Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self discusses health scare and how he’s feeling now
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Self had abnormal chest issues and was taken to LMH Health before the team's flight.
- Doctors diagnosed dehydration and atrial fibrillation; Self avoided flying.
- Self reports recovered, will resume practice, and praised Jacque Vaughn.
Just two days after Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Bill Self was taken to LMH Health for feeling “under the weather,” he appeared to be in good spirits while participating in his weekly radio show Wednesday night.
Self watched KU’s road victory over Colorado at his home in Lawrence. And in his place in Boulder, Colo., assistant coach Jacque Vaughn coached in his first-ever college game. (KU won 75-69.)
“I actually feel good,” Self said on the “Hawk Talk” radio show. “That wasn’t the most artistic or prettiest game I’ve seen, but it is probably the latest I’ve ever stayed up watching a game.”
As for what sent Self, 63, to the hospital?
“Right before our team is taking off, I started feeling some very abnormal chest issues,” said Self, who has dealt with heart issues in the not-too-distant past. “I’m thinking, based on what I had before, ‘This can’t be good.’
“I go down and get looked at and everything. Of course, they (the KU team) are getting ready to get on a plane. So, I told them, ‘Can I go? They’re like, ‘No you can’t go,’ because I was experiencing some stuff.
“Come to find out I was not severely, but very, dehydrated and I got AFib (atrial fibrillation). I just had a bout with that, so that was pretty significant in a very small snippet of time, but it was enough that I couldn’t get on a plane.”
Self noted that he’s been checked out “thoroughly” and “feels good.”
“I was kind of relieved to know it was what it was, to be honest with you,” he said. “So, I’m good to go. No limitations. I could have coached today. I could have coached last night. They just didn’t want me flying and being in altitude there. (I) certainly will be back on the practice court tomorrow without question.”
Self praised Vaughn for his coaching Tuesday night.
“Jacque was obviously in charge last night, not a knock to anybody, but the bottom line is we needed to win last night,” Self said. “We got two hours that we needed to put our best foot forward to win that game.
“Everyone did a great job. Jacque did a great job. Everyone did a great job, from what I could see watching it.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 8:12 PM.
