KWU won its first KCAC Basketball Championship in ten years in 1985-86 when Jerry Jones led the Coyotes to the conference title in just his fourth season with the team. The Coyotes went 19-8 overall and 14-4 in the conference that season, advancing to the NAIA District 10 Playoffs against Emporia State. Russ Pleiman became the second-ever KWU player to be named First Team All-KCAC for four seasons and was joined on the first team by David Frederick. Gus Deering was an Honorable Mention All-KCAC selection and Jones was named the KCAC Coach of the Year.
Team Members include: Stan Wyatt, Paul Walters, David Frederick, Terrence Phox, Eric Smith, Chris Hutzler, Barney Gray, Gus Deering, Billy Smith, Jeff Tillman, Gary Upshaw, Tripp Harris, Kevin Brown, Russ Pleiman, Scott Bennett, Ray Kujawa, Jacques Porter, Laurindo Crockett, James Gibson, Terry White, Ed Spear, Joe Brown, Gary Apperson, Parrish Hammer, Brian Mitchell, Tom Lennon, Herbert Bryant, Tim Lorey, Chris Dorsey, David Linden, Tom Pitts, Travis Witman, Akim Jones-Portaye, Dell Upshaw, Garrett Krueger, Chris Harris, Doug Key and Simon Emidy. Coaches Jerry Jones, Al Tiller, Brad Bingesser, Mike McDongald, Gary Waugh and David Roesner. Trainers Bobby Jones and Paul Anderson.
