Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
10th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Les Miles (2019–2020).
| Season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 2-10 | 6-7 | 9-4 | 5-7 | 5-7 | 3-5 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | W bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #52 | #114 | #73 | #43 | #72 | #61 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 42.2 | 45.4 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 44.7 | 41.4 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||
| OC | Andy Kotelnicki | Andy Kotelnicki | Andy Kotelnicki / Jim Zebrowski | Jeff Grimes / Jim Zebrowski | Jim Zebrowski / Matt Lubick | Jim Zebrowski / Matt Lubick | |
| DC | Brian Borland | Brian Borland | Brian Borland | Brian Borland / D. K. McDonald | D. K. McDonald | D. K. McDonald | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 20 | 91 | 97 | 94 | 68 | 56 | |
| Defense | 1 | 3 | 45 | 29 | 11 | 71 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 35.3 | 44.9 | 33.7 | 40.6 | 38.0 | 41.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 35.8 | 40.3 | 33.0 | 27.3 | 33.0 | 35.1 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 41.2 | 44.7 | 38.2 | 32.1 | 44.8 | 50.0 | |
Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.
7 NFL Draft picks: Kyron Johnson (2022), Dominick Puni (2024), Austin Booker (2024), Devin Neal (2025), Bryce Cabeldue (2025), Enrique Cruz Jr. (2026), Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (2026)
AI Narratives — “Kansas's 2025 season ends on a three-game skid” and 2 more on the team page.
16th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Charlie Weis (2012–2014) · succeeded by Les Miles (2019–2020).
| Season | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 0-12 | 2-10 | 1-11 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #73 | #70 | #71 | #60 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 50.4 | 53.4 | 54.1 | 48.2 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | Rob Likens | Rob Likens | Doug Meacham | Doug Meacham | |
| DC | Clint Bowen / Kenny Perry | Clint Bowen / Kenny Perry | Clint Bowen / Kenny Perry | Clint Bowen | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 2 | 4 | 3 | 23 | |
| Defense | 4 | 53 | 23 | 35 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.1 | 54.3 | 49.2 | 39.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 36.4 | 48.6 | 43.7 | 46.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 42.9 | 35.7 | 36.6 | 21.2 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
1 NFL Draft pick: Dorance Armstrong Jr. (2018)
14th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Turner Gill (2010–2011) · succeeded by David Beaty (2015–2018).
| Season | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 1-11 | 3-9 | 2-2 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #81 | #49 | #50 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 35.9 | 39.9 | 44.7 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | — | — | Eric Kiesau / John Reagan (1st season; first 7 games) | |
| DC | — | — | Clint Bowen / Dave Campo | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 18 | 0 | 15 | |
| Defense | 4 | 54 | 21 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 30.9 | 35.3 | 41.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 39.2 | 33.9 | 37.7 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 48.9 | 29.7 | 30.6 | |
4 NFL Draft picks: Tanner Hawkinson (2013), Ben Heeney (2015), JaCorey Shepherd (2015), Dexter McDonald (2015)
4th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Terry Allen (1997–2001) · succeeded by Turner Gill (2010–2011).
| Season | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 2-10 | 6-7 | 4-7 | 7-5 | 6-6 | 12-1 | 8-5 | 5-7 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | W bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | #52 | #41 | #39 | #50 | #43 | #45 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | 52.6 | 48.2 | 45.3 | 48.1 | 52.8 | 57.2 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | 1 | 11 | 36 | 84 | 80 | 81 | |
| Defense | — | — | 80 | 86 | 73 | 85 | 35 | 39 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | 44.8 | 34.9 | 34.4 | 40.4 | 46.3 | 55.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | 50.7 | 42.2 | 38.4 | 55.6 | 47.3 | 53.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | 35.5 | 25.0 | 17.9 | 25.0 | 34.4 | 32.7 | |
9 NFL Draft picks: Adrian Jones (2004), David McMillan (2005), Aqib Talib (2008), Anthony Collins (2008), Derek Fine (2008), Marcus Henry (2008), Darrell Stuckey (2010), Kerry Meier (2010) + 1 more
9th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Glen Mason (1988–1996) · succeeded by Tom Hayes (2001).
4 NFL Draft picks: Ron Warner (1998), Moran Norris (2001), Nate Dwyer (2002), Justin Hartwig (2002)
7th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Bob Valesente (1986–1987) · succeeded by Terry Allen (1997–2001).
| Season | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||||
| Record | 1-10 | 4-7 | 3-7-1 | 6-5 | 8-4 | 5-7 | 6-5 | 10-2 | 4-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | W bowl | — | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
9 NFL Draft picks: Chris Perez (1992), Dana Stubblefield (1993), Gilbert Brown (1993), Chris Maumalanga (1994), Gerald McBurrows (1995), Hessley Hempstead (1995), Ronnie Ward (1997), June Henley (1997) + 1 more
12th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Don Fambrough (1979–1982) · succeeded by Bob Valesente (1986–1987).
7 NFL Draft picks: Paul Fairchild (1984), Bruce Kallmeyer (1984), Renwick Atkins (1984), Alvin Walton (1986), Lynn Williams (1986), Mike Norseth (1986), Johnny Holloway (1986)
6th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Pepper Rodgers (1967–1970) · succeeded by Bud Moore (1975–1978) · returned in 1979 · succeeded by Mike Gottfried (1983–1985).
| Season | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 4-7 | 4-7 | 7-4-1 | 4-7 | 3-8 | 4-5-2 | 8-4 | 2-7-2 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | — | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
19 NFL Draft picks: Bob Childs (1972), Steve Conley (1972), Roger Bernhardt (1973), Gery Palmer (1973), Don Goode (1974), Delvin Williams (1974), Mitch Sutton (1974), David Jaynes (1974) + 11 more
2nd-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Don Fambrough (1971–1974) · succeeded by Don Fambrough (1979–1982).
| Season | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 7-5 | 6-5 | 3-7-1 | 1-10 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | |
14 NFL Draft picks: Kurt Knoff (1976), Eddie Lewis (1976), Dave Scott (1976), Steve Taylor (1976), Mike Butler (1977), Nolan Cromwell (1977), Terry Beeson (1977), Laverne Smith (1977) + 6 more
3rd-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Jack Mitchell (1958–1966) · succeeded by Don Fambrough (1971–1974).
9 NFL Draft picks: Bobby Douglass (1969), Vernon Vanoy (1969), John Zook (1969), Keith Christensen (1969), Jim Bailey (1970), John Mosier (1970), John Riggins (1971), Steve Lawson (1971) + 1 more
1st-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Chuck Mather (1954–1957) · succeeded by Pepper Rodgers (1967–1970).
11th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Jules Sikes (1948–1953) · succeeded by Jack Mitchell (1958–1966).
5th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed George Sauer (1946–1947) · succeeded by Chuck Mather (1954–1957).
15th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Gwinn Henry (1939–1942) · succeeded by George Sauer (1946–1947).
13th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Followed Adrian Lindsey (1936–1938) · succeeded by Henry Shenk (1943–1945).
8th-best Kansas tenure of 16 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Gwinn Henry (1939–1942).