Key Highlights
- RamirezSat, January 17, 2026 at 5:46 AM UTC·3 min readThe John R.
- Wooden Award will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary this season.
- Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award.
- Kansas coach Bill Self's greatness as a college basketball coach comes from a rare blend of system mastery, adaptability, player development, and cultural consistency. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis longevity continues to this day, as his influence and tutelage can still be found in Lawrence, Kansas, maintaining a standard with one of college basketball's traditional Blue Bloods. Self - the 2013 recipient of the Wooden Legends of Coaching Award - doesn't just win with talent, he produces successful campaigns with structure and identity. Self, also a two-time AP Coach of the Year, generally builds his teams with a high–low offense, strong post play, and inside-out scoring.
- His systems generally punish mismatches with relentless play, as they create high-percentage shots instead of relying on streaky shooting.