NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 353 D-I head coaches for 2018-19
By Joey Loose
3. Bill Self (Kansas)
- Overall record 661-201
- Final Four appearances in 2008, 2012, and 2018
- National Championship in 2008
Self took the Kansas job in 2003 after impressive stints at a triad of other schools. His head coaching career began at Oral Roberts in 1993 and he elevated the program from 6 to 21 wins during his four year stint. He then left for Tulsa, leading the Golden Hurricane to an Elite Eight as a 7-seed in 2000. He then spent three years with Illinois, making another Elite Eight, a trio of NCAA Tournaments, and recruiting the team that would play in the title game in 2005 under Bruce Weber.
Kansas took home the 2008 national championship and has added Final Fours in 2012 and 2018 under Self. This may seem even like a disappointment that Self only has one national title, as Kansas has been upset several times during March Madness.
One of the most impressive feats that Self has accomplished is winning the Big 12 regular season title each of the last 14 years, an unprecedented run of conference success. Self is an impressive 208-46 all-time in Big 12 play, which sounds much better than it is when you consider how great the Big 12 has become these days.
A team coached by Bill Self has made the NCAA Tournament for twenty straight years and this is something that isn’t going to change anytime soon. While a lack of further success might seem to be a disappointment, Self’s recruiting and outstanding coaching always has Kansas as a title contender. The Jayhawks could easily build on last year’s Final Four run and go even further in 2019.