Kansas has entered a pivotal chapter with Jacque Vaughn, a program legend and former NBA head coach, joining Bill Self’s staff—the first ex-NBA head coach to do so. Vaughn’s professional experience adds a new layer to the Jayhawks’ culture and player development.
His hiring aligns with the arrival of Darryn Peterson, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class and a projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Vaughn’s NBA insights are expected to be instrumental in preparing Peterson for the pros and anchoring Kansas’ national title push.
Jacque Vaughn Returns: NBA Wisdom Meets Kansas Tradition
Kansas has officially brought former Jayhawks star and NBA head coach Jacque Vaughn back to Lawrence, announcing Wednesday that he will join Bill Self’s staff as an assistant coach. Vaughn fills the vacancy left by Norm Roberts, who recently retired.
“We’re very excited to welcome Jacque and [his wife] Laura into the fold,” Self said in a statement. “I’ve known Jacque from a distance for several years now and have always admired how he has conducted himself professionally and how he has treated people…. We lost an awesome coach in Norm [Roberts] when he retired but feel very fortunate to have replaced him with a tremendous Jayhawk that has a unique and impressive resume.”
Kansas great Jacque Vaughn returns to Lawrence 🙌
The former Kansas guard will serve as an assistant to Bill Self next season 👏 pic.twitter.com/0DDMymYxwn
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 21, 2025
Vaughn brings a rare pedigree to the college coaching ranks. At Kansas, he averaged 9.6 points and 6.4 assists per game from 1993-97. He earned Big Eight Player of the Year honors and was named a consensus All-American twice.
During his tenure, the Jayhawks reached three Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight. He was selected 27th overall in the 1997 NBA Draft and played 12 seasons, winning an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007.
His coaching career began under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs. Vaughn later served as head coach for the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets. He guided Brooklyn to the playoffs in 2023 but was let go during the following season. Despite limited success in Orlando (58-158 record), Vaughn built a reputation as an analytics-driven leader with strong player relationships.
Kansas hopes Vaughn’s NBA background will appeal to top recruits and help modernize its system. His experience offers a new dimension to Self’s bench as the Jayhawks aim to rebound from recent postseason disappointments.
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After winning the national title in 2022, Kansas has exited the NCAA tournament in the first weekend three straight years, including a 21-13 finish and opening-round loss to Arkansas last season. Vaughn’s return signals a fresh direction with deep ties to the program’s past.
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