Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self addresses speculation about potential retirement
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- Bill Self says March postseason keeps him energized and engaged.
- Self says he feels pretty good despite past AFib and stent treatments.
- Kansas is the Big 12 tourney No. 3 seed; 2026 class ranked No. 3.
Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball coach Bill Self is in the twilight of his career, but the month of March and college hoops’ postseason still stir his excitement.
“If it’s not, I would quit,” Self said Tuesday, ahead of KU’s opener in this year’s Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. “It’s the best time of the year.
“March is the best time of the year for me. If you are going to ask (my) favorite months of the year, March would rank ahead of Christmas, ahead of December for me, just because this is what we love to do and live for. I find a ton of enjoyment. Hopefully, I will coach better and certainly (be) energized to do what I have to do and what our staff needs to do to prepare our guys. It’s the most fun time.”
In Self’s 23rd year in Lawrence, the Jayhawks have secured the Big 12 tourney’s No. 3 seed. They will play their first game of the event in the quarterfinals Thursday night.
Some fans are worried this could be Self’s final postseason. Various social media rumors have suggested his retirement is imminent. Speculation has run rampant in some corners of the internet that this could be it for the Hall of Fame coach.
“No, I feel fine,” Self said Tuesday afternoon. ”(There are) a lot of things out there that, that all it takes is for one person to say it, and then it’s your job to follow up on that one person. ... I wouldn’t believe what social media or the internet is saying.
“I feel, actually feel, pretty good, and I’m really excited about the next, hopefully several, few weeks or several weeks, whatever it be,” he added.
Self’s has dealt with a number of health issues in recent years. He missed a game this season due to “feeling under the weather.” Turned out that Self was dehydrated and got AFib (atrial fibrillation) during a brief hospital stay.
In July 2025, he had two stents inserted after experiencing “some concerning symptoms.”
Before that incident, Self missed KU’s postseason run in 2023 after being hospitalized March 8 with tightness in his chest. He had two stents inserted during that hospital stay, too. He didn’t coach any Big 12 or NCAA Tournament games after that incident.
Self maintained that the topic of his future hasn’t been an issue on the recruiting trail. And KU’s recruiting class is ranked No. 3 (class of 2026, per 247Sports). That ranking could improve further still, as KU is considered a favorite to land Tyran Stokes, the class’ No. 1-ranked player.
“No, no, the only people who have asked me about it (retirement) are you guys,” Self told reporters. “But no, I haven’t had to address it one time with anybody.”
