KU Basketball: Ranking Jayhawks Eight Head Coaches All-Time
By Joel Wagler
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c0464f53aa65ee429156c1363eb10b0910e5b99028138d06481e3c32fa2701ee.jpg)
Rock Chalk, Jayhawk. Go KU!
The KU basketball program is arguably the most influential in the history of the game. Schools such as Kentucky, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Oregon State can trace the roots of their success back to Kansas and Phog Allen.
If you list the coaches that have historically had a major impact on the sport in the way of victories, many of the best can be tied to Kansas.
- Dean Smith – 879 Wins (fourth all-time) – played at Kansas
- Adolph Rupp – 876 Wins (sixth all-time) – played at Kansas
- Roy Williams – 757 Wins (13th all-time) – coached at Kansas
- Phog Allen – 719 Wins (17th all-time) – played and coached at Kansas
- Ralph Miller – 674 Wins (23rd all-time) – played at Kansas
- Bill Self – 565 Wins (39th all-time) – coaches at Kansas
- Ted Owens – 369 Wins (152nd all-time) – coached at Kansas
- John McClendon – 496 Wins (small schools) – attended Kansas
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Coaches like John Calipari (642 wins, 26th all-time, assistant coach), Kevin Stallings (442 wins, 89th all-time, assistant coach), and Mark Turgeon (344 wins, 177th all-time, player) have roots at Kansas.
The fact that only eight men have been the head coach for KU basketball program, in the span of 117 years, is almost unbelievable. There have been 18 coaches at North Carolina in 105 years (but just five since 1952). There have been 22 coaches at Kentucky in 112 years (but just seven since 1930).
Eight! Just eight at Kansas in 117 years. Is there a better job to have than the head coach for KU basketball? It doesn’t seem likely.
Next: Best Ball Carriers in KU Football History
Rock Chalk, Jayhawk. Go KU!