Coach Self isn't going anywhere. Even T. Boone Pickens couldn't draw him away from KU. There's several reasons for this.
a) Prestige, while OSU wouldn't be like moving to Missouri State or some other crap school, they just don't have the type of atmosphere that KU has, and never will.
b) The hassle, OSU is going to be a major rebuilding effort, Kansas is now Bill's team, and he can't recruit to OSU like he can here.
c) The money, and I know about Pickens' offer to make him the highest paid coach in CBB, but, he won't have the opportunity for "other" compensation such as endorsement deals coming from a school like OSU, as opposed to KU, that $3million that OSU is reportedly wanting to offer him is probably less than he makes here, although there is no easy way to tell.
All in all I'd say it's a pretty slim bet that he'd even consider taking the OSU job.
I agree. This is Self's program now. He has is players and after winning the championship he'll be able to name his price at KS.OSu can call Larry Brown, hell take the call.
Why would they think they can get Bill Self to leave Kansas? Yes, he's an alum, but it's Kansas and well...Oklahoma State. I am sure they will find an up and coming coach to return to some of the success they've had in the past but to think you are going to get Self from a premier program is just silly. I mean it's Oklahoma State not North Carolina (Roy Williams reference).
I understand your pride in your school, Justin, and as an OSU alumnus, I have absolutely no delusion that Self jump at a chance to come home, but I think it's a closer call than your reasons would suggest.
Prestige - KU is a better job than OSU, but these are similar programs. Close geographically, difficult to recruit to based on location and perceived "rural" setting, with rich tradition. OSU's basketball atmosphere is second to none, KU included. GIA is universally regarded as one of the top facilities in the nation (recognized by Sportsline as THE best a few years ago.) The fan support is great, and there's no question that BB reigns over FB.
Hassle - until this year OSU was the last Big XII team in the Final Four, only four years ago. Recruiting has been good, if not great since, and there are some very talented young players on the team now (James Anderson, for one.) This is not a rebuilding team.
Money - No one can compete with Pickens when it comes to money. He would ensure that Self is the highest paid coach in the country, all sources included. If it came down to only money, OSU wins, hands down.
I agree with your conclusion that the chances are slim, but I would point to the problem of Self moving to a big rival of KU where he would have to play his old team 2-3 times a year every year. And, all other considerations aside, if Self were to win the title this weekend, he will never leave KU.
This might be a good time to try to pry Mark Fox away from Nevada...he is losing his two best players to the NBA, likely going to be a year or two away from making the NCAAs again after missing this year for the first time in the past 5 years. He has been on record as wanting to stay put, but the right offer from OSU could pry him away. I'd hate to see him leave the Wolf Pack, but this might be the right opportunity. OSU fan, this guy knows how to recruit and to coach, you could do much worse than Mark Fox.
Bill Self is not going to leave Kansas for even Billy Donovan money, so to think anything different is fooling yourself, OSU fan. Sorry.
I agree with Frank on this one. Only the most self-righteous KU fans think their program is so much better they don't have to worry about losing a coach. It could happen. I don't think it will, and here is why.
Although OSU has great BB tradition and fan base, the KU job is more prestigeous and moving would be looked upon as a step-backwards.
Looking at Self's history money is not a huge factor, climbing the coaching ladder is. When being lured away from Tulsa University by Illinois the rich alumns from TU put together a compensation package for him. He originally agreed to stay but later left the money on the table for the job at the larger school.
