For over two decades, Bill Self has been at the helm of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball program, and what a fruitful time it's been. The Jayhawks have won two national championships (2008, 2022), 16 Big-12 regular-season titles, numerous Elite-Eight appearances, and have sparked the ascension of countless high-level NBA players, most recently second overall draft pick Darryn Peterson.
Self has an overall 648-167 record as the Jayhawks head coach and has worked himself up into the conversations with the best of all-time. While the past couple of seasons have been underwhelming relative to the immense success of years past, Allen Fieldhouse is still lucky to have Self, especially in this new college athletics era of NIL, transfer portal, and other constraints teams must navigate.
For the reigning head coach of the NCAA tournament champion, the Michigan Wolverines, Dusty May, he was quick to turn his back on the overwhelming stress that new rules have put on the sport. Just days ago, the 49-year-old coach decided to take a vacant head coaching job in the NBA ranks with the Dallas Mavericks.
Dusty May's transition to the NBA ranks shows Self's unwavering loyalty to Jayhawk basketball
May spent just two years coaching Michigan to a 27-10 record a year ago and then jumped to an astounding 37-3 tally that ended in elation and victory. It's cited that reasons for his leave were many, but perhaps none larger than the disadvantage of not knowing what the next 5-10 years look like for college athletics. It's a legitimate concern, but it goes to show the loyalty that Self has to the Jayhawks to still be able to do what he does at a high level.
Some Kansas fans have been adamant about their growing concern that Self, 63, still has his fastball after a variety of recent health scares have caused him to miss time away from the team. But it's clear that trying to navigate building a solid roster has been a new challenge for Self, but one that he does seem to be improving at. For athletes who get paid top dollar to switch schools on a dime, it's hard for any coach to build their programs and chemistry on virtually brand new rosters each season.
But this past recruiting cycle and transfer additions have been Self and his staff's best job yet, as they landed No. 1 high school prospect Tyran Stokes, among other four-star recruits, along with transfer portal additions in Christian Reeves and Keanu Dawes, who are seasoned players and should fit into Self's system nicely. Not to mention the surprising return of Kohl Rosario and Paul Mbiya, who should both see increased roles entering their sophomore seasons.
Altogether, it's clear to see the landscape changing and coaches being forced to adapt quickly or fall behind the pack. For Self, it felt like he was sliding a bit. But heading into the 2027 season, presents his best chance yet at making a deep tournament run and returning Kansas basketball to its former glory.
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