Former Illinois Head Man Named Top Coach of the Century by The Athletic

Former Illini coach Bill Self, now at Kansas, received rare commendation in a recent analysis of college basketball coaches

Mar 20, 2024; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self addresses the media during the NCAA first round practice session at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Illinois basketball has a long enough history that many fans may know only a few names on the list of figures who have prowled the sidelines for the Illini. From current coach Brad Underwood to Lou Henson to Harry Combes, Champaign has hosted its share of weighty college hoops leading men.

Among their membership is one coach who may still stand on the wrong side of the average Illini fan but who nevertheless has been, and remains, a formidable force in the game.

Given the success Bill Self has enjoyed more than 400 miles west of the State Farm Center, in Lawrence, Kansas, he is hard man to forget about. And for his excellence demonstrated with both the Illini and Jayhawks, Self recently earned an exceptional honor from The Athletic: coach of the century.

In college basketball, most coaches are judged by their success in March and April.

It’s a slightly flawed way to judge because of the one-and-done tournament setup.

So who are men’s college basketball’s top 25 coaches of the 2000s? pic.twitter.com/CvILT0K4wi

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 15, 2025

Despite being at the helm in Champaign for only three seasons, Self etched his name in the record books with the best winning percentage (.765) of any head coach who spent more than a single season coaching Illinois – and by a pretty wide margin. (Ralph Jones, at .714, ranks second.)

All three of those seasons saw Self's Illini land in the NCAA Tournament, one of which included a run to the Elite Eight. For good measure, Self added two regular-season conference championships and Big Ten Tournament title.

Yet Self’s legacy has been almost entirely cemented at Kansas. During his time with the Jayhawks, he has added a jaw-dropping amount of hardware: 21 NCAA Tournament appearances (in 22 seasons), four Final Fours and two national championships – not to mention 17 conference titles.

It’s impossible not to wonder what Illinois might have accomplished had Self stuck around Champaign, but why dwell on the past? Self’s greatness doesn't have to be loved, but it would be foolish to deny – especially when today's Illini are clearly in good hands with Underwood.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Basketball: Assembling the Best Starting Five of the Brad Underwood Era

How to Watch: A Guide for Viewing Former Illini in NBA Summer League

Did the Miami Heat Bench former Illini Kasparas Jakucionis in NBA Summer League?