Kansas basketball legend joins Jayhawks Big 12 foe as assistant coach

While hundreds of terrific players have competed under the Allen Fieldhouse lights for the Kansas basketball program, former Jayhawk Danny Manning left an impact that very few could replicate. He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished players in school history, winning the Wooden Award and leading KU to a national title in 1988.

Manning served in an assistant role for nine years under HC Bill Self, working with the team's big men among his other duties on the staff. He has since landed multiple jobs around college basketball, but his recent hiring might sting Kansas fans the most. The former top pick of the NBA Draft will head to Boulder to join the Colorado Buffaloes as an assistant coach.

Kansas basketball great Danny Manning takes on assistant role at Colorado

After a two-year stint at Louisville, Manning found a new home at one of the new schools in the Big 12. Colorado will rejoin the conference this upcoming athletic season, and he will be a part of their return. Former KU point guard Tad Boyle, who was a senior when Manning entered Lawrence as a freshman, is CU's coach. 

Coming off a 26-11 season and a second-round exit, the Buffs added Manning for a player development role. He has plenty of experience around college basketball, serving as the HC at Tulsa and Wake Forest for a combined eight years. The Mississippi native also coached half of a season for Maryland after Mark Turgeon stepped down.

Manning is arguably the best player in Kansas basketball history. He spent four years with the Jayhawks, appearing in 147 games and averaging 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. The three-time Big 8 POY led a miracle run in March Madness to help capture KU and Larry Brown a championship. 

Seeing Manning on the sidelines of a different school than Kansas in the Fieldhouse next season will certainly be odd to see. Many fans wanted Manning to come back to help Hunter Dickinson improve, but he will find himself West of Kansas instead.