In the end, Bill Self decided to stay home rather than return home.
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The Oklahoma State graduate will remain as men's basketball coach at Kansas, but not until after discussing the possibility of returning to his alma mater.
Self met for roughly two hours Wednesday night with OSU athletic director Mike Holder at a hotel south of Kansas City, Kan.
Self drove back home to Lawrence and discussed the matter with his family. He slept on his decision, visited again with wife Cindy on Thursday morning and called Holder in early afternoon to confirm he would remain at KU.
"Timing is so much of everything,” Self said one hour before his 4:30 p.m. news conference Thursday on the KU campus.
"This is where we need to be. This is where we want to be right now.”
Self spent 11 years at OSU as a player and assistant before becoming Oral Roberts' coach in 1993.
Self knew of Holder, who was then the Cowboys men's golf coach, but the two had spent limited time together.
"You talk about an impressive guy,” Self said of Holder. "And I'm not just blowing smoke, either. He's got a vision for the place. They're going to win and win big because there's so much passion, commitment and energy that's being made there.”
Self said Holder never rendered a specific financial offer.
"What they offered was an opportunity to come home and be at your own university, to lead the basketball program and try to take it to heights it's never been before,” Self said. "Those were all pretty enticing. He knows I'm emotional about that place.
"We talked about all the different components. He said, 'We could definitely take care of you, but you should decide if you want to be here. If you want to be a part of this, the other components are something you would be thrilled about.'
"Mike said, ‘You decide if you want that. If you decide you want that, then you can decide if you want the other component (a lucrative contract). If that's not something in your heart that you need to pursue, then we don't need to go there.' And he was exactly right.”
Self said OSU was the only school he would consider if he were to leave Kansas.
"That would be the only other place I would even look at,” Self said. "If anybody else calls, there's no way I'd leave Kansas, or even look at it. No way.
"I feel like there's two places I want to be at, and that's here and where I grew up. That's it. It's not like both don't have a lot to sell. We've both got unbelievably loyal families. There are many similarities.”
Self has made three coaching moves after brief stays as coach, and each opportunity was to a bigger program.
He left ORU for Tulsa in 1997, left Tulsa for Illinois in 2000, and left Illinois for Kansas in 2003.
"I've left sooner than I envisioned at other places,” Self said. "If I left now, I'd definitely be leaving too soon. I didn't plan on being at Tulsa for only three years. I certainly didn't plan on being at Illinois three years, and I didn't come here to leave Kansas after five years.”
Sean Sutton resigned as OSU's coach on April 1, the same week Self and the Jayhawks advanced to the Final Four.
KU went on to win the national title with a 75-68 overtime victory over Memphis in the Alamodome.
"Oklahoma State was completely professional in how they did things,” Self said. "They never contacted me during the tournament, and money never came up. I was really appreciative of how he handled it, to be honest with you.”
As for his relationship with Holder, Self said, "I told him I would offer any assistance I could in his search. If he seeks that out, I would love to be of assistance. If he doesn't, I can understand that, too.”
Details of Self's new deal at KU will be ironed out in the coming weeks. Terms were not discussed at Thursday's news conference, but Self is expected to receive guaranteed compensation of around $3 million annually, a considerable increase from his $1.375 million guaranteed deal that ran through 2011.
"I believe (athletic director) Lew Perkins is going to do the things we've talked about and make this a better job than what we've had,” Self said.
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I hate to say it but Danny was right on the money. The support for OU basketball is downright embarrassing to those of us who have scrambled to find affordable students tickets even after we've graduated just to be able to go to a game. Seriously OU fans, are you gonna prove a Cowboy right??? Better see some butts in seats at LNC next season.
Hey idiot breath from Ardmore - Boren doesn't want guns on your campus either, so go beyotch to him. since that means that the RuffNeks can fire their guns either.
Barry - Since you were there, were you ever able to has he implies just waltz in and play Doom 3 with the Dean? I cannot for teh life of me imagine any of the Deans my mother worked wil, Dean Vinn, Dean McCollum, Dean Reid, sitting at his desk playing a game all day. I always thought growing up that we treated OSU people pretty good. It pretty much is the livlihood of the city. I lived there from 1963 until I left after graduation. I have always gone back and even though my parents are gone, I still go home periodically to visit.
Karl Reid is a genius. I was in CEAT myself. Met the man a couple of times but unlike Adam's implication, the Dean is not an instructor, he is an administrator. If you had an issue as a student there are more appropriate people to talk with than the Dean. Are you sure you went to college? I lived in Stillwater for six years--before and during school. I worked for a number of people/places and was a member of the local Jaycees. Anyone who thinks Stillwater is a pit has never spent time there and those who think the locals disrespect the students are absurd.
