In a groundbreaking move, Kansas basketball and its esteemed head coach, Bill Self, have recently reached a historic agreement on an altered lifetime contract extension, making Self the highest-paid coach in college basketball. This landmark deal, valued at an impressive $53 million over the next five years, places Self in a league of his own, surpassing all other coaching contracts in the country.
A Storied Legacy
Bill Self has been with the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team since 2003. In his two decades at the university, he has been instrumental in leading the team to two National Championships, winning 17 Big 12 regular season titles, and appearing in four Final Fours. Self has an outstanding record of 581 wins, poised to outdo Phog Allen’s victory count of 589 games, thus enhancing his outstanding performance in his career.
Over his remarkable coaching career, spanning prestigious institutions like Kansas, Illinois, Oral Roberts, and Tulsa, Self boasts an extraordinary total of 787 wins, a feat that currently positions him at 15th all-time in coaching victories. His coaching prowess, strategic brilliance, and dedication to excellence have solidified his reputation as one of the most accomplished and respected figures in college basketball.
A Testament to Leadership
Kansas chancellor Douglas Girod stated that it is hard to measure the impact that Coach Self has had on the University of Kansas for more than 20 years. Speaking on behalf of the community, Girod made it clear that for the university, the head coach is revered as the best in the nation as an assistant transformative leader.
Previously, Self had signed a rolling contract in 2021, which was edited to the current one in 2023. The Chancellor took deep pleasure in getting Self’s commitment to his life career, understanding that Self had left deep footprints on the basketball program and the overall university.