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Done deal Self arrives in Lawrence, will reportedly take KU jobPosted: Sunday April 20, 2003 3:01 PMUpdated: Sunday April 20, 2003 9:47 PM
ATLANTA (SI.com) -- Bill Self reportedly will accept the coaching job at Kansas, according to sources close to the program. Kansas scheduled a news conference for Monday at 1 p.m. CDT to "introduce its men's basketball coach." A source within the athletic department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the news conference was scheduled for Monday because Self did not want an announcement on Easter. The Champaign News-Gazette reported on its Web site Sunday that Self, who has coached at Illinois the past three seasons, has told his players about the decision to replace Roy Williams as coach of the Jayhawks. The 40-year-old Self, whose first college coaching job was as an assistant at Kansas under then-coach Larry Brown in the 1985-86 season, flew to Lawrence on Sunday, accompanied by interim Kansas athletic director Drue Jennings. Self dined with the Jayhawks' players and school officials at the athletic center. Reporters were asked to leave the building, and Jennings and chancellor Robert Hemenway both declined comment when they left. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Self was seen removing items from his office at Illinois' basketball facility in Champaign on Saturday. Illinois sports information director Kent Brown said Self talked to players Saturday night, but Brown declined to elaborate. He said Self also has spoken recently to the parents of some his recruits. The athletic department offices and basketball practice gym on Illinois' Champaign campus were locked Sunday. But one player, speaking outside the practice gym, told television reporters that he was resigned to Self leaving. "I talked to him [Saturday] night, and he said the deal was in the making," freshman Deron Williams said. "It was a hard decision for him to make. He had to make the decision that was best for his family." The Jayhawks' contract offer is reportedly a five-year deal worth $1.2 million to $1.5 million annually. At Illinois, he had recently agreed to a five-year extension worth $925,000 annually, plus an additional $500,000 if he stayed for the full five years of the deal, bringing the total to $5 million. Self went 78-24 in three seasons at Illinois and led the team to the NCAA tournament each year, reaching the final eight in 2001. His teams shared the Big Ten regular-season title in 2001 and 2002, making him the second conference coach to accomplish the feat. This season, the Illini finished second in the league standings but won the tournament championship. Self's intensity on the bench and affable nature off the court
made him a fan favorite at Illinois, which gave the coach a
five-year contract extension in December worth $900,000 a season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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