Bill Self is not yet ready to commit to a 24th season as the head coach at the University of Kansas.
The Jayhawks were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday with a 67-65 loss to St. John’s in their Round of 32 matchup. The game went down to the final buzzer as the No. 5 seed Red Storm beat the No. 4 seed Jayhawks on a layup by Dylan Darling as time expired (see the video here).
Speaking with reporters after the game, the longtime Kansas head coach Self was asked about his future. Self responded by effectively saying that he had not decided yet.
“I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” said Self, per Paolo Uggetti of ESPN. “I love what I do, I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home, and it’ll all be discussed.”
Self, 63, has led the Jayhawks to two national titles (in 2008 and in 2022) as well as 11 total appearances in the Sweet 16. He also ranks among the winningest active men’s basketball coaches with an impressive 855 career wins.
But Self has also experienced a number of health scares in recent years, including a hospitalization last summer during which he had two stents placed in his heart. Self seemed a little more optimistic about a potential return for 2026-27 a couple of weeks ago, but now it sounds like he will be truly weighing his options after bowing out by the first NCAA Tournament weekend for the fourth straight year.
