Former Kansas head coach Ted Owens spent nearly two decades building one of college basketball's premier programs, yet one accolade always seemed strangely absent from his remarkable resume.
That changed Monday.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced that Owens will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, finally giving one of the sport's most respected coaches the recognition many believed should have come years ago.
Current Kansas head coach Bill Self certainly feels that way.
"In my opinion, it's been overdue," Self said following the announcement.
At 96 years old, Owens will officially join college basketball immortality when he's inducted on Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City alongside former Villanova coach Jay Wright, former Kentucky national championship coach Tubby Smith, Michigan legend Glen Rice, BYU great Danny Ainge and UCLA star Walt Hazzard.
Ted Owens helped bridge generations of Kansas basketball
Owens often gets overshadowed simply because of the legendary names surrounding him in Kansas history. He's fourth on the school's all-time wins list behind Phog Allen, Roy Williams and Bill Self, three coaches whose accomplishments place them among the greatest in college basketball history.
That shouldn't diminish what Owens accomplished during his own 19-year tenure in Lawrence.
After taking over the program in 1964, Owens compiled a 348-182 record while leading Kansas to six Big Eight regular-season championships, one conference tournament title and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
His teams reached the Final Four twice, advancing to the national semifinals in both 1971 and 1974, while his 1968 squad finished as National Invitation Tournament runner-up.
Owens didn't simply keep Kansas relevant, he ensured the Jayhawks remained one of college basketball's flagship programs during a pivotal era.
Bill Self calls Hall of Fame selection "overdue"
No endorsement carries more weight than one from the current Kansas coach.
Self didn't hesitate to describe Owens' induction as long overdue while also highlighting the impact he continues to have on those around the program.
"We're all so happy for Coach to receive this honor," Self said. "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' character, saying he is "one of the most unselfish leaders" he's ever been around and someone who remains incredibly proud of every player he coached.
Those relationships remain one of Owens' lasting legacies.
The players tell the story of Owens' impact
Championships and victories only tell part of the story.
Owens coached five Kansas All-Americans, Jo Jo White, Walter Wesley, Bud Stallworth, Dave Robisch and Darnell Valentine. Every one of those players eventually had his jersey retired by the Jayhawks.
His coaching peers recognized his excellence throughout his career as well.
Owens captured Big Eight Coach of the Year honors five times and was named National Coach of the Year by Basketball Weekly in 1978.
Before arriving at Kansas, he also built Cameron State Junior College into a national power, posting a 93-24 record in four seasons and even leading the school's baseball program to an NJCAA national championship in 1958.
A fitting addition to the Hall of Fame
The 2026 Hall of Fame class is filled with household names.
Jay Wright won two national championships at Villanova. Tubby Smith captured a title at Kentucky. Danny Ainge became one of BYU's greatest athletes before starring in the NBA. Glen Rice led Michigan to the 1989 NCAA championship, while Walt Hazzard left an unforgettable legacy at UCLA.
Ted Owens belongs comfortably alongside each of them.
Kansas has produced some of the greatest coaches and players the sport has ever seen, and Owens helped preserve that tradition during one of the program's most important stretches.
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