Well you might be talking about the current administration. My mom retired in 1996 or 1997. So I can't really speak for Karl Reid, she was only there with him for about 10 years. If you were there during Kenneth McCollum tenure, I know for a fact that you did not just waltz in. I was up there off and on the whole time she was there. She went to work when I was 8, so I found it kind of an interesting place to visit. McCollum was in charge for about 25 or so years.
Gee ST, Get real man. He'd make the exams 1 hour before the test started and played Doom 3 when he wasn't in lecture. When he teaches the same classes every year for 20+ years he doesn't to plan, its etched in his head. Not to mention about going to the gun range with him and another student. I was prior service AF, so was he and the other student was in the Navy. They have more time on your hands than you think.
The mere fact, that the president of osu is for gun controll, takes away from the meaning of being a cowboy! No more guns a blazing at the football games. The only thing osu fans can do now is wave that stupid wave. If you dont believe me about the president of osu on gun controll, go and look it up.
Gee Adam - Which Dean are you referring to? You couldn't just stroll in. Sorry bud. Also, you assume to much. I did not flunk out. I actually graduated from OSU. Being an engineering student doesn't give you the right to not have to make appts. Were are talking about the Dean for goodness sake!! He would never get anything done if he "B.S.'d with very student that walked in.
Gee ST, as an engineering student and paying $3400 a semester, you shouldn't have to make an appointment. How arrogant is that? Besides I'd just walk into the deans office all the time and b.s. with him. I didn't have to make an appointment. I was refering to mom and pop stores and local losers who flunked out of school who were jealous they never finished college.
"Bob Lattinville, an agent who represents several coaches, including KU women’s hoops coach Bonnie Henrickson, calls Perkins “masterful” in contract negotiations and keeping his coaches happy."
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/blair_kerkhoff/story/570972.html
Time for Holder to separate himself the Gorilla alum and get on par with some of his peers.
Gee Adam, I grew up in SWO and went to OSU. So that makes me a student and a local also. Perhaps they were rude to you because you were snobbish or standoffish to them. My mom worked with the Dean of Engineering for 35 years. She used to tell me about all the arrogants people waltzing in all day DEMANDING to see the Dean with no appointment. Guess she was right and I just met one.
Well Gary. I for one, am glad you were able to get a laugh, or a cry, out of the OSU basketball coaching situation. Typical aggieness? I guess that means going after the best possible candidate. Since Bill decided to stay in Kansas, I guess that means the next best possible candidate. Oh, and Adam. I was a student and a local and can say something different regarding Stillwater. Its a great place to live and go to school and work as its growth rate shows.
T. Scott, it wouldn't be the 'fastest growing city in oklahoma' if boone wouldn't have put 325 mill. into it. Besides all the locals are RUDE to all the students. If you were a student you can't say anything different. James, I graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree I didn't have time to the bars and create memories like I am sure you did. My face was in the books and doing math problems. I have a lot of OSU pride but the town is ran by the same small town people for too long.
but most certainly you will get a coach that could care less about being in stillwater, the coach will be there for one reason and that is "pay-day". It has been proven that the messiah! of stillwater did not want to come home, no matter what the "pay-day" was.
You will get a greedy coach who will not work so hard because he know he is going to be set. You need someone naive who believes there is something to work for here. Not just building T-Bone's ego. I'm sure David Boren gets a good laugh each morning he is reading about your mens basketball situation. Capel is ready to take on a long term mortgage with the type of mismanagement he is witnessing. So Danny why doesn't T-Bone help Mr. Van Zant with his community service.
He Danny it is naive. Yeah I think they have a plan, but are taking too long put it into motion. If they had something good going we would see it. I asking a coach to seek employment with you with revealing the information to the current employer is classy. It is secretive and underhanded, like the oil business. And you billy boys stand up and pledge your approval. I am a smart man and I don't identify with what is going on in Stillwater. Wonder why you seem to relate so well.
One place Bill Self would NEVER consider and that's ou.
He said KU and OSU would be his only choices. We all know abNorman is a poor basketball school -- very little fan support. Certainly nothing like Stillwater.
Oh, come on, Aaron. Are you as naiave as you seem?!
Of course, there's a plan B. Smart men always have an alternative plan or three. Whether or not they want to let you know their agenda is their business.
Believe this...Holder has other options in mind and has since way before Sean was asked to leave.
Most have Bill Gillespie of Kentucky next in OSU's sites, but why creat a massive media even when it's unneccessary before negotiations have begun.
The amount of money OSU has to attract a new headcoach will generate plenty of coach's interest. Their people will be trying to reach Holder (quietly, of course, because they don't want their teams to know they're interested in the OSU job).
OSU will continue to handle this new hire descretely and with class.
