Former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino to be inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

Over the lifespan of Kansas football, the Mark Mangino era was one of the most successful in program history – one that reached new expectations, new heights, and brought lasting memories to a generation of Jayhawk fans.

Now, the former head coach is being recognized for his contributions to KU and the state of Kansas.

Mangino was recently announced as one of 12 individuals to be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class this fall.

After serving seven years as the man in charge of Kansas football from 2002 to 2009, he finished with a 50-48 record and four bowl game appearances – winning three of them.

The first bowl win came in 2005 when the Jayhawks defeated Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl. It was the first bowl win the KU football program had seen in 10 years (1995).

The next came following perhaps the greatest season in Kansas football history in 2007 when the Jayhawks went 11-1 in Big 12 play and were once ranked as high as the No. 2 team in the country before falling to No.3 Missouri in arguably the biggest Border War matchup between the two schools in their storied rivalry.

That season culminated in a 2008 Orange Bowl appearance where the Jayhawks defeated No. 5 Virginia Tech – a game that will live forever as one of the greatest moments in KU sports history.

Mangino was named the 2007 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year, along with several other national coaching honors.

Mangino would then lead the Jayhawks to back-to-back bowl wins after defeating Minnesota later that year in the 2008 Insight Bowl.

Mangino – already a member of the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame – will be joined by several other former Jayhawk coaches and athletes in the 2024 class.

Dave Bingham – Former KU baseball coach (1988-1995) who led the Jayhawks to their one and only College World Series appearance in program history in 1993. Like Mangino, Bingham is already a member of the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame, and he is also an active member of the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ron Neugent – Former All-American swimmer at KU who was also a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. He has as 15 top-10 U.S. Masters Swimming performances to his name.

Kelly Rankin – Former KU baseball and track and field athlete who served as head track and field starter for two NCAA Indoor Championships; eight NCAA Outdoor Championships; and two Olympic Games (1984 and 1996). He is the only American to be selected as head starter for two Olympic Games.

Scott Russell – Former KU track and field star who was a six-time All-American and two-time NCAA national champion. In 2001, Russell set a school record in javelin with a throw of 267-11 feet and later set a Kansas Relays javelin record with a throw of 268-11. He was named 2002 Big 12 Conference Outdoor Performer of the Year.

Mark Turgeon – Former KU basketball player from Topeka, Kansas, who played alongside Danny Manning in the 1986 Final Four. He was a Big Eight All-Freshman selection and was the first KU basketball player to play in four NCAA Tournaments. He would later become an assistant coach at his alma mater (19871992) where he helped the Jayhawks win the 1988 NCAA Championship.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Oct. 13 in Topeka. Tickets are on sale now.