Celebration as former Jayhawks star shooter has been appointed as…

Danny Manning, a former standout player for the University of Kansas basketball team and most recently serving as an assistant coach at Louisville, has been appointed as an assistant coach at Colorado, according to an announcement by Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle on Tuesday. Manning, who will take over from Rick Ray on Boyle’s coaching staff at CU, was previously a teammate of Boyle’s during the 1984-85 season at KU. Manning is set to commence his new role in Boulder, Colorado, starting June 1. Expressing his enthusiasm for joining Boyle’s coaching team, Manning stated, “I’m very excited to join coach Boyle’s staff. This staff has been together for quite some time and has had quite a bit of success, so I want to come in and be a sponge, learn from them, the things they’ve been doing to be successful and just try and add little nuggets that I can along the way, in terms of my experience as a player and a coach.”

“I’d like to express my gratitude to athletic director Rick George and the administration for entrusting me with this opportunity. I eagerly anticipate becoming immersed in the Buffalo culture and am excited to begin my journey in Boulder.” Manning, aged 57, enjoyed a 15-year NBA career following his leadership of KU to the 1988 NCAA championship. He brings with him extensive coaching experience, having served as the associate head coach at Louisville for two seasons (2022-24). Manning also held head coaching positions for two seasons at Tulsa (2012-14) and six seasons at Wake Forest (2014-20). Additionally, he served as interim head coach at Maryland for part of the 2021-22 season, stepping in for former KU teammate Mark Turgeon.

Boyle emphasized Manning’s multifaceted contributions, stating, “Danny’s impact will extend across various aspects. He possesses the ability to connect with young athletes, guiding them towards improvement and outlining the path to their aspirations of becoming professional basketball players. His adeptness in recruiting and building relationships with families further enhances our program.” Manning’s coaching journey commenced at KU, where he joined Bill Self’s inaugural coaching roster in 2003 as the director of student-athlete development and team manager. Later promoted to assistant coach in 2007, he played a pivotal role in KU’s 2008 NCAA championship victory and subsequent Final Four appearances. Manning’s illustrious playing career, including being named the most outstanding player of the 1988 NCAA Final Four and earning national player of the year honors, coupled with his coaching expertise, positions him as a valuable asset to Colorado’s basketball program.

Manning and Boyle’s connection dates back to their time as teammates at Kansas in 1984-85, where Boyle was a senior and Manning a freshman. They later reunited as assistant coaches for USA Basketball’s 2017 U19 World Cup team. Boyle expressed his enthusiasm for Manning’s addition to the coaching staff, highlighting his impressive accomplishments both as a player and coach. Manning’s storied career includes being the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, enjoying a 15-year NBA tenure, and earning accolades such as two-time NBA All-Star and the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1998 with the Phoenix Suns. Across 883 career games, Manning averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. With Colorado rejoining the Big 12 for the 2024-25 season after a stint in the Pac-12, the addition of Manning brings both basketball expertise and a deep understanding of the game to the Buffaloes’ coaching staff.