Bill Self defends program

By

Sports

October 25, 2018 - 11:42 AM

Silvio De Sousa (22) receives a big hug from Kansas head coach Bill Self after an 81-70 win against West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament championship game in 2018. Photo by Rich Sugg/Kansas City Star/TNS

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Bill Self emphatically defended his Kansas basketball program, while also saying he could not comment about specific allegations that arose from a federal court trial, during a news conference Wednesday night in the media room at Allen Fieldhouse.

“When recruiting prospective student-athletes, my staff and I have not and do not offer improper inducements to them or their families to influence their college decisions, nor are we aware of any third-party involvement to do so,” Self, KU’s 16th-year coach, said several hours after adidas executive James Gatto, former adidas consultant Merl Code and former sports agent Christian Dawkins were found guilty in a New York courtroom of seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

“As the leader of the Kansas men’s basketball program, I take pride in my role to operate with integrity and within the NCAA rules, which is a fundamental responsibility of being the head basketball coach.”

Related
March 6, 2020
September 24, 2019
February 28, 2019
October 16, 2018