Kansas basketball: Ranking the top coaches in program history
No. 1: Dr. Phog Allen (1907–1909, 1919–1956)
Known as the “Father Of Basketball Coaching,” Phog Allen is still the greatest coach in Kansas basketball history. He coached at Kansas for nearly 40 years until he was forced into retirement due to his age. Here are a few of Allen’s stats:
- 590–219 record
- 1 NCAA Championship
- 2 Retroactive Helms national championships
- 2-time national runner-up
- 3 Final Fours
- 24 MVIAA, Big 6, and Big 7 titles
Allen still has the most wins as a head coach in Kansas basketball history with, Bill Self closing the gap. Self still has 90 wins to go though as of April 2020.
Jayhawks like Paul Endacott, Clyde Lovellette, Charlie Black, Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith, Dutch Lonborg, and Bob Dole all played under Allen, some of which went on to become hall of fame coaches themselves.
Allen has been immortalized multiple ways at Kansas. From “Allen” Fieldhouse and his statue outside to the “Pay Heed” banner that hangs in the rafters, it’s not hard to see how much influence Phog has had on the program. He’s the reason that Kansas became a blue blood program, and for that reason, he’s the No. 1 coach in Kansas basketball history.
more. Projecting next season's starting 5. light
All eight of these coaches helped make Kansas the powerhouse it is today. As one of the most prestigious blue blood programs in the country, KU will always be a premier coaching destination.