The 2007-'08 Kansas Jayhawks capped off one of the program's most storied seasons by winning its fi ft h national championship, and first in 20 years. The Jayhawks' success in 2007-'08 has been credited to total team eff ort and the inspiring leadership of head coach Bill Self. During his relatively short head coaching career, Self has established himself as one of college basketball's best by leading Oral Roberts to new frontiers, guiding Tulsa to its best season in school history, turning Illinois into a Big Ten powerhouse and now taking Kansas from a perennially great program to the best in the nation.
In Bill Self 's first authorized biography: "BILL SELF: At Home in the Phog," Self and those who know him best offer an inside look at his journey into becoming one of the game's most respected and most sought-after coaches.
Self tells how he achieved his dream of not only becoming a head coach, but also how he achieved the unimaginable -- leading the Jayhawks on to a national title. He offers minute-by-minute details of the contest that sent KU to the national title game and offers his insight into one of the greatest national championship comebacks ever.
Self achieved his dream of becoming a head coach. Th at much is evident. Even though he never dreamed of being the head coach at the University of Kansas, he did aspire to lead a college basketball team to greatness, which is exactly what he has accomplished.
Self 's journey proves that even though dreams may change, they can come true.
Bill Self In the storied history of Kansas basketball, no coach has a higher career winning percentage at the school than Bill Self. In 2008, in his fi rst trip to the Final Four, Self claimed the national title. Self has been to 10 straight NCAA tournaments and advanced to the Elite Eight fi ve times in that span, while directing three different programs. His Kansas teams have won four straight Big 12 regular-season titles and three straight Big 12 Tournament crowns. In the decade leading up to the national championship, Self has fi nished fi rst eight times in three different leagues. A former player (1981-1985) and assistant coach (1986-1993) at Oklahoma State, Self was head coach at Oral Roberts (1993-1997), Tulsa (1997-2000) and Illinois (2000-2003) before arriving at Kansas in April 2003. Self and wife Cindy have a daughter, Lauren, and son, Tyler.
