What Have You Done for Me Lately? Big 12 Coach Rankings Miss the Mark on Bill Self
It’s hard not to sense a “what have you done for me lately?” attitude in a recent Big 12 coaching ranking by James Fletcher III of On3. Despite his Hall of Fame résumé, Kansas coach Bill Self was ranked second—a placement that raises eyebrows when you look at his body of work.
Recency bias is real. It’s tempting to focus on the last season or two, but that narrow view often ignores decades of dominance. A couple of seasons without deep March runs shouldn’t overshadow a career that stacks up with the all-time greats.
So where did Self land, and who took the top spot?
Fletcher ranked Self second, behind Houston’s Kelvin Sampson.
Let’s be clear: Sampson is a tremendous coach. What he’s built at Houston is impressive—two Final Four appearances in five years and early success in the Big 12. But when you compare his résumé to Self’s, it’s simply not close.
Self owns two national championships, most recently in 2022. His teams have reached the NCAA Tournament 27 straight years across stints at Tulsa, Illinois, and Kansas. He’s claimed 21 regular-season conference titles, including a record 14 in the Big 12, and until last season, his Jayhawks had never been seeded lower than a No. 4 under his watch.
He’s third among active Division I coaches in wins, 13th all-time, and already in the Hall of Fame.
Sampson, by contrast, has 107 fewer Division I wins and no national titles. His lone regular-season Big 8/Big 12 title came two decades ago with Oklahoma—tying with none other than Bill Self’s Kansas squad. Since taking over Houston in 2014, Sampson has revitalized the program, winning six conference titles since 2018. His rise deserves praise. But his career achievements still lag well behind Self’s.
So why the ranking?
It likely boils down to recent trends. Kansas has had two comparatively quiet seasons, though “quiet” under Self still means 44 wins and a pair of NCAA appearances. In 32 seasons, he’s dipped below 21 wins just four times. While the transfer portal era has presented new challenges, Kansas remains a national power—and Self remains one of the most consistent winners in the sport.
One could even argue that Baylor’s Scott Drew should be ranked ahead of Sampson. Drew rebuilt Baylor from the ashes and led the Bears to a national championship in 2021—one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern college basketball.
That said, ranking great coaches will always spark debate. Sampson, Drew, and Self have all proven themselves at the highest level. But when you zoom out and consider everything—titles, consistency, legacy—Bill Self stands alone.
If these last two seasons are considered “down years,” most programs would take that in a heartbeat. Don’t be surprised if Kansas reasserts itself this season and reminds everyone just how rare and remarkable Self’s sustained success has been.
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