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Selfish interests Tulsa group raising money to keep coach
Posted: Sunday March 26, 2000 06:01 PM
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A group of businessmen is raising money to double the earnings of University of Tulsa basketball coach Bill Self to keep him in town. Tulsa athletic director Judy MacLeod confirmed Saturday that the group is working with university officials to enhance Self's earnings, now thought to be about $400,000, including media and shoe income. Self is 74-27 as Tulsa's head coach following Sunday's 59-55 loss to North Carolina in the NCAA South Regional final. The Golden Hurricane went farther in postseason play this year than at any time in school history, and Self has won more in three years than any other coach at Tulsa. Self's team also set a school record this year with 32 wins. Now, Nebraska and Georgia Tech are reportedly interested in hiring Self, 37, with the Cornhuskers said to be poised to offer Self $1 million a year. The business group has already raised $1.4 million, according to the Tulsa World, citing an unidentified source. The university would reportedly pitch in a $100,000 raise for Self's assistants. The business group calls itself the Tulsa Final 400 Club, according to an Internet report. In addition to bolstering Self's pay, the group wants to offer a $1 million annuity if Self stays five years. "I do know there's a group trying to put something together, but I've never heard it called the Final 400," Self said. The group is said to consist of 40 businessmen who plan to recruit 10 people each to sweeten the pot, Bob West, chairman of the Tulsa athletic trustee committee and Bob Thomas, a Tulsa booster and local developer, are heading up the fundraising, university trustee Steve Turnbo said.
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