KU Basketball: Ranking Jayhawks Eight Head Coaches All-Time
By Joel Wagler
KU Basketball Head Coach Rankings Number Seven: Dr. James Naismith
Here’s the unfair part. Harp is ranked below the only head coach in KU basketball history with a losing record. That’s right, with a record of 55-60, Dr. James Maismith won only 47.8 percent of his games.
Still, it is hard to rank the guy who first hung his peach baskets from a ten-foot balcony as the worst coach in school history.
Naismith operated under the belief that basketball was a game to be played and not coached. From his record, it appears he coached that way, too. In his nine seasons, the first nine in school history, Naismith had seven losing campaigns.
He has to be given credit, though, at least partially, for instilling a love of the game in Phog Allen, and mentoring a young John McClendon. These two coaches helped the growth and evolution of the game as much as any two men in the history of the game, may be outside of only Naismith himself.
Argue Harp being ranked below Naismith if you want. If you base your opinion strictly on coaching accomplishments alone, then Harp will rank ahead of the good doctor.
If you base your decision on importance his contribution to the game and launching the program at Kansas, Naismith deserves to be ranked higher.
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