KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026, honoring three legendary players and three iconic coaches whose collegiate careers represent the highest levels of achievement in the history of the game.
The class includes national championship coaches Jay Wright and Tubby Smith, longtime Kansas coach Ted Owens, BYU superstar Danny Ainge, Michigan scoring ace Glen Rice and the late UCLA legend Walt Hazzard.
Each induction class is selected by the Blue Ribbon Selection Committee, comprised of college basketball executives and respected leaders around the country, and administered by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Foundation.
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Celebration presented by UMB Private Wealth Management on Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri.
“The Class of 2026 represents the very best of college basketball—individuals whose performance, leadership, and impact helped shape the game at the highest level,” said Kevin Henderson, CEO of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. “Their legacies will forever be preserved as part of the sport’s rich history.”
This year marks the 20th class to be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. It started in 2006 with a historic group of honorees featuring John Wooden, Dean Smith, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell.
COACH INDUCTEES
Ted Owens – Kansas and Oral Roberts
A pillar of college basketball in the Midwest, Ted Owens led the University of Kansas for 19 seasons from 1964-83 and established himself as a consistent winner at one of the proudest programs in the sport.
Owens guided the Jayhawks to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including Final Four runs in 1971 and 1974, and six Big Eight Conference championships. He earned multiple Big Eight Coach of the Year honors during his tenure and was recognized as a national coach of the year in 1978.
Following his tenure at Kansas, Owens served as the head coach at Oral Roberts University from 1985-87.
Tubby Smith – Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Memphis and High Point One of the most accomplished and respected coaches in college basketball history, Tubby Smith built a remarkable career spanning more than three decades and seven Division I programs.
Smith’s career was highlighted by leading Kentucky to the 1998 national championship in his first season with the Wildcats. He guided five different programs to the NCAA Tournament and earned national and conference coaching honors throughout his career.
Known for his leadership, player development, and sustained success, Smith compiled nearly 650 victories during his distinguished head-coaching career.
Jay Wright – Hofstra and Villanova
One of the premier college basketball coaches of his generation, Jay Wright began his head coaching career with a successful run at Hofstra from 1994-2001 before transforming Villanova into a national powerhouse during his 21 seasons leading the Wildcats.
Wright guided Villanova to national championships in 2016 and 2018 and four Final Four appearances. Under his leadership, the Wildcats became one of the nation’s most consistently successful programs, winning 13 combined Big East regular-season and tournament titles.
Wright earned numerous national and conference coaching honors throughout his career and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
PLAYER INDUCTEES
Danny Ainge – BYU
Known for his prolific scoring and positional versatility, Danny Ainge starred at Brigham Young University from 1977-81 and became one of the program’s most decorated players.
Ainge is perhaps best remembered for his coast-to-coast drive and game-winning layup against Notre Dame in the 1981 NCAA Tournament, sending BYU to the Elite Eight. As a senior, he averaged 24.4 points per game and won the Wooden Award as the nation’s outstanding player.
Ainge finished his brilliant collegiate career with 2,467 points and scored in double figures in 112 consecutive games, a record at the time.
Walt Hazzard (Deceased) – UCLA
A foundational figure in UCLA’s early dynasty under legendary head coach John Wooden, Walt Hazzard was a gifted scorer, floor general, and leader for the Bruins from 1961-64.
As a senior, Hazzard helped lead UCLA to a perfect 30–0 season and the program’s first national championship. He earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and was named the USBWA National Player of the Year and Helms Foundation Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Hazzard also represented the United States at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a gold medal.
Glen Rice – Michigan
One of the greatest scorers in college basketball history, Glen Rice starred at the University of Michigan from 1985-89 and helped lead the Wolverines to the 1989 national championship.
Rice delivered one of the best individual performances in NCAA Tournament history during Michigan’s title run, scoring a tournament-record 184 points across six games and earning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. He scored 31 points in Michigan’s overtime victory over Seton Hall in the national championship game.
As a senior, Rice averaged 25.6 points per game, earned consensus second-team All-American honors, and was named Big Ten Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career as Michigan’s all-time leading scorer with 2,442 points.
CLASS OF 2026 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Ted Owens (Coach)
- Schools: Kansas (1964-83), Oral Roberts (1985-87)
- Career Record: 369-217 (.630)
- Two Final Four appearances (1971, 1974)
- Six Big Eight Conference championships
- Four-time Big Eight Coach of the Year
- Seven NCAA Tournament appearances
- 1978 Basketball Weekly National Coach of the Year
Tubby Smith (Coach)
- Schools: Tulsa (1991-95), Georgia (1995-97), Kentucky (1997-2007), Minnesota (2007-13), Texas Tech (2013-16), Memphis (2016-18), High Point (2018-22)
- Career Record: 642-370 (.634)
- 1998 NCAA National Champion
- 2003 Naismith College Coach of the Year, AP College Basketball Coach of the Year, NABC Coach of the Year, and USBWA Henry Iba Award
- Five-time SEC regular-season champion
- Five-time SEC Tournament champion
- Three-time SEC Coach of the Year
- Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year
- 2016 Big 12 Coach of the Year
- Led five different programs to the NCAA Tournament
Jay Wright (Coach)
- Schools: Hofstra (1994-2001), Villanova (2001-22)
- Career Record: 642-282 (.695)
- Two-time NCAA National Champion (2016, 2018)
- Four Final Four appearances
- Two-time Naismith College Coach of the Year
- Six-time Big East Coach of the Year
- Eight Big East regular-season championships
- Five Big East Tournament championships
- Two America East regular-season championships
- Two America East Tournament championships
Danny Ainge (Player)
- College: BYU (1977-81)
- Career Statistics: 20.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.6 APG
- 1981 John R. Wooden Award Winner
- 1981 NABC National Player of the Year
- Consensus First-Team All-American
- 1981 WAC Player of the Year
- Four-time First-Team All-WAC selection
- 2,467 career points
Walt Hazzard (Player)
- College: UCLA (1961-64)
- Career Statistics: 16.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG
- 1964 NCAA National Champion
- 1964 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- 1964 USBWA National Player of the Year
- 1964 Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year
- Two-time Consensus First-Team All-American
- 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist
Glen Rice (Player)
- College: Michigan (1985-89)
- Career Statistics: 18.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 APG
- 1989 NCAA National Champion
- 1989 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- 1989 Big Ten Player of the Year
- 1989 Consensus Second-Team All-American
- Michigan’s all-time leading scorer with 2,442 career points
- Selected No. 4 overall in the 1989 NBA Draft
About the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates the history, tradition, and lasting impact of college basketball. Located adjacent to the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, it honors the players, coaches, and contributors who helped shape the game at the highest level. Through annual induction ceremonies, exhibits, and educational programs, the Hall of Fame shares the stories behind unforgettable moments, championship teams, and influential leaders.The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is housed within the College Basketball Experience, an interactive fan destination where visitors can explore hands-on exhibits, test their skills on the court, and learn about the history and traditions of the game.
