Leadership Theory Research Paper

Introduction

In 2003, Head Coach Roy Williams, after leading the Kansas Jayhawks to the finals of the NCAA tournament, left the University of Kansas to return to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the subsequent search for new head coach, one candidate was quickly identified as the target of the University: University of Illinois Head Coach Bill Self. At the time of his selection, Self was still a relative newcomer to head coaching, having only 10 years’ experience as a head coach, with just three years at a power conference school. Despite this concern by some of the alumni, Coach Self has performed in an exemplary manner winning 13 straight Big 12 conference titles, making two Final Fours, and winning the National Championship in 2008.

Thesis Statement

Bill Self, head coach of Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team and 2017 inductee into the Naismith basketball Hall of Fame, has achieved much of his success through use of many of the practices presented in The Leadership Challenge and embodiment of the theories presented in Fiedler’s Contingency Theory.

Background on Coach Self

Collegiate Playing Career

Assistant Coaching

Head Coaching Prior to Kansas

Background and Explanation of Leadership Theories Examined

TLC

Model the Way

Inspire a Shared Vision

Challenge the Process

Enable Others to Act

Encourage the Heart

Fiedler’s Contingency Theory

Relationship-Oriented Leadership

Task-Oriented Leadership

Examples of Coach Self Use of Leadership Theories

0. TLC

Model the Way

Inspire a Shared Vision

Challenge the Process

Enable Others to Act

Encourage the Heart

Fiedler’s Contingency Theory

Relationship-Oriented Leadership

Task-Oriented Leadership

Conclusions