KU’s Bill Self may have given clue about his future plans before the season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Fans debate Bill Self’s future after KU’s NCAA loss and vocal backlash
- Supporters cite Self’s two national titles and long tenure since 2003
- Health issues since 2022 fuel retirement speculation among Kansas fans
The reaction of some Kansas men’s basketball fans to Sunday’s NCAA Tournament loss to St. John’s baffled others.
Fans wanting KU coach Bill Self to step down were called spoiled by former Jayhawks star Scot Pollard. And some people warned those Jayhawks fans that they may end up regretting it if they get their wish and Self retires.
“As a UNC fan some KU fans don’t get it. Enjoy making the tournament and winning 20 games a year,” wrote a fan on X. “Trust me the NIT or not making the tournament is a lot worse. Bill has 2 NC’s and people still want him gone. Some fake UNC fans wanted Roy gone. Now look where there at…”
Another shared this: “I know there’s some grumpy KU fans out there about the program’s last two years, but be careful what you wish for. Kentucky’s losing by 22 to an Iowa State team without its best player. Doubt that happens if John Calipari was still there.”
“Kansas’ definition of a bad season is different than anyone else’s,” wrote a fan. “Hell, Duke and UNC both have had 20 loss seasons since Coach Self has been at KU.”
The day will come when Self retires, but will it be sooner rather than later? That’s the question KU fans are pondering these days.
Self, 63, has been the Jayhawks’ coach since 2003 and led KU to a pair of national championships. But a series of health issues since 2022 could be enough to convince Self to retire.
Following that loss to St. John’s, Self said he would talk with his family and then decide if he will return for another season as the Jayhawks’ coach.
But one clue about Self’s thinking may have come in October.
Self was asked about the possibility of retirement during an interview with CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish at Big 12 Media Days. Self said he was aware of the Jayhawks’ results the previous two seasons.
“I didn’t think about it until I had my recent health scare,” Self said of retirement. “Then the doctors kind of confirmed to me that ‘Bill, if you love it, why would you stop it? Because you’re fine.’ If you take care of yourself, you’re fine. “The thing that probably interests me as much as anything, we’ve had two down years by Kansas standