Kansas surpasses SEC schools in terms of the finest collegiate basketball and football coaching combination.

In the landscape of college athletics, few programs are as synonymous with success as the University of Kansas, particularly in basketball. For decades, Kansas has been a powerhouse in the sport, establishing a legacy of excellence that rivals the best in NCAA history. But recently, Kansas has begun to rival elite programs not only in basketball but also in football, with impressive developments in both coaching staff and overall program performance.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has long been the standard for college football excellence, with its powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Georgia, and LSU dominating the landscape. Yet, as we look at Kansas’ rise in both basketball and football, it’s hard not to consider the possibility that Kansas has surpassed many SEC programs in the quality of its combined coaching staff for both sports.

This article will examine how Kansas’ coaching setup in both basketball and football has evolved over the years and how it now stands as a contender, if not the best, in terms of the finest collegiate basketball and football coaching combination.

Kansas Basketball: The Foundation of Excellence

When talking about Kansas basketball, one must start with the legendary Bill Self. Self’s tenure at Kansas has been marked by consistency, success, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Since taking over as head coach in 2003, Self has transformed Kansas into a perennial powerhouse, with numerous Big 12 titles, Final Four appearances, and an NCAA Championship in 2008 to his name. Under his guidance, Kansas has maintained one of the top recruiting classes in the country, continually producing NBA talent while also developing a system that wins year in and year out.

Self’s ability to adapt his coaching style and innovate in an ever-evolving game is part of what makes him a standout. His commitment to both defensive intensity and fast-paced offense has kept Kansas at the forefront of college basketball. Self’s track record of success—multiple Big 12 titles, a national championship, and consistent NCAA Tournament appearances—puts him in a rare class of coaches who have sustained excellence over long periods.

In terms of coaching talent, Kansas has become a destination for assistant coaches who want to learn from one of the best. Self’s coaching tree has blossomed over the years, with many of his former assistants and players going on to successful coaching careers of their own.

Kansas Football: A Surprising Resurgence

While Kansas basketball has been a perennial powerhouse, the Jayhawks’ football program has not historically matched that level of success. However, recent developments under head coach Lance Leipold suggest that Kansas football is undergoing a significant resurgence. Since Leipold’s hiring in 2021, the program has shown marked improvement, and Kansas is beginning to challenge the higher-level programs in the Big 12, such as Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Leipold came to Kansas after an impressive tenure at Buffalo, where he turned a struggling program into a contender in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). His track record in developing players and winning at all levels of college football, including a national championship at the Division III level with Wisconsin-Whitewater, made him a perfect fit for the Kansas job. Under his leadership, Kansas has started to build a strong, competitive football team with a clear identity, and it has already begun to make waves in the Big 12 conference.

Leipold’s ability to recruit and develop players has already made a noticeable impact. Kansas’ football team, long considered an afterthought in the realm of college football, is now becoming relevant once again. Leipold’s approach focuses on building a strong foundation through solid recruiting, player development, and creating a competitive culture—attributes that have propelled Kansas to success. By developing a winning attitude, Leipold has quickly demonstrated that his program has the potential to compete with the best.

Combining Basketball and Football Success

What makes Kansas’ coaching staff unique is not just the individual success of Bill Self and Lance Leipold but their combined ability to elevate both sports simultaneously. The nature of college sports, particularly in the power conferences, is that many schools excel in one sport while often leaving the other to fall by the wayside. For instance, programs like Alabama and Georgia have become synonymous with success in football, but their basketball programs have often lagged behind. In contrast, Kansas has balanced a high level of success in both sports, which makes their overall coaching combination all the more impressive.

This dual excellence in basketball and football coaching sets Kansas apart from schools in the SEC, where football dominance tends to overshadow the importance or success of the basketball program. For example, while the SEC consistently dominates college football, its basketball programs (with notable exceptions like Kentucky) have historically struggled to maintain the same level of prominence. Kansas’ ability to sustain both a top-tier basketball program and a rapidly improving football program makes its coaching combination unmatched in recent years.

The SEC’s Football Domination and Basketball Struggles

The SEC has long been the gold standard for college football, with programs like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU consistently competing for national championships. These schools have built massive football empires with coaches like Nick Saban (Alabama), Kirby Smart (Georgia), and Ed Orgeron (LSU, formerly) at the helm. These programs dominate recruiting, national rankings, and bowl games year after year, earning their place at the top of college football.

However, when we look at the SEC’s basketball programs, the picture is less clear. While Kentucky has historically been a dominant force in men’s basketball, the other SEC schools have had a much more mixed record. Schools like Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State have struggled to maintain consistency at the top of the NCAA basketball landscape. Auburn and Alabama have had strong individual seasons but lack the sustained excellence that Kansas has exhibited in men’s basketball.

Furthermore, the SEC’s focus on football often leads to less emphasis on basketball, with resources and attention diverted toward football development. This has resulted in the SEC being seen as a football-first conference, with basketball success being more of a secondary goal for many of its programs.

In contrast, Kansas has consistently prioritized excellence in both sports. While the football program may not have the same history of dominance as Alabama, Kansas is rapidly closing the gap with its renewed focus on coaching and player development under Leipold. Meanwhile, Kansas’ basketball program continues to be one of the best in the country, under the leadership of Bill Self.

The Future of Kansas Athletics: A Model for Other Programs

As Kansas continues to grow in both basketball and football, the combination of outstanding coaching in both sports could become a model for other programs to follow. The key to success lies in Kansas’ ability to hire top-tier coaches who not only have expertise in their respective fields but also foster a culture of excellence across the athletic department. Both Bill Self and Lance Leipold have proven themselves to be highly capable leaders who know how to build successful, sustainable programs.

The ability to balance the needs of both basketball and football, two of the most demanding and high-profile collegiate sports, will continue to make Kansas a unique case in the world of college athletics. If Kansas continues to develop at the current rate, it’s possible that other schools, particularly in the SEC, may look to Kansas as a model for building successful programs in both sports.