Bill Self's future in Kansas is still up in the air and Kansas AD Travis Goff has to be proactive in case the coach decides to retire after spending 23 seasons behind the Jayhawks' bench. It will be hard to replace a coach after Self's success, but Kansas has had a run of great coaches with Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Self all winning at least 75 percent of their games.
That's why Goff has to keep an eye on the Chicago Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan in case he decides to leave the pros after this season.
There's "growing momentum" that Billy Donovan could step away from Bulls after the season, per @JCowleyHoops.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) March 24, 2026
It's been a while since Donovan has coached in college. He left Florida after the 2015 season to go to the NBA and coach the Thunder. Despite many overtures, mostly from Kentucky, Donovan has stayed in the pros and also increased his role with USA Basketball. If he decides to leave the Bulls, it's uncertain what's next. Donovan will be 61 in May. He would be a popular choice to take a job in TV or could decide to do even more with the national team and help Erik Spoelstra prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Kansas should pursue Billy Donovan if Bill Self leaves
If Donovan decides to place an "#OpenforWork" tag on his coaching profile, he will have no shortage of suitors. North Carolina will be interested if the Tar Heels cut ties with Hubert Davis and Kentucky might do the same if the Wildcats brain trust has decided they've suffered enough under Mark Pope.
And if Self leaves, Kansas should be right in the mix. Donovan should find the Jayhawks as the best fit. He's spent the past 10+ years in the Midwest, and he's never had a problem recruiting talent in the region (David Lee, Bradey Beal, etc.). Fans wouldn't have to worry about a drop-off after Self, since Donovan has been to the Final Four on four different occasions and won championships in 2006 and 2007.
Again, there's a lot of early speculation, since Self hasn't made a decision yet and even if Donovan left, he wouldn't be available until mid-April. But if the dominoes fall this way, Goff needs to make sure Donovan's next coaching stop is at the Allen Fieldhouse.