Congratulations to Roy Williams and his North Carolina team for winning the NCAA national basketball title, and congratulations to Bill Self for being named the national Division I coach of the year.

Williams did a tremendous job as coach of the Jayhawks for 15 years and strengthened the base and excellence of the Kansas University basketball program, making it a contender for league and national titles year after year.

Since moving to the University of North Carolina six years ago, he has won two national titles and taken his team to three Final Fours.

Self has continued the excellence of the KU basketball program during his six years leading the Jayhawks. He has guided his team to five regular season Big 12 championships and the 2008 NCAA title while also winning acclaim as the national coach of the year after taking this year’s unheralded KU team to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

Williams is said to have one of the nation’s top, if not the top, recruiting classes coming in next year, and Self also has a top-rated group of high schoolers coming to KU. Perhaps Self and Williams will face off again next year in the NCAA Tournament.

Both coaches conduct themselves in a manner that reflects credit on their universities, and both are recognized as among the best in the country.

KU, Lawrence and the state of Kansas are fortunate to be able to claim the interest, loyalty and contributions of both of these leaders.

Again, congratulations and thanks to both Coach Self and Coach Williams.