Self named AP coach of the year

By The Associated Press, Friday, April 3, 2009

Bill Self, who led Kansas to the national championship last year and had the Jayhawks back in the title hunt this season, is The Associated Press' college basketball coach of the year.

Self, who will be presented the award later today, lost all five starters from the team that beat Memphis in the championship game, leaving him to work with two veterans and eight newcomers.

The Jayhawks finished 27-8 and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament, winning the Big 12 title for the fifth straight season.

Self has a 169-40 record in six seasons at Kansas and is 376-145 in 16 seasons as a head coach. He received 28 votes from the 71-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25, easily beating Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh, who had 10.