Last year, Bill Self, the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, was reportedly courted by Oklahoma State, according to a recent report by Berry Tramel of Tulsa World. The Oklahoma State Cowboys made a strong push to hire Self in February, and he seriously considered the offer. However, Self ultimately chose to stay with Kansas, and Oklahoma State hired Steve Lutz instead.
Oklahoma State sources told Tramel that Self was impressed by their pitch, especially given his ties to the university. Self played and coached for the Cowboys in the 1980s, working under legendary coach Eddie Sutton. One source even mentioned that this was the closest Self had ever come to leaving Kansas.
Self acknowledged the talks with Oklahoma State but downplayed them, saying he simply answered questions and offered his thoughts on what the team needed to succeed in the Big 12. He clarified that he has done this in the past whenever the Cowboys have been on the lookout for a new coach.
Had Self made the move, it would have been a major win for Oklahoma State, which has struggled to regain its former glory since Sutton’s departure in 2006. The Cowboys have only made seven NCAA Tournament appearances since then, with no deep runs. This season, they are just 13-13, in the middle of their first year under Lutz.
Ironically, Kansas itself is having one of its roughest seasons under Self. While they’re still expected to make the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks are sitting at 8-7 in Big 12 play and have lost three of their last four games. Still, Self’s success at Kansas is undeniable, and the idea of him returning to his alma mater was certainly a compelling one.