Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts on reasons for retiring: ‘I’ve run my race’
Norm Roberts says the ever-changing landscape of college basketball — one driven by NIL and the transfer portal — did not play a role in his decision to retire after 14 years as an assistant coach at Kansas and 37 years total in the business.
“Am I fed up with NIL? No, I’m not fed up with NIL. Times change. Things are different now, but that doesn’t mean things are bad,” Roberts told The Star on Monday in a phone conversation after announcing his impending June 30 exit from college basketball at the age of 59.
“I think the college game is great and everything, but I just think for me, my personal decision, this is what’s best for me and my family,” Roberts said.
He’s ready to spend quality time with wife Pascale and his sons. One, former KU player Niko Roberts (a four-year basketball letterwinner at KU from 2011-14) is now associate commissioner for men’s and women’s basketball at the Mountain West Conference office; the other, Justin Roberts, is assistant director of development for Boise State athletics.
“I’ve loved every minute of it. I will forever be a Jayhawk,” Roberts said.
The Jayhawks were wildly successful during Roberts’ time in Lawrence, winning seven Big 12 regular-season titles and three Big 12 tournament championships. KU also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight four times and captured the 2022 NCAA title.
So why give up the quest for another national title at a blueblood school?
“I’ve run my race,” Roberts said, noting, “it was a hard decision. I started thinking about it two, three months ago. I’m getting ready to be 60 years old in another month.
“I’ve been doing this a total of 37 years, so I’ve done it for a long time. I felt spending some time with family kind of in these golden years, my 60s, I wanted to spend more time with my wife, my family.
“Because this journey, which has been terrific (including six seasons as head coach at St. John’s and four at Queens College), those family members are the ones that have sacrificed. I’ve missed a lot of things, spent time away from family and I really want to spend more time with them.”
Roberts, a native of Queens, New York, said he’ll see how he feels after a few months away from the game and then decide if he wants to possibly entertain TV work. He was an analyst for the SNY Network in New York the season after he left St. John’s.
“I only did something like two games. I was in studio,” Roberts said. “I thought it was great. You can comment on games, say this and that, go home and eat a steak and never worry about losing one time,” he added laughing.
Asked if he’d be open to doing “other things in basketball,” he added, “Maybe. Not at the collegiate level, though. TV at the collegiate level, but not anything in terms of coaching.”
If he’s not turned off by some players now making between $2 million and $4 million for one year of college playing time, and the NCAA portal forcing coaches to rebuild entire rosters year after year, then why shut the door on a return to college coaching someday?
“Why would I coach anywhere else after being at the University of Kansas?” he said. “That is not my game plan at all. My game plan is to spend more time with my family and see what happens after that, but I won’t coach in college again.”
Roberts served as KU’s acting head coach twice during the 2022-23 season. With head coach Bill Self serving a suspension, KU went 4-0 to open the year, a stretch that included a win over Duke in the Champions Classic.
Roberts took over again right before the Big 12 postseason tournament, subbing for Self after the head coach had heart problems and was unable to lead the team. KU won two games and then lost to Texas in the tourney finals.
In the NCAA Tournament, KU won a game then fell to Arkansas in the second round.
“Coaching here has been awesome in every aspect,” Roberts said. “The highlights of my career here were coaching the players we were able to coach, winning the Big 12 championships we won, going to the Final Four twice and winning it all.
“What I’ll remember the most is the players and watching them grow, watching them succeed and watching them fight through adversity. Like Coach (Self) talks about all the time, ‘You are at Kansas. It’s never about you. It’s always about Kansas, about our program.’ It’s always ‘we’ and ‘us.’’’
Roberts said he will miss “day to day, the practices, interaction with players, Coach Self — my brother. I’m sure I’ll be calling those guys, staying in touch. I will cheer for this team.”
Self filmed a video tribute to Roberts on Monday that appeared on social media site X. National analyst Seth Davis wrote on X: ‘One of the great coaches and great guys in the sport and one of the most successful partnerships with coach Bill Self.”
Former Indiana, Georgia and Marquette head coach Tom Crean wrote on X: “Coaching against retiring Norm Roberts when he was the head coach at St. John’s was knowing you were competing against as tough of as a team as there was in the Big East because Norm was that tough. Norm epitomizes fierce competitor and excellence!”
Analyst Andy Katz wrote on X: “Congratulations to Norm Roberts on a fantastic career in (basketball). He has announced he is retiring after 37 years in the biz. Roberts has always been a coach of high character, accessible and welcoming. Bravo!”
Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes wrote on X: “Have known Norm since he went to work for coach Self at ORU in 95 when I was at Barton Co. Just an incredibly good person who is admired by everyone who knows him. His “glass is always half full” allowing his positive energy to rub off on you. Norm Roberts, you are the BEST!”
Jarrett Sutton, a scout for the New Orleans Pelicans wrote on X: “Incredible coach and recruiter, but a better man. Norm Roberts is one of the best there is. The sport and coaching profession lost one of its best. What a run he had.”
Roberts’ son Justin wrote on X: “There never will be another like you pop. We are so proud of you man!”
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts on reasons for retiring: ‘I’ve run my race’."
