Kansas head coach Bill Self grins as he waves to the fans following the Jayhawks' 89-76 win over Iowa State on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self, former NBA player Steve Smith and former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman, have been named winners of the 2015 Mannie Jackson-Basketball Human Spirit Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Tuesday night on NBA TV.

The trio will be recognized on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Reunion Dinner on the Hall of Fame’s Center Court during Enshrinement Weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts.

“It is an honor for us to recognize these three outstanding men for their humanitarian efforts,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award is a prestigious honor awarded only to those with this highest level of dedication to making the world a better place. Each of these recipients is tremendously worthy.” 

Self and his wife, Cindy, established the Assists Foundation to benefit area youths in 2006.

The Hall of Fame wrote in a release: “Winners of the Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award exhibit qualities such as striving to improve the community, making a commitment to others, hard work and embracing the core values of the game. Beyond the game, award winners must reflect the values of Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo, while taking responsibility for his or her actions and seeking the highest standard of excellence.”

Self, Fireman and Smith were chosen from a “large candidate pool that represents every level of basketball and is reviewed annually by a distinguished Selection Committee appointed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Mr. Jackson,” the Hall said in a statement. “Because of Mannie Jackson’s (Harlem Globetrotters owner) lifelong commitment to the betterment of others, this Award carries his namesake. Jackson has served as a positive example and role model to his peers, in addition to his tremendous business success.”

Upon being named winner of the award, Self said: “I was certainly surprised and honored when I heard that I was going to receive this award. I’ve known of Mannie Jackson a long time. When I was at Illinois, he, being an Illinois graduate, was a very well-known name. He always epitomizes class and dedication through his work and this is certainly a great honor. To be mentioned with Paul and Steve is a big thrill to me. I look forward to the ceremony and hopefully through our Assists Foundation we can continue to help serve the youth in our community.”

Bill and Cindy Self’s Assists Foundation has helped fund programs such as Kansas Action for Healthy Kids, Lawrence Public Library, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lawrence, Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Kansas and Head Start of Lawrence. The Assists Foundation has also helped create a program called ‘Winning Attitudes for Life’ within the school system for elementary through high school students to promote healthy living, physical fitness, positive well-being and self respect. The program helps students develop their leadership, team building, decision-making and communication skills. Self’s foundation also provides four year scholarships to a minimum of five students on an annual basis. The scholarships are administered through partnerships with Lawrence Public Schools and KC Kansas School Foundation for Excellence.