Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self, facing health concerns, considers his future after a second-round NCAA Tournament defeat. The Hall of Fame coach, who has led Kansas to two national championships, acknowledges the need to evaluate his health and family before deciding on his coaching career.
Bill Self says he hasn't decided whether he will continue his Hall of Fame coaching career after the Kansas Jayhawks ' season ended with a heartbreaking loss to St. John's in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
The 63-year-old Self has won two national championships and built a powerhouse during his 23 seasons in charge of the Jayhawks, but he has missed several games over the past few seasons due to heart issues and other health concerns. 'I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,' Self said. '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 will all be discussed.' Self most recently missed a game at Colorado in January after taking a precautionary trip to the hospital. He also had two stents inserted in his heart in 2023, and two more last year. Self has been one of college basketball's most successful coaches since he replaced Roy Williams in Lawrence in 2003. He joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, and he became the winningest coach in Kansas history in November 2024, passing Phog Allen. But Self's health problems are understandably something to consider. When asked Sunday if he was completely healthy, Self replied: 'I don’t know about completely.' 'But I’m feeling — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time,' Self added. 'I’m not making any statements whatsoever. But every year, I think ... when you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak. So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.' Self's Jayhawks have won 16 regular-season Big 12 titles — including 13 straight at one point — and nine conference tournament titles. His teams have reached three Final Fours, winning championships in 2008 and 2022. But Kansas hasn't returned to the Sweet 16 since that second championship, going out three times in the second round and once in the first. The Jayhawks' latest season-ending loss was gut-wrenching. Facing a 13-point deficit with 7 1/2 minutes to play, Kansas fought all the way back to tie it with 13.1 seconds left, but St. John's advanced on Dylan Darling's layup as time expired. The final six weeks of the season were rough for the Jayhawks. They ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in a landmark victory on Feb. 9, but subsequently lost six of their final 11 games. Self's career record stands at 855-272. 'My career ain’t going to be based on one game,' Self said when asked if it would be tough to end his career on such a crushing defeat. 'I said I was going to get back and evaluate my health situation.' Self coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois before returning to Kansas, where the Oklahoma native was an assistant in his first coaching job 40 years ago. He has coached 43 NBA players at Kansas, including 12 lottery picks and 18 first-round picks. Reporting by The Associated Press.
Bill Self Kansas Jayhawks NCAA Tournament Coaching Retirement Health
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AEW Collision Schedule Shifted for NCAA TournamentAEW Collision's usual Saturday night slot on TNT will be split into two one-hour specials, Slam Dunk Saturday and Slam Dunk Sunday, airing after the NCAA Tournament. The shows will feature matches like The Brawling Birds vs. Sisters of Sin, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia vs. Komander & Máscara Dorada, La Faccion Ingobernables in trios action, Místico & JetSpeed defending their trios titles, and Roderick Strong & Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal & Lee Johnson. Divine Dominion will also be in action.
Read more »
Colorado Buffaloes Coach JR Payne Speaks Candidly Before NCAA Tournament AppearanceThe Colorado Buffaloes have made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years, and coach JR Payne believes that this team has the opportunity to win this year, but also that it is the expectation to go deep in March.
Read more »
Saint Louis Head Coach Showers Michigan With Praise After NCAA Tournament LossThe Sint Louis head man made several compliments about Michigan after his team fell to the Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament
Read more »
Villanova head coach doubles down on 'joke' he needs to fire staff after NCAA Tournament lossFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
NCAA Tournament Team Loses Head Coach Days After First Round LossAn NCAA Tournament team just lost its head coach to another program days after suffering a first round loss.
Read more »
Bill Self Questions Future After Kansas’ NCAA Tournament ExitFor the fourth straight year, the Kansas Jayhawks lost in the first or second round of the men's NCAA Tournament.
Read more »