Doug Gottlieb Sends Some Love to Bill Self

On social media, Gottlieb responded to a post asking which stat feels unreal. His pick was straightforward.

“Bill Self has won 16 conference championships in 21 years,” he wrote. The number speaks for itself and reinforces how dominant Self has been throughout his time in Lawrence.

Since taking over the Kansas job in 2003, Self has turned the Big 12 into his personal territory. The Jayhawks have captured 16 regular-season conference titles under his leadership, along with eight Big 12 Tournament championships. From 2005 to 2017, Kansas won 13 straight regular-season crowns, matching a record that is almost untouchable.

Gottlieb’s comment highlights what has become common knowledge around the league. Kansas doesn’t just compete year after year. It leads from the front. Self’s teams win, reload, and win again. That consistency has shaped the standard that every other Big 12 program measures itself against.

This stat drop isn’t just a compliment to Self. It’s a reality check. Very few coaches, if any, can match that level of sustained success in a major conference. While the Big 12 continues to grow in depth and talent, Self’s record remains one of the most impressive runs in college basketball history.