Bill Self

Bill Self: biography

Bill Self is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach for the University of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team.

Childhood and youth

Bill Self was born on December 27, 1962, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to parents Margaret and Bill Self Sr. He grew up in a family of athletes, with both his father and grandfather having played college basketball. Self's love for basketball was evident from a young age, and he played the sport throughout his childhood and youth.

Self attended high school in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he was a standout basketball player. He then went on to attend college at Oklahoma State University, where he also played basketball for the Cowboys.

During his college years, Self developed a passion for coaching and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas. He then went on to serve as an assistant coach at several universities before getting his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts University.

Self's upbringing in a family of athletes, his own experiences playing basketball, and his early coaching career all helped shape his coaching philosophy and approach to the game. These experiences also instilled in him a deep love and respect for the sport, which has been evident throughout his successful career as a college basketball coach.

Basketball career

Bill Self's basketball career began as a player at Oklahoma State University, where he played as a guard for the Cowboys. During his time at Oklahoma State, Self was known for his defensive abilities and tenacity on the court. He was a solid player who worked hard and played with intensity.

After graduating from Oklahoma State, Self began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas. He then went on to serve as an assistant coach at several universities, including Oklahoma State, Tulsa, and Illinois.

In 1993, Self got his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts University. He spent three seasons at Oral Roberts, leading the team to two conference championships and one NCAA tournament appearance. His success at Oral Roberts caught the attention of other programs, and in 1997 he was hired as the head coach at the University of Tulsa.

At Tulsa, Self continued to build on his success as a head coach. He led the Golden Hurricane to two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2000. His success at Tulsa once again caught the attention of other programs, and in 2000 he was hired as the head coach at the University of Illinois.

At Illinois, Self led the Fighting Illini to unprecedented success. In his first season, he led the team to a Big Ten championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. The following year, he led the Illini to a 26-9 record and another trip to the NCAA tournament. In 2004, he led the team to a 26-7 record and a trip to the Elite Eight.

In 2003, Self was hired as the head coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team. Under his leadership, the Jayhawks have become one of the most successful college basketball programs in the country. Since taking over the program, Self has led the Jayhawks to numerous conference championships, Final Four appearances, and a national championship in 2008. He has also been named National Coach of the Year three times and has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach.

Off the court, Self is known for his philanthropic work and community involvement. He and his wife, Cindy, have established the Bill and Cindy Self Foundation, which supports various causes, including cancer research, education, and children's charities.

Coaching career

Bill Self's coaching career began in the early 1990s, when he served as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas. From there, he moved on to assistant coaching positions at Oklahoma State, Tulsa, and Illinois, where he gained valuable experience and developed his coaching philosophy.

In 1993, Self got his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts University, where he spent three seasons. He then moved on to the University of Tulsa, where he led the Golden Hurricane to two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons.

In 2000, Self was hired as the head coach at the University of Illinois. During his tenure at Illinois, he led the Fighting Illini to unprecedented success, including a Big Ten championship and a trip to the Elite Eight.

During the years 2015-2019, Bill Self continued to build on his successful coaching career at the University of Kansas. In 2015-2016, the Jayhawks won their 12th straight Big 12 regular-season championship, setting a new NCAA record. Self was also named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for the fifth time.

In the following season, Kansas once again won the Big 12 regular-season championship, marking the team's 13th straight title. The Jayhawks advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament but fell short of the Final Four.

In 2017-2018, Kansas won their 14th straight Big 12 regular-season championship, becoming the first team in NCAA history to win 14 consecutive conference titles. The Jayhawks advanced to the Final Four, where they fell to eventual national champions, Villanova.

In the 2018-2019 season, Kansas won their 15th Big 12 regular-season championship under Self's leadership. The team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament but lost to Auburn.

Throughout this period, Self continued to be recognized for his coaching accomplishments, winning multiple Coach of the Year awards and cementing his status as one of the top coaches in college basketball.

Bill Self's coaching career from 2020-2022 was marked by various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing investigations by the NCAA into his program's recruiting practices.

In the 2020-2021 season, Kansas finished with a 21-9 record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to USC. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Self and his coaching staff managed to lead the Jayhawks to another successful season.

However, the ongoing NCAA investigations into the program's recruiting practices continued to cast a shadow over the team. In September 2020, Kansas received a notice of allegations from the NCAA, alleging that the program committed multiple violations related to recruiting. The case remains ongoing, and the NCAA has yet to announce any sanctions against the program.

In the 2021-2022 season, Kansas finished with a 24-10 record and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to USC for the second straight year. Despite the early tournament exit, Self and his coaching staff once again demonstrated their ability to lead the Jayhawks through challenging circumstances.

Personal life

Self has been married to his wife Cindy since 1986, and the couple has two children, a son named Tyler and a daughter named Lauren. Cindy is actively involved in philanthropic work and serves as the co-founder of the Bill and Cindy Self Foundation, which supports various charitable causes.

Off the court, Self is known for his dedication to his players and his involvement in the community. He has been involved in several charitable organizations, including the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association and the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence.

Self is also an avid golfer and enjoys playing the sport in his free time. He has participated in several charity golf tournaments and is known for his competitiveness on the golf course.

Overall, Self is known not only for his success as a basketball coach, but also for his commitment to his family, his players, and his community.

Awards and achievements

• MVC Coach of the Year (1999)
• Big Ten Coach of the Year (2001)
• National Championship as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks (2008)
• NABC Coach of the Year (2009)
• Big 12 Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• AP National Coach of the Year (2009)
• USBWA National Coach of the Year (2012)
• Adolph Rupp Cup winner as the nation's top coach (2012)
• Sporting News National Coach of the Year (2012)
• Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year (2012)
• Inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (2013)
• 3 Final Four appearances with Kansas (2008, 2012, 2018)
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee as a coach (2017)
• 9 Elite Eight appearances with Kansas, Illinois, and Tulsa
• Over 700 career wins as a head coach
• Coached numerous All-American players and NBA stars, including Joakim Noah, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, and Frank Mason III.
• These are just some of the many awards and achievements that Bill Self has earned throughout his career as a basketball coach.