I can't believe there wasn't a plan B already in motion. This whole mess may end in Holder leaving also. Lets see some serious negotiation with the type of men capable of leading OSU mens basketball to the level its fans expect.
I don't like ripping where people come from because most of the time they don't have a choice but comparing Houston to Stillwater is insane. Politics runs every town whether it be small or large. I've been to both Houston and Stillwater. I'll take the down home friendliness of Stillwater over a bug infested back water swamp like Houston any day of the week. As for Bill not wanting to come back to OSU because of Pickens, you may be right but I'm sure no one talking here will ever know why he turned down his alma mater. For sure it wasn't the money. Unless someone is personally close to both men and could get them to talk, we'll never know the real reason.
I don't understand why some seem to think it was wrong for Bill to use OSU and the potential offer as leverage with ku or that it some how shows that he doesn't like OSU. He said there were only two schools he would consider and one of them was OSU. Why read between the lines when its all there in the lines?
I'm very proud of the way Holder approached Self. Not mentioning money was a great tactic. I'm also proud of the way Self handled the situation. He's said all the right things the right way. And James - I too am proud to be called Boone U or Pickens State. To be associated with a winner is always a good thing and inspires. And as far as Stillwater, I think Norman is such a hole. I have two bros who graduated from there, so I've been there alot...too much. It's basically a trailer park with a school. Stillwater is much more representative of what the state of Oklahoma is all about...just my opinion. But alas, to each his own. I respect OU and its GRADUATES. However, the bandwagoners who bash OSU can go to heck...
TScott. Why don't you read beyond the lines. If Self had no desire to return, just say NO. He didn't. He shamelessly used OSU to increase the Kansas' offer. And if you come to that conclusion, which I do, he doesn't like Oklahoma State.
Adam,Houston. I feel sorry for you guy. If you came away from OSU feeling that way then you must have been a horrible person. I have so many great memories from my time spent at OSU. It is as much the people as it is the place. That's a real shame. On a side note, PLEASE call us Boone U or Pickens State. I love it! I think it it hiliarious that other fans think that bothers we Cowboy faithful. T Boone Pickens is a generous, smart and rich man. Do people honestly think he and Holder sit in a room and plot the downfall of OSU. They only want what is best for the university. It is a great time to be a Cowboy.
r from richardson, you might want to reread the article if you think Bill "doesn't like Oklahoma State." Adam, since Stillwater is the fastest growing city in OK, it seems as if others don't feel the same way as you do. I am sure Houston is a great place to live, but I would take Stillwater in a second over Houston.
He probly didn't want to be one of Boone's puppets. I graduated from OSU, I hated every second of that town. Small town politics runs that town, I wouldn't go back there if I didn't have to.
John of Destin. I doubt feelings have been spared. Here are some possible reasons for Self's decision. 1.) Self was using OSU to increase the Kansas offer; 2.)He didn't like the new OSU AD (and Boone); 3.) He didn't want to get into the controversy over the Suttons; or 4.) He didn't like Oklahoma State. Those are the four that come to mind. As Tramel indicates in his article, if the rumored numbers were true, he was going to make a lot more at OSU.
Bill, if all which you state is accurate, two conclusions can be reached. First, you saved your alma mater from itself. Second, the OSU AD did everything he could to make a change occur and give it the best chance to occur. It didn't. But, everyone's feelings have been spared, Coach Self did what was likely something which needed to be done, Mr. Holder and OSU can be proud they sought the coach 'the right way', and did not attempt to use the press to make their case. Bravo to all. Oh, and I am an OU fan.
Self isn't the first to turn down his alma mater... 04/11/2008 Darrell Royal slept on it. Barry Switzer slept on it. Bill Self slept on it. A good alma mater is worth a good night's sleep. Self had the same opportunity...
Holder says he's regrouping AD admits to being... 04/11/2008 STILLWATER — As Bill Self took a stage in Kansas to announce he will stay in Lawrence, questions about Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder's...
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/blair_kerkhoff/story/570972.html
Time for Holder to separate himself the Gorilla alum and get on par with some of his peers.
He said KU and OSU would be his only choices. We all know abNorman is a poor basketball school -- very little fan support. Certainly nothing like Stillwater.
Of course, there's a plan B. Smart men always have an alternative plan or three. Whether or not they want to let you know their agenda is their business.
Believe this...Holder has other options in mind and has since way before Sean was asked to leave.
Most have Bill Gillespie of Kentucky next in OSU's sites, but why creat a massive media even when it's unneccessary before negotiations have begun.
The amount of money OSU has to attract a new headcoach will generate plenty of coach's interest. Their people will be trying to reach Holder (quietly, of course, because they don't want their teams to know they're interested in the OSU job).
OSU will continue to handle this new hire descretely and with class.