Bill Self admits he is 'on the back nine' of his coaching career

While it’s difficult to imagine college basketball without Bill Self, he can’t coach forever. On Friday, the Kansas men’s basketball head coach pulled back the curtain on how much longer he plans to be around the game.

“That’s the first time it’s ever crossed my mind,” Self joked. “I actually hope to do it a while longer. Times are different, though. Times are different. I used to look at it, and I got a dear friend who talked to me about this all the time. You kind of look at life in five-year increments. I’m not sure it’s five years anymore. Maybe two or three. And then, you decide what you do after those increments.

“I don’t know how you guys look at it, but that’s not anything I’ve spent any time on. I like our team and I’m very excited about a recruiting class moving forward… I don’t have the answer, but I know that I’m on the back nine. I don’t know if I’m on 13 or 16, but I’m not on 18.”

Self is 61 years old and has been coaching at the collegiate level since 1985. He boasts 813 career wins, with head coaching stints at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas.

Self has been at the helm of the Jayhawks since 2003, leading the program to two national titles, four Final Four appearances, eight Big 12 Tournament championships and 16 Big 12 regular season crowns.

For his efforts, Self has been named the AP College Coach of the Year twice, Big 12 Coach of the Year six times and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. With Kansas currently ranked No. 1 in the country, Self has a chance to add to his laundry list of accolades this season.

The Jayhawks are off to a hot start this season, already boasting wins over North Carolina and Michigan State. In the Jayhawks’ win over the Spartans in the Champions Classic, Kansas center Hunter Dickinson erupted for 28 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 13-of-21 from the field.

While Dickinson was the standout in the triumph, it was a team effort for the Jayhawks, who collected 17 assists on their 28 made field goals. On Saturday, Bill Self and Co. will look to put on a show again as they square off against Oakland at 6 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN+.