Childhood Coach Shares Memories Of Edmond Native Bill Self

By Steve Shaw, News 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- Edmond native Bill Self was chasing history. With a win against Kentucky, Self would have been the first coach in Kansas' history to win two National Championships at the school.

Bill Self's high school coach in Edmond calls his former pupil "the greatest competitor" he's ever coached.

Mike De la Garza coached Self at Edmond Memorial from 1979 until Self graduated in 1981.

De la Garza says while Self was a great player, the coach always knew Self would be a great coach as well.

De la Garza says he and Self still talk periodically. And he remembers a conversation he says they had 20 years ago.

"He said ‘coach, I've got to have a head coaching job by the time I am 30.' I told him you will have a head coaching job by the time you're 30." De la Garza said."By the time you're 40, you'll have one of the top-five coaching jobs out there, and by the time you're 50, you'll be the best coach in the country."

De la Garza says he stands by those words.