Bill Self on his future in coaching: 'I'm on the back three or four'

The top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks started the season off on the right foot Monday with a dominant 99-56 win over NC Central, marking the start of the 21st season at the helm in Lawrence for head coach Bill Self.

Self has become a staple in college basketball with an impressive resume and accomplished career filled with various achievements, but many wonder how much longer the 60-year-old head man will continue his coaching journey. Which led to Self being asked on Wednesday how he views his own longevity and if he feels he has more years ahead of him or behind him as the Jayhawks head coach.

“Yeah, I think I’m just getting started,” Self said getting a laugh out of members of the media. “Hell no. I’m not only on the back nine, I’m on the back three or four.”

Self reflected on his head coaching career up to this point, which started with four seasons at Oral Roberts and three with Tulsa before he jumped into what he calls the fast lane.

“But that’s okay you know? I’ve been a head coach now for 31 years. Head coach for 31 years, and that’s 31 years, and of the 31 years 23 of them have been in the fast lane. I don’t even count Tulsa as the fast lane, or Oral Roberts, but Illinois and Kansas that’s a fast lane. I mean you’re competing against the big boys daily,” Self explained.

Being a collegiate head coach is a year-round job, especially in today’s game of college basketball, and Self has definitely put the miles in at the highest level of college basketball. He recently signed a lifetime deal with Kansas that reportedly makes him the highest-paid coach in college basketball, but he made it clear on Wednesday that he won’t be spending the rest of his days on the sideline.

“So could I do it or another 23 years? No, nor would I want to. But could I do it for several more? Absolutely. But I don’t have a time frame on when the end is, but I’d say closer to two-thirds than one-third. And I outscored Tad Boyle I think in a game going way back, way way back when,” Self said adding a joke about Colorado‘s head coach.

There’s no question that the Kansas program will let Self coach the Jayhawks likely for as long as he pleases as he’ll seek the 774th win of his head coaching career on Friday against Manhattan.