NCAA Champion Jayhawks return
Kansas Jayhawks: 2008 National Champions
View an audio slideshow showcasing the Kansas Jayhawk's dramatic overtime victory over Memphis for the 2008 NCAA National Championship. Enlarge video
San Antonio — The last two Kansas basketball coaches who left the school did so after coaching in an NCAA title game, Larry Brown as the winner, Roy Williams as the runner-up.
Could Bill Self make it three in a row? He could, but he hasn't sounded like a coach desirous of taking a professional step down in exchange for becoming the highest-paid college basketball coach in history.
Kansas won't compete with oil and energy trading magnate T. Boone Pickens, zero for zero. The rumored numbers Pickens is willing to pay Self are indeed staggering and would set up generations of Selfs, a factor that can't be brushed off entirely: A signing bonus of $6 million, plus $3.5 million per season for 10 seasons.
Self is a skilled enough coach and recruiter that it's not a stretch to believe he could elevate Oklahoma State to such a degree it could contend for a national title in time. It would be considerably more difficult at OSU than Kansas, but if anybody could do it, Self's the guy.
Still, there would be no way for him to spin returning to his alma mater as anything but a money grab. We all love money, the more the merrier. We would all love to be able to set up generations. Yet, at heart, Self is a son of a coach before he's anything else. He's a fiercely competitive winner who wants to do everything he can to stack the deck in his favor. That's why he recruits so relentlessly. Other than on the first and the 15th, he'll like his hand better at Kansas than at Oklahoma State.
If Self were 55, instead of 45, it would be easy to see where he would want to take an outrageous 10-year contract to set up the generations. At this point in his career, he's still building the legacy, not the bank account.
In just five years at Kansas, look at what he already has done. He has won a national title and reached the Elite Eight in two other seasons. Self's KU winning percentage is .816, which puts him ahead of Roy Williams (.805), Larry Brown (.754), and Phog Allen (.729).
He'll get a hefty raise from a man he enjoys working for, athletic director Lew Perkins, but the money won't approach what Pickens will stack up. Look for Self's salary to jump from $1.5 million to somewhere in the range of $2.5 million to slightly above that.
Perkins knows what a great coach he has and he knew that when Self's teams lost first-round games to Bucknell and Bradley in back-to-back seasons. He's smart enough to let Self do his thing.
Would Pickens, a man Self said he never has met face to face, show the same respect? When asked about Pickens on Tuesday morning, Self joked: "I didn't know he was their athletic director."
He's not, of course. Mike Holder, golf coach at OSU when Self played and was an assistant coach there, is. But if Pickens ponies up all that dough, who knows what that would mean regarding his involvement. Would he be marching corporate contacts into practice to meet his trophy coach?
Look at it this way: When Self wants to cash in and take on a new challenge, two things the Oklahoma State job would offer, it seems more likely he would do so as coach of the San Antonio Spurs after Gregg Popovich retires, or to the NBA after the Sonics move to Oklahoma City.
KU Basketball
- Welcome back, champs! (04-09-08)
- Jayhawks on parade? No plan for one yet (04-09-08)
- Post-game chaos doesn't cause any major problems (04-09-08)
- More than 2,000 absent Tuesday (04-09-08)
- The last laugh (04-09-08)
- Questions surround futures of Kansas trio (04-09-08)
- Sorrentino: Deja vu avoided in Texas (04-09-08)
- A defining moment (04-09-08)
- Commentary: Memphis had it, but Kansas took it (04-09-08)
- Title-game ratings down (04-09-08)
- 2007-08 Roster
- Full 2008 NCAA Tournament coverage
Comments
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beawolf (anonymous) says…
I seriously doubt there would be too much animosity if Self left. The money is going to staggering plus he brought KU a National Championship nor is he making false statements about never leaving. As good as Self is, his 2 first round exits should remind us that he is not infallible. BTW, I didn't hear a single "boo" for Brown during the reunion intro's, so don't make up stuff like "plenty of anger left in this town" when it's a non-issue.
muffaletta (anonymous) says…
I agree, beawolf. No anger, really. Just disappointment -- both for the Kansas program and the character of the man.
OnlyTheOne (anonymous) says…
Roy Ran.Bill's Boltin'Welcome to Kansas - one of the greatest coach training programs in the USA!
kansassportsnutgal (anonymous) says…
I don't think Bill is going anywhere! His daughter is a Junior in high school and he is not going to make her leave and finish high school in OK her Senior year! He and his wife are very involved in the community and love it here. I would be very shocked if they would leave! The Self family is a good fit here and they know how much we love and respect them!
sfjayhawk (anonymous) says…
$46Million! Bye Bye Billy!
beawolf (anonymous) says…
If the offer is indeed $46M, I too, see Self leaving. But, I also believe the program is bigger than any one man. KU made Bill self, Self did not make KU. I hope Perkins doesn't go crazy with the checkbook just to keep him for a few more years, especially with Danny Manning waiting in the wings. College coaches (football and basketball) are way overpaid as it is. Let's put the money into Jayhawker Towers so the athletes have a decent place to live.
frankiej65 (anonymous) says…
What in the world are you talking about Only... Self is only the 8th coach in the history of the school... can't exactly call that a training program. Get over the potential anger everybody... if this week has proven anything at all... it is that Kansas Basketball is bigger than the man leading the program... we had great teams before Roy... we had great teams before Larry... We have a great team now... and should Self leave (which I too hope he doesn't)... We will have great teams again.... This is KANSAS... and there is no place like it.
kansassportsnutgal (anonymous) says…
GREAT comment Frankie! I totally agree with you that Kansas Basketball is bigger than the man leading the program! Don't know what onlytheone is talking about!!!! There is NO place like kansas! rock chalk !!
justthefacts (anonymous) says…
I doubt Self will leave to coach at any school that plays against his former team (KU) on a regular basis. That would simply be too conflicting, for most people, even with a big $$ lure. If he goes to OK, he loses the chance to become a hall-of-fame icon; the greatest college BB coach of all times. Plus, in addition to the issue of his children loving Lawrence, the OK program (despite Boone's money) is not in great shape and wont be even with someone like Bill in place. It's a classic case of money not buying class. Bill's too smart to put himself or his family in that situation, just for money!! What is more likely to happen, imo, is that he'll wait until his children are in college, and then go back home to OK to coach for the pro BB team that is coming there soon. That way, he will get paid more $$, not have to coach against his old team, and try coaching at the next level. And when that happens, we may get to see Larry Brown come back to KU! LOL. Meanwhile, people aren't mad b/c Roy left. They are mad because he said he was not going to leave and then he did. Bill never promised KU he'd stay here forever. So if he moves along, most rational people won't be too hurt or mad. Most rational people understand that coaches move around. However, most rational people do not like or trust someone who lies to them!
frankiej65 (anonymous) says…
OMG.... May we all be held accountable for what we said three years ago. Hmmmm... anybody remember this little lie.... god please let me feel better and i'll never drink again!!! or How about that girl you told... i will always love you and no one else!!!Get over it people.... Roy took another job... it hurt... but good God it was 5 years ago and we now have a National Championship... Anybody remember the big press conference Larry had at Allen Fieldhouse in 1988 sitting all relaxed... he said I'm staying.... two weeks later.... no big press conference.... just a breaking news story... and he was gone... yet he is treated like a king.... I love Larry... I love Roy... I love Bill... They have all provided me with awesome Basketball... and they are all jayhawks!!!!
cooonrod (anonymous) says…
sf jayhawk. where do you come up with 46 million???? listening to foolish rumors? some say 5 a year while others say 2 something. probably in the middle. Listen up Lew... Self has recruits in line for 5 more great years and we KNOW he will continue to recruit and has best coaching approach, fast with intense defense. If financial security the deal, offer him 25 million fo 10 years. 2.5 mil in 2018 does not seem high, but for Self it would assure him complete financial future. KU fans would love the 10 year contract and will slow up future schools approaching him.Self will stay if he is not insulted with small raise. KU and Lew know who butters the bread.
beawolf (anonymous) says…
The $46M was reported as a 10 year contract at $4M/yr plus a $6M signing bonus. "KU fans would love the 10 year contract" .....that doesn't seem to stop coaches from leaving. Self is being paid plenty as it is with the expectation that he would do what he did. You don't pay a coach $1M+ a year to be mediocre. Is he going to demand a raise every time he makes the elite eight or final four?I say let him go and put the money to better use. There are plenty of excellent coaches who would jump at the chance to coach at KU.
cooonrod (anonymous) says…
Jayhawk towers? beawolf are you kidding? How many recruits lost because of housing? would miss out on many without Self. Danny? wow, how far off can you be. Danny GREAT. He does not need the money or want to have the grind of constant road recruiting and pressure of head coach job.NCAA should not allow billionairs to BUY college teams . Support is great, but this is over the line. T Boone... buy NBA franchise for OK City and stay out of day to day operations.How many Universities want boosters in TOTAL control?
notajayhawk (anonymous) says…
kansassportsnutgal (Anonymous) says: "I don't think Bill is going anywhere! His daughter is a Junior in high school and he is not going to make her leave and finish high school in OK her Senior year!"One would presume he made her switch schools before.*************************I have two predictions: Say what you want about Lew Perkins (and most of you have), but the one thing he is the best at is raising money. He will find a way to convince Self to stay - maybe not matching the $4M/yr, but something that's more reasonable than less than one-third of that, which is what I believe Bill gets now.Second prediction: We will never hear the end of the b*tching about the loss of seats available to students, and everything below cloud level going to the alumni who contribute the most. That's what it's going to take to pay for it. I've mentioned a few times in the past that Lew wasn't exactly loved by the students at UConn, and that's why. He brought them unparalleled success, but the stadium and fieldhouse probably have more seats available for students from the opponent's school than UConn.You really can't have it both ways.
cooonrod (anonymous) says…
how about Mangino beawolf? should he be paid more than Self? he is right now. 2.5 would only be around 700 grand more than Mangino. How many KU fans consider basketball higher on the list?
cooonrod (anonymous) says…
agree with predictions notajayhawk. Anyone else feed up with KC talk radio 810 controlled by KSU and Mizzou baloney? KC has way more KU fans, time for Kevin and Jack Harry to listen. Had to turn radio off and 38 sports. Kevin "Memphis won 38 minutes, KU last 2"What game was he watching? halftime was 33 - 28 loved Self's response to Jacks lowest lows comment.CelebrateBill Self & KU National Champions!
cimarroncowboy (anonymous) says…
"OSU not right fit for Self" Wishful thinking isn't it? Did Self come to KU from Illinois for the same salary he was making at Tulsa? I'm not sure what Bill Self decides, I just hope it is in the best interest of his family and himself.