Kansas basketball: The Jayhawks have one of the best college basketball coaches in the game

Not only does the Kansas basketball program have one of the most talented teams in the nation, but they’ll also be led by one of the best coaches in college basketball, Bill Self.

What Self has done so far at Kansas is absolutely remarkable, and his journey as the head basketball coach is far from over. In fact, in April of this year, the University of Kansas signed a lifetime contract with Self, which is a “new five-year rolling agreement that automatically adds one year at the conclusion of each season for the remainder of his career.”

Basically, Self intends to remain at Kansas throughout the rest of his head coaching career. Obviously, things can quickly change, but with a respectable Athletic Director in Travis Goff in place, and changes to the college basketball landscape that Self fully supports, it’s not crazy to think he could stick around for as long as Kansas will have him.

In talking about Self’s new lifetime contract, KU Chancellor Doug Girod emphasized what the men’s basketball coach has meant to the University.

"For almost 20 years, Coach Self has embodied the spirit and tradition of the University of Kansas, leading our men’s basketball program to a national championship, 15 Big 12 titles and 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. We believe in Coach Self and we believe in the future of our program under his leadership, and we are thrilled that he will continue to be a Jayhawk for the rest of his coaching career."

What has Kansas done under Bill Self?

The Jayhawks currently hold the record for most consecutive conference titles in a row at 14. The previous record-holder was UCLA with 13 under longtime coaching great John Wooden. This is a record that had previously stood since 1979 and will likely not be broken for some time.

If you think about it, it’s difficult on its own for a team to win one conference title. But to win 14 in a row is almost underheard of.

The biggest threat to this consecutive conference titles record currently held by Kansas is Gonzaga. The Zags are no doubt a great team, but they’re also in a conference not even close to comparable to what the Jayhawks have had to face in the Big 12, which is consistently ranked as one of the top college basketball conferences in Division 1.

In 17 seasons as head basketball coach at Kansas, Self has made it into the NCAA tournament every year, with the exception being in 2020 when covid was at its beginning stages and the tournament was eventually canceled. And in that year, the Jayhawks would have been the top overall seed in the tournament and the favorites to win the national title.

Among active coaches, Self is ranked 6th in most wins at 729. At Kansas, he’s compiled an insane record of 501 wins and only 109 losses, for a winning percentage of 82.1. If that were his career-winning percentage, it would only put him behind Kentucky’s legendary coach, Adolph Rupp.

But what’s even more impressive is Coach Self’s home record at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas has only lost 14 games at home under Self, a number not as remarkable as it sounds until you realize the head coach has won more Big 12 conference titles (15) than he’s had home losses. His full home record at Allen Fieldhouse is 261-14.

It’s not just what Self has done during the regular season that makes him great, though. He’s also been fantastic in the NCAA Tournament. Sure, he could have a few more national titles under his belt, but that’s really the only argument against him. Self has won a remarkable 71 percent of his games in the tournament, which is arguably one of the world’s hardest major sports tournaments to win.

He’s also been to three Final Fours and two title games and is one of only ten active coaches that has won a national championship. And the reason many experts and fans believe Self should have more national titles is out of his 17 years at Kansas, the Jayhawks have been a one seed eight times. And they haven’t been lower than a four seed since Self has been head coach.

Guided under Self, Kansas has won at least 23 games in 22 straight seasons. What’s even more remarkable is they tied the record for most consecutive 30 win seasons at four. And out of Self’s 17 seasons with Kansas, they’ve won 30 or more games nine times. The program has only won 30 or more games just 15 times.

What’s the future look like for Self and Kansas basketball?

While these stats Coach Self has compiled during his 17 years at Kansas are impressive, he will only add to them as he continues to be the Jayhawks head coach.

Year in and year out, Self brings in top recruits, competes for conference titles, and puts his team in a position to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. None of these projects to change, and if anything, Self’s numbers could get more and more impressive as the years go on.

And since the NCAA allegations against Kansas basketball have come to light, the coach has stated he’s more motivated than ever.

"Certainly, I haven’t liked it. But it’s also, in a strange way, motivating me, probably, in a way that maybe I have never been, to combat this by taking care of our business on the basketball court, working with our players in a way that maybe exceeds any way I’ve ever done it."

It’s evident Self has no intentions of slowing down as head basketball coach at Kansas, and this extra motivation will only spell danger for any teams Kansas faces. And while Self has had an incredible career as the Kansas basketball coach thus far, the best is yet to come for the Jayhawks under his tutelage.