Billionaire OSU booster wants Self
Posted: Monday April 07, 2008 06:33AM ET
According to numerous media reports, Oklahoma State is prepared to offer Bill Self, win or lose tonight, a salary of $4 million a year, plus a $6 million signing bonus. That would not only nearly triple the $1.375 million he makes at Kansas but would fly past the $3.5 million paid the current highest-paid coach, Florida's Billy Donovan. The impetus behind it is one T. Boone Pickens, Oklahoma State's $3 billion "booster." He donated $165 million to his beloved school's athletic department, which, in turn, gave it back to him to invest. That lump donation has grown to $300 million. Oklahoma State, in kind, renamed its expanded football stadium Boone Pickens Stadium. Pickens is also a caretaker of the school's image. He turned on legendary basketball coach Eddie Sutton after his drunken driving charge in 2006. That led to his resignation, and Pickens never warmed to Sutton's successor, son Sean, who was forced to resign after a 17-16 season.
Bill Self, AP
Comments (70)
Wow, I didn't think Self would leave at first. But $4 million, AND a $6 million signing bonus? This man might make $10 million in less than a year, and he might not even win a championship.
jj730 | 04/07/08, 07:46 AM
Report Offensive Commentthis is what is wrong with college basketball. Self is from Oklahoma, as his wife is as well. I don't think they could possibly lure him,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, except for the money.
AugustaGolfer32 | 04/07/08, 09:08 AM
Report Offensive CommentSelf is all about himself, and that includes coaching at the most well known colleges. Oklahoma Something is not one of them. He ran out on Illinois when he had a chance to coach at Kansas, and he'll do the same if he gets a chance to coach at Duke or NC or whoever is currently on top of the basketball pile. I'm sure he'll be able to extort a better salary out of Kansas or wherever he is going next.
I never thought I'd say this, but Go Memphis!
chinese.bookie | 04/07/08, 09:09 AM
Report Offensive CommentBoone Pickens has decided that OSU is his own little fiefdom to rule over. The sad part is that OSU (the new O$U not in ColumbASS) has wh ored itself out to him. Is Self that much of a money wh ore that he would be lured to become one of Boone Pickens' servants?
The Warden | 04/07/08, 09:13 AM
Report Offensive CommentMan!! I guess, money talks
antonio | 04/07/08, 09:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentNo duh! Boone Pickens puts a lot of money into that program, and obviously he wants the best. However, I do not see Self going. He has a far easier time building winners at Kansas then he is going to have at Oklahoma State.
J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 04/07/08, 09:20 AM
Report Offensive CommentRegardless of $10 million a year, he'd still be coaching in Stillwater. He played college ball there and he has to remember what sh*thole it is. But on the only note that matters. You can put a new 10 million dollar man at the helm of the aggies, but it will still just look and smell as repulsive as ever. I can't wait until the OSU fans see this.
Pistols Firin' (and yes that was meant in the most degrading sarcastic way possible)
NuthinToHoldBack | 04/07/08, 09:31 AM
Report Offensive CommentMabybe....because of the money but there can't be another reason why Self would want to go to Oklahoma State. Seriously. The guy is at Kansas...and Oklahoma State thinks they have a shot? the funny part about all of this is that ever since this guy has been donating all of this money the sports teams are all the same as they were before. They are all middle of the road Big Twelve teams. I would love to see Kansas match it.
Salukibball | 04/07/08, 10:05 AM
Report Offensive CommentWell, Pickens can wish in one hand and s**t in the other and guess which one will fill up faster? Why would any copach in thier right mind leave a top five program that he just got in the championship game to go to a place like Stillwater where they will nver be on par with KU and Texas? KU has boosters too and I'm sure that Lew Perkins will not let Self get away. This is differen than when Roy went to UNC. UNC is a great job on par with KU. Going from KU to OSU would be like trading in a Ferrari for a gold-plated Gremlin.
Jaminrawk | 04/07/08, 10:25 AM
Report Offensive CommentHow many of the critics would bolt for a 3x's bump in salary? I know I would. I'd even move to Oklahoma for a few years.
The problem is being beholden to a booster. What happens when he has a bad year and Slim Pickens wants the next OSU flavor-of-the month?
People equating the Illinois program to Kansas are fooling themselves. That was a no-brainer for Self to leave for that job.
duany | 04/07/08, 10:26 AM
Report Offensive CommentGoing from KU to OSU would be like trading in a Ferrari for a gold-plated Gremlin.
Jaminrawk | 04/07/08, 10:25 AM
The only difference is, you would have about $10 million to work on that Gremlin..
jj730 | 04/07/08, 10:33 AM
Report Offensive CommentNike's PhilipKnight rules UnivOregon and is trying buy status and respectability at Stanford to overcome 'exploitive cheap labor' stigma - so Pickens wants to rule OklaState -- maybe they could just let him buy the whole school, rename it SlimPickensUniversity, and let the taxpayers off the hook -- and then move it to Florida or Nevada
silverblack23 | 04/07/08, 10:33 AM
Report Offensive CommentGoing from KU to OSU would be like trading in a Ferrari for a gold-plated Gremlin.
Jaminrawk | 04/07/08, 10:25 AM
lol. right on man. that's good.
Salukibball | 04/07/08, 10:41 AM
Report Offensive CommentIt's good to be the king.
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida | 04/07/08, 10:46 AM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, but $10 million is a lot of gold plate!
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida | 04/07/08, 10:47 AM
Report Offensive CommentI think I could tolerate moving to Oklahoma State from Kansas for triple salary. What's the downside? Self is already catching lots of crap from boosters that want a championship every year. Why not have insane booster expectations AND $10M in year 1?
Sir Robin (as himself) | 04/07/08, 11:13 AM
Report Offensive Commentguess a lot of you have forgot what the state of Kansas is really like - flat and windy- don't think it would take 10 million for a person in their right mind to leave that state, and why not to Oklahoma, they have a rich tradition in athletics.
okiecowboy | 04/07/08, 11:35 AM
Report Offensive CommentBoone Pickens should have kept his mouth AND wallet shut until after the championship. That being said, college hoops is a business baby and money talks. Bill self will need to decide which is more important prestige or money. A top 5 program like Kansas will ALWAYS land the top recruit or the big name coach. So if he leaves Kansas will survive and will have NO PROBLEM landing the next big coach. Bill Self on the other hand will never get close to a championship again if he bolts for OSU. He will have a lot of money though!!
texashawk | 04/07/08, 11:38 AM
Report Offensive CommentSelf would be have to be crazy to pass up having his salary tripled. And he isn't crazy. Look for Self to leave, and KU to poach Turgeon from A&M.
jaoneal | 04/07/08, 11:42 AM
Report Offensive CommentWest Kansas is flat and windy. Lawrence,KS is a heck of a college town right by Kansas City and Johnson Co, KS. One of the richest counties in the nation. Someone that makes the comment that all of KS is flat and windy has never been to that part of KS. It's very nice.
Oklahoma State fans are dreaming! Lew Perkins has already said he is going to make it right with Self after the season is over.
jayhawkfan11 | 04/07/08, 11:52 AM
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