Following the impressive win Kansas basketball had in their season-opener yesterday, Jayhawk fans received a win of their own when it was announced today that head coach Bill Self has signed an updated lifetime contract at the University of Kansas.
According to CBS Sports, the new contract is reportedly worth $53 million over the next five years – making Self the highest paid coach in college basketball over Kentucky’s John Calipari.
Self will earn more than $13 million for the 2023-24 season alone, and a new year will be added to the deal at the end of each contract year (essentially making this a lifetime contract). Self will also earn a $5 million bonus if he coaches through the first five years of the contract, and he is allowed to renegotiate terms following the 2025-26 season.
“Bill Self is undoubtedly the most consistent coach in college basketball, and a restructuring of his contract terms was long overdue,” Goff said. “In an ever-changing collegiate athletics environment, our strong commitment to Coach Self positions KU basketball to maintain and enhance its status as the most storied program in the country.”
It’s hard to argue with Goff’s logic and it’s hard to argue that Self shouldn’t be the highest paid coach in the country, especially with the NCAA investigation now in the rear-view mirror.
With Coach K, Roy Williams, Jim Boeheim, and Jay Wright all recently retired, there is no one in college basketball with a better coaching resume than Self.
He’s currently the winningest coach in the country with nearly an 82% winning percentage since coming to Kansas. He’s a Naismith Hall of Famer and one of a small, elite group of coaches in college basketball history with two or more national championships.
Self also needs only 25 wins to surpass the legendary Phog Allen as KU’s all-time winningest head coach – something he may very well do later this season.
Self has already cemented himself as the best coach in Kansas basketball history, and this contract ensures that KU is going to remain one of (if not the top) programs in college basketball for years to come.
“I am very appreciative to Chancellor (Douglas) Girod, Travis Goff and the entire KU leadership team for their continued belief and confidence in me and my staff to lead this storied program,” Self said. “My family and I are so proud to be at this university, and I am looking forward to many more seasons representing the most passionate fan base in the country.”
“There’s no place like Kansas.”
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