Friday, April 11, 2008
Kansas fans can finally exhale.
The Jayhawks are National Champs and their coach – well, he’s coming back.
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Bill Self, Robert Hemenway, and Lew Perkins hold a press conference Thursday, April 10, 2008 and announce Self's commitment to KU Basketball for the next few years.
Sitting between Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletics Director Lew Perkins at a Thursday afternoon press conference, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self squashed the rumor that he would be leaving for Oklahoma State once and for all.
The trio announced that Self had agreed to terms on a potential deal that would keep Self as the basketball coach at Kansas “for a long time to come,” Hemenway said.
“Bill Self is exactly the right person for Kansas basketball,” Hemenway said.
As for the juicy contract details, none were disclosed on Thursday.
“Today is not the day to talk about details,” Perkins said. Perkins said he hoped the details could be hammered out within the next few weeks, but he admitted that he’s experienced similar situations that have taken longer.
Self said he met with Oklahoma State Athletics Director Mike Holder on Wednesday night at a hotel in Johnson County to discuss the coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State.
Self and Holder spoke for two hours, but not about contracts or money.
“Money never came up,” Self said. “It never came up.”
Kansas coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference yesterday afternoon at Hadl Auditorium. Self spoke about his intent to stay with the Jayhawks for next season despite talks with the Oklahoma State athletic department.
Self said he called Holder at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and informed Holder of his decision.
The controversy over Self’s occupational future began last week when Oklahoma State fired its head basketball coach, Sean Sutton.
Self, who played basketball from 1981-85 and served as assistant coach from 1986-93 at Oklahoma State, was rumored to be the top name on Oklahoma State’s coaching wish list.
Self said last week that he had not been contacted about that job and if he was, he would encourage Oklahoma State “to move in a different direction.”
After Kansas won its third NCAA championship on Monday, the controversy swelled, buoyed by media reports that said influential Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens would offer up money that would allow Oklahoma State to woo Self with a signing bonus that could reach $10 million.
Self said his mind had been made up since the rumors started flying.
“I don’t know what the big deal is,” Self said.
Self said he offered to assist Oklahoma State with its coaching search in any shape or form.
Perkins said Oklahoma State had been very professional regarding its interest in Self.
Although Self could not comment on specifics of a potential contract, he said it was fair to say that he would be getting an extension and a raise. Self’s current contract pays him $1.375 million per year.
Self also spoke about the importance of maintaining and updating Kansas’ basketball facilities, which may have played a part in the terms of his new contract.
“We’ve had good enough facilities to recruit good guys, and that’s been proven over time,” Self said.
“Facilities are arms race,” Self added. “If we’re going to recruit the best athletes we need to provide the best things for them.”
“We just want to have the best of the best, so we can recruit the best of the best,” Self said.
Self also said he consulted his wife and family before making any decision. Self’s daughter will be a senior in high school, and his son will be entering the ninth grade.
With the fog around Self’s future lifted, he said he’s ready to start figuring out how to win title No. 2.
“I don’t see the finish line at all, but I see the finish line being here,” Self said. “This is home now.”
— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
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Self says he'll stick with Kansas
A cowboy walks into a saloon. On his shoulder is perched a Jayhawk--not a toy or a doll but what is obviously a real live blue and red Jayhawk. The bartender looks at the Jayhawk and says, "Whoa! Where'd ya git that?" The Jayhawk says, "In Stillwater; they're all over the place."
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