One of the most accomplished coaches in Kansas basketball history, along with one of the best athletes in BYU history, are set to receive one of the sport’s highest honors.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced Monday that former Kansas head coach Ted Owens, and former BYU standout Danny Ainge, will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. The induction ceremony is scheduled for October 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.
Ted Owens History
Owens, now 96 years old, spent 19 seasons leading the Jayhawks from 1964 to 1983, compiling a 348-182 record and establishing himself as one of the winningest coaches in program history. His 348 victories still rank fourth all-time at Kansas, trailing only Bill Self, Phog Allen and Roy Williams.
During his tenure in Lawrence, Owens guided Kansas to six Big Eight regular-season championships, eight Big Eight Holiday Tournament titles and one conference postseason tournament crown. The Jayhawks reached postseason play seven times under his leadership, highlighted by Final Four appearances in 1971 and 1974. Kansas also advanced to the championship game of the National Invitation Tournament in 1968.
Current Kansas coach Bill Self praised Owens following the announcement, calling the honor long overdue and noting the impact Owens has had on the game and generations of former players. Self also highlighted Owens’ reputation as an unselfish leader and mentor who remains deeply connected to the athletes he coached.
Before taking over at Kansas, Owens built a successful coaching career at Cameron State Junior College in Oklahoma, posting a 93-24 record in four seasons. He joined Kansas as an assistant under Dick Harp in 1960 and was promoted to head coach in 1964.
Owens was a five-time Big Eight Coach of the Year and earned National Coach of the Year honors from Basketball Weekly in 1978. He coached several Kansas legends, including All-Americans Jo Jo White, Darnell Valentine, Dave Robisch, Bud Stallworth and Walter Wesley.
Danny Ainge to Join College Basketball Hall of Fame
Former BYU star Danny Ainge will join Owens in this year’s class as well. Ainge remains one of the greatest athletes ever produced by BYU. During his four-year career in Provo from 1977-81, Ainge developed into a national superstar, leading the Cougars to three NCAA Tournament appearances while becoming one of the most dynamic guards in the country.
His signature moment came during the 1981 NCAA Tournament when he went coast-to-coast through the entire Notre Dame defense for a dramatic game-winning layup, a play that remains one of the most iconic highlights in NCAA Tournament history. Ainge capped that season by winning the prestigious John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s top college basketball player.
What made Ainge’s accomplishment even more remarkable was that he excelled as a two-sport star. While starring for BYU basketball, he was also a professional baseball player in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, making him one of the rare athletes able to thrive at elite levels in multiple sports.
Following his time at BYU, Ainge enjoyed a successful 14-year NBA career, winning two championships with the Boston Celtics and later becoming one of the league’s most respected executives. Yet his impact on BYU basketball remains unparalleled. More than four decades after leaving Provo, Ainge is still widely regarded as one of the greatest players in program history.
Now, the former Cougar joins college basketball immortality as a member of the 2026 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class alongside Owens, Jay Wright, Tubby Smith, Glen Rice and Walt Hazzard.
