LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) – Bill Self has added a new assistant coach to the bench for the Kansas Jayhawks.
Following the departure of assistant coach Chase Buford, KU has added longtime college basketball assistant Tony Bland to the Jayhawks’ staff.
Bland comes to KU from Washington, where he spent the past season as an assistant coach under Danny Sprinkle. Prior to Washington, Bland spent time as a high school head coach in Los Angeles and spent time as an assistant coach at USC and San Diego State.
Bland was one of the assistant coaches who was implicated in a 2017 FBI investigation into a bribery scheme to steer players to schools in exchange for money while he was at USC. His three-year show cause expired last year, prior to his arrival at Washington.
“Tony is a very, very talented young coach, who is a proven winner,” Self said. “He was a very good player at Syracuse and at San Diego State and he played a big role in the success at San Diego State and USC as an assistant coach. I believe in him wholeheartedly, and our basketball program just got better with his addition.”
Buford recently accepted an assistant coaching position with the Denver Nuggets, Self told reporters on Friday.
Bland joins Jacque Vaughn as KU assistants who have been added to the staff this offseason, following the departure of Buford and Norm Roberts.
“I’m beyond blessed to join the Kansas Jayhawks and work alongside coach Self,” Bland said. “He is one of the greatest to ever do it, and his belief in me means everything. I’m excited to learn from him and work with the entire coaching staff.
“Kansas has the best fans in college basketball, and I can’t wait to pour my heart into this program and the Lawrence community, while working hard to keep Kansas Basketball at the top of the sport.”
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