I had a wonderful interview with former KU standout Ken Koenigs in February 2001 for Jayhawk Insider. Koenigs was a smooth shooting 6-10 forward and one of the smartest players to ever wear the crimson and blue.
A two-time Academic All-American in 1977 and ‘78, the Goddard, Kan., native became just
the second player in KU history to receive the prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Award after his senior year in 1978.
While he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fifth round after an impressive senior year, Koenigs declined a career in pro basketball to pursue his dream of a medical career. He’s been a doctor (gastroenterologist) in Springfield, Mass., since 1988.
“I always liked science,” Koenigs told me. “I think I’m a people person and I like the ability to combine and help people and interact, and use science in that clinical background.”
Koenigs has fond memories of his KU career, where he excelled academically and on the hardwood, earning first-team All-Big Eight honors his senior year while averaging 11.1 points per game and pacing the team with a 60.3 field goal percentage. He savors the relationships he built with teammates like Paul Mokeski and roommate John Douglas, KU head coach Ted Owens, his chemistry teacher Clark Bricker (he won four HOPE awards for outstanding teaching) and Chancellor Archie Dykes.
Koenigs grew up listening on the radio to Jayhawk heroes like Jo Jo White, Rodger Bohnenstiehl, Roger Brown and Dave Robisch.
Koenigs, who “bled crimson and blue,” and whose dad went to KU, admitted his tough sophomore (13-13) and junior seasons (18-10) ”wasn’t always the greatest times,” but said his career “ended on a high note” with the great 24-5 1977-78 team, which won the Big Eight championship (13-1) and was ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation.
“I thought it was a great overall experience. Great memories. (It was a) dream come true,” Koenigs said about coming to Kansas. “It kind of worked out as I hoped it would.”
Here is my Where are they Now? story on Dr. Ken Koenigs.
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Ken Koenigs remembers quite well those late night hours burning the midnight oil studying in the science and law libraries at the University of Kansas. He even found refuge hitting the books in hotel bathrooms during road trips so he wouldn’t “keep anybody else awake.”
And then there were those long bus rides with his KU basketball teammates back from Stillwater, Okla., where he’d return at 3:30 a.m. in time for a cat nap before rising for his 7:30 morning chemistry labs.
“You’d come back on Thursdays and do that and then go to practice,” Koenigs recalled recently from his home in Longmeadow, Mass., where he has a private medical practice in nearby Springfield. “You were pretty dead by the time the day was over with.”
But the 6-10 smooth shooting forward and chemistry (pre-med) major endured. Koenigs was an Academic All-American in 1977 and ‘78, and became just the second player in KU history to receive the prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Award after his senior year in 1978.
“It was hard making the adjustment, especially my freshman year,” Koenigs said about balancing hoops and academics. “I think in the end it prepares you for med school, because you had to develop the discipline and work ethic.”
Koenigs not only excelled in the classroom, but on the hardwood as well. After two solid years in 1976 and ‘77, he blossomed as a big-time player his senior year. Koenigs, a co-captain that season, made All-Big Eight and led the team with an amazing 60.3 field goal percentage. It was a dream season for Koenigs and Kansas, which went 13-1 in the Big Eight and finished the year 24-5.
“It was a good team that got along well together,” Koenigs said. “Things kind of clicked. There were some good guys on that team. Obviously, Darnell (Valentine) brought a lot to the table and helped finish off the picture and made a great contribution.”
Unfortunately, KU’s season ended abruptly with a first-round loss to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
“You’d like to have made it all the way, or at least made it a little farther,” Koenigs said.
Koenigs, who actually played in the NABC All-Star game at the Final Four, was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After an impressive showing in rookie camp, Koenigs decided to forgo veterans camp and follow his high school dream of becoming a doctor.
“It was a long-held goal, and that was pretty much my priority,” he said. “I never thought I’d be good enough to play in the NBA. I was somewhat of a late bloomer and had a very good senior year. It was only at that point where I thought I’d might do it, but that was never my primary goal.”
After graduating from KU Medical School in 1982, Koenigs spent the next five years at Yale for his residency and fellowship, where he specialized in gastroenterology. In 1988, Koenigs moved to Massachusetts and opened up a private practice in Springfield.
He’s been there ever since.
The former KU standout said one of his biggest thrills recently was inviting Roy Williams’ Jayhawks to his house for Thanksgiving dinner when the team was in Springfield for the Tip-Off Classic in November, 1998.
“That was a great experience,” Koenigs said. “Coach Williams has been unbelievable in keeping (ex-KU) players involved and having these reunions and banquets and really keeping everybody in the Kansas family. ... He’s always been very gracious. I think that’s one of the great things about him. Even if you weren’t a player who played for him, you still feel like you’re part of the program.”
Koenigs biggest kick of the evening was when his son, Thomas, got into a “heated” air hockey match with Lester Earl.
“The puck flies off and hits Matt (assistant coach Doherty) in the head. Now that Matt’s the head man at North Carolina, Tom’s claim to fame is that he about knocked him out with a air hockey puck,” Koenigs said with a laugh.
Dr. Koenigs, indeed, finds lots to laugh and smile about these days knowing just how far he’s come since those long nights quietly studying chemistry equations in motel restrooms throughout the Big 8 conference.
"It’s an interesting phenomenon to finally get where you want to be,” he said. “I’m very satisfied with what I’m doing and where I’m at.”
A Closer Look at Ken Koenigs:
Years at KU: 1974-’78
Career Notables: All-Big Eight in 1978...Two-time Academic All-American in 1977 and ‘78... Led team in free throw percentage in 1976 and ‘77, and topped squad in field goal percentage in 1978 at 60.3.
Family: Wife, Laura M. Pinkston (she’s a pediatrician in adolescent medicine) and children: Thomas, 15, Maria, 13.
Education: 1978, B.A. Chemistry; 1982, M.D. (KU School of Medicine)
Since Leaving KU: After receiving a M.D. from the KU School of Medicine in 1982, Koenigs spent the next five years in Yale completing his residency and fellowship. In 1988, he settled into a private practice in Springfield, Mass.
Currently: Koenigs is a doctor (gastroenterologist in private practice in Springfield).
Hobbies: Skiing, golf, basketball.
Favorite Memories: close-knit 1978 team and special relationships with teammates like Paul Mokeski and roommate John Douglas...Playing in Allen Fieldhouse: “That’s an experience you don’t get in any lifetime.”
On the Jayhawks Today: “They’re having a great year. They’re certainly in that top 10.”
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