John Bryan Friel was an American college basketball coach, the head coach of the Washington State Cougars for 30 seasons, from 1928 to 1958. He holds the school record for victories by a men's basketball coach with 495, and led Washington State to the NCAA tournament championship game in 1941. He was later the first commissioner of the Big Sky Conference.

The Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor recognizes former athletes and coaches who have made a significant impact to the tradition and heritage of the Pac-12 Conference. Established in 2002, one honoree is selected by each member institution in the conference annually. The inductions occur during the Pac-12 Conference men's basketball tournament. The Hall of Honor was originally limited to men's basketball, until it was opened to other sports in 2018. The conference was named the Pacific-10 before it expanded in the 2011–12 season with Colorado and Utah.