Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino was smiling coast-to-coast as Chancellor Robert Hemenway introduced Bill Self as Kansas University’s next men’s basketball coach.
“It’s an exciting day here,” Mangino said. “Everything that I’ve heard about Bill Self has been very positive. He’ll be a great addition to the athletic department.”
Self is another in the line of recently hired KU coaches looking to establish — or in Self’s case, maintain — success in their program. He’s the fifth new coach to join Kansas in the last year and a half.
“There is nothing wrong with freshness of ideas and thoughts,” said Mangino, who was hired in December of 2001. “This is a good opportunity for the football coach and the basketball coach to learn together, to grow together and help one another out.”
Mangino said he met with Self briefly prior to Monday’s news conference, and liked the first impression.
“We haven’t sat down and talked at length,” Mangino said. “He’s really busy, and we’re getting busier with spring recruiting. We haven’t had the opportunity, but we will shortly.”
First-year baseball coach Ritch Price also liked the initial vibes.
“I think it’s outstanding,” Price said. “I’m very impressed with his personality and his sense of humor. And obviously, his background and his record speaks for itself.”
With former coach Roy Williams’ departure last week, Marian Washington is now the last veteran coach remaining among the high-profiled sports at KU.
Washington was the women’s basketball coach back in 1985-86, when Self was a graduate assistant under Larry Brown.
“I think it’s awesome,” Washington said. “I’ve heard a lot about him.”
Next year’s men’s team could be just as solid, thanks in part to a strong recruiting class.
“Our guys deserve to have somebody very special,” Washington said. “For our tremendous recruiting class to remain loyal, that itself speaks for this university. They deserve someone real special, and Bill Self is one special coach.”
