Tragic news: A crucial player’s retirement was announced by the Kansas Jayhawks head coach because he left his contract to sign a new one.

Tragic news: A crucial player’s retirement was announced by the Kansas Jayhawks head coach because he left his contract to sign a new one.

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.

In a statement, Self said, “I would rather be anywhere else.” “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. Following his disastrous hiring of football coach Les Miles, who was also forced to leave when accusations of sexual harassment from his time at LSU surfaced, Jeff Long resigned last month under pressure from supporters and donors.