On March 20, 2021, in Indianapolis, Indiana, head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks readcts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Eastern Washington Eagles in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Maddi Meyer)(AP) – In spite of the fact that the university is awaiting the outcome of an independent panel’s investigation into five Level I violations claims brought forth by the NCAA, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has agreed to a new deal that will keep him with the Jayhawks until his retirement.

The school declared on Friday that Self had agreed to a five-year contract, which is effectively a lifetime deal since it adds one year at the end of each season. With a basic pay of $225,000, a professional services contract of $2.75 million, and an annual retention bonus of $2.435 million, the agreement assures him $5.41 million annually.In September 2012, Self signed a 10-year contract that guaranteed him $52.2 million plus a $7.2 million retention incentive. The contract was almost up. Over a period of seven years, the incentive will be paid out in $100,000 monthly increments.

I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” Self declared in a statement. “We look forward to moving forward and focusing on our bright future as we continue to work through the challenges facing our program.”

Some questioned if the 58-year-old Self would leave before the Jayhawks would face harsh penalties related to the FBI’s probe into college basketball corruption. In September 2019, the NCAA revealed the five allegations in addition to other, less significant offenses pertaining to the football program. The charges were refuted by the school, which started a back-and-forth series of events that is still ongoing.

The NCAA’s recently established Independent Accountability Resolution Process is currently handling the case. The arbitrators that make up the IARP are endowed with extensive investigation authority and finality over their decisions.

The school cannot fire Self for cause “due to any current infractions matter that involves conduct that occurred on or prior to” the new contract’s signature, according to a condition in his new contract. Rather, he would give up half of his basic pay and professional services income while serving any punishment imposed by the NCAA or Big 12 conferences.

The IARP is expected to make an announcement this fall, though it is unclear when exactly.

Chancellor Doug Girod stated, “Coach Self has embodied the spirit and tradition of the University of Kansas for almost 20 years.” “We are thrilled that Coach Self will remain a Jayhawk for the remainder of his coaching career because we believe in him and in our program’s future under his direction.”

Self’s new contract’s timing is particularly distinctive because Kansas doesn’t yet have a full-time athletic director. Last month, under pressure from supporters and donors, Jeff Long resigned as football coach Les Miles, who was also forced to step down after accusations of sexual harassment emerged from

While the football team, led by interim coach Emmett Jones, begins spring practice, Girod is actively searching for a new AD with the assistance of an advisory council and an outside firm. The search for a new coach will be headed by the new AD.

Maybe it was understandable for Kansas to want to hold on to Self for the foreseeable future, given all the uncertainties.

Self, an Oklahoma State graduate, joined the Jayhawks as a graduate assistant to Larry Brown before going back to his old school to coach for Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton. After landing his first head coaching position at Oral Roberts, Self moved to Tulsa, where he played in two NCAA Tournaments and made it to the Elite Eight, which helped him land the Illinois position.

In his three seasons in Champaign before to taking the Kansas job, Self also guided the Illini to the Elite Eight.

The Jayhawks have won at least 21 games in every season since he moved to Lawrence. This season, however, was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic and concluded with a loss to USC in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Over his 18 seasons, the Jayhawks have won or shared 15 conference crowns and have never missed the NCAA tournament. Three of those visits were to the Final Four, and two were to the national title game; eight of those trips went to the Elite Eight or higher. The 2008 title was won by Kansas after an overtime victory over Memphis.