Kansas' Bill Self to be Inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame

Ceremonies in Oklahoma City to be held August 5, 2013

Jan. 15, 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY - Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self is one of seven individuals in the 2013 induction class for the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb announced Tuesday.

Self will be inducted August 5, 2013, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City along with Wayne Baughman (University of Oklahoma wrestling), Clay Bennett (owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder), Nadia Comaneci (Olympic gold medal gymnast), LeRoy Gutowski (Oklahoma City University and NFL standout), Jimmy Harris (Oklahoma football) and John Henry Ward (Oklahoma State University two-sport All-American).

“I don’t think I’ve ever been inducted into anything like that. It’s a great honor,” Self said. “I’m really proud of my state and respect all the people in different sports and different areas that have contributed to the rich sports history of Oklahoma.”

A native of Edmond, Okla., Self was named the Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year in 1981 while at Edmond Memorial High School. Born in Okmulgee, Okla., Self went on to play at Oklahoma State University under coach Paul Hansen from 1982-85. While at OSU, he was a four-year letterwinner and was an All-Big Eight freshman selection.

Self began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kansas for the 1985-86 season under head coach Larry Brown. He then returned to his alma mater and served as an assistant coach at OSU under Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton from 1986-93. Self’s first head coaching job was at Oral Roberts in 1993-94. His second head coaching stint came four seasons after ORU as he moved across town to Tulsa in 1997-98, guiding the Golden Hurricane to an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 2000.

In 2000-01 Self left his home state and took over the head coaching job at Illinois, directing the Illini to two conference titles and an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 2001.

Self came to Kansas in 2003-04 and in his nine seasons prior to 2012-13 has steered the Jayhawks to the last eight Big 12 regular-season titles, five Big 12 postseason championships, two Final Fours, one NCAA National Championship and one NCAA runner-up finish. The four-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012) has twice been named the national coach of the year (2009 and 2012) while at KU.

From 2007-12, Kansas won more games in a six-year span, 197-29, than any other program in NCAA Division I history. Included were five 30-win seasons. Self is 275-54 (83.6 percent) in his 10th season at Kansas and 491-159 (75.5 percent) in his 20th season overall.

About the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame

Founded in 1986, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame became part of the Jim Thorpe Association in 1989. A 20-name ballot of the state’s greatest sports figures is selected each year from a list of almost 150 nominees. Selection is based on accomplishments in sports and identification with Oklahoma. Voters select at least two inductees, while the honors committee selects additional honorees. For more information on the class of 2013 go to http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/2013/01/15/oklahoma-sports-hall-of-fame-names-2013-inductees/.

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