. He will join a distinguished group of honorees that includes former Villanova coach Jay Wright, longtime coach Tubby Smith, and former college stars Danny Ainge, Glen Rice and Walt Hazzard.
Hall of Fame Class Highlights
Owens’ coaching career at Kansas spanned from 1964 to 1983, during which the team captured six Big Eight regular‑season championships, eight Holiday Tournament titles and one conference tournament championship, and reached the Final Four in 1971 and 1974.
Current Kansas head coach Bill Self praised Owens, noting that his impact on the program and on individual players remains a cornerstone of the university’s basketball tradition.
Throughout his tenure, Owens coached five All‑Americans — Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth and Walter Wesley — and was honored five times as Big Eight Coach of the Year, earning National Coach of the Year accolades from Basketball Weekly in 1978.
The 2026 induction class underscores the Hall’s commitment to celebrating diverse contributions, from pioneering coaches to standout players whose careers helped shape the sport’s evolution.