Kansas Jayhawks Looking to Reunite with a Legend in Jacque Vaughn

Jacque Vaughn, one of the greatest point guards in Kansas basketball’s illustrious history, may be returning to the program that launched his professional career.

Speculation ramped up this week when Vaughn returned to Lawrence to meet with head coach Bill Self and the rest of the KU staff, just days after longtime assistant coach Norm Roberts announced his retirement on Monday.

A two-time All-Big Eight selection and the 1996 Big Eight Player of the Year, Vaughn had his jersey retired by the Jayhawks in 2002. He played 776 games in the NBA between 1997 and 2008 before transitioning to coaching. He started with the San Antonio Spurs in 2010 as an assistant under Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich, then earned his first head coaching opportunity with the Orlando Magic in 2012. Vaughn’s stint in Orlando lasted two and a half seasons before he was let go.

In 2016, he joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant and was eventually promoted to head coach in 2022. After taking over early in the season, Vaughn led the Nets to a 43–32 record, managing a roster that at one point included Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Mikal Bridges. But with the organization blowing up its core over the following year, Vaughn was let go during the 2024 season and has remained on the market ever since.

Now, Vaughn may be interested in returning to his roots.

A reunion with his alma mater—under a Hall of Fame coach like Self—could be a perfect fit. And it wouldn’t just benefit Vaughn. His NBA experience and understanding of the modern game would be a valuable asset for Kansas as the college landscape continues to evolve. If he were to join the staff ahead of this season, Vaughn could work closely with incoming five-star freshman Darryn Peterson, who’s likely a one-and-done.

Vaughn has earned praise everywhere he’s gone. He’s respected as a “player’s coach,” a locker room connector, and has always handled the media with class. Fans loved him at every stop—and Jayhawk fans would almost certainly welcome him back with open arms.

Even Roy Williams, who coached Vaughn at Kansas, once said Vaughn was one of his favorite players of all time. Williams even joked that Vaughn was smart enough to one day be the Governor of California. Politics may not be in Vaughn’s future, but coaching at Kansas? That’s starting to feel like a real possibility.

At 50 years old, Vaughn is still young enough to be a long-term option. And while Bill Self isn’t going anywhere soon—he essentially has a lifetime contract—it’s not hard to imagine Vaughn serving as a potential successor someday. Getting him on the bench now would allow Self and athletic director Travis Goff to evaluate what he brings to the table while also giving Vaughn time to relearn the college game under one of the best to ever do it.

Whether or not that’s the plan long-term, pairing Self and Vaughn now would be a significant win for Kansas basketball.