According to a bombshell report from the Tulsa World’s Berry Tramel, Oklahoma State nearly had a big-fish hire that would’ve flipped the college basketball world on its head.
After parting ways with Mike Boynton following the 2023-24 season, the Cowboys had Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self contemplating a new challenge in Stillwater, rather than going for year 22 in Lawrence.
According to Tramel’s report, Self “seriously considered” the Oklahoma State job this past cycle, and it would’ve made a lot more sense than most people realize.
Self, 62, is an Oklahoma native, born in Okmulgee and played basketball for the Pokes from 1981-85. He also served as an assistant under Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton (1986-1993) before taking his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts.
Since then, Self has become one of the most accomplished coaches in basketball, leading the Jayhawks to two national titles and 24 total Big 12 Championships between regular season and tournament titles.
When Oklahoma State parted ways with Boynton last March, their hiring process seemed to drag along for quite some time—as it turns out, the delay was allowing the Cowboys to take “a swing” at the two-time AP College Coach of the Year.
According to Tramel, Self stayed for a couple of days at a lodge in Karsten Creek before he ultimately decided to stick with the Jayhawks.
Self will welcome his would-be suitors to Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday when the 23rd-ranked Jayhawks (17-9, 8-7 Big 12) host Oklahoma State (13-13, 5-10 Big 12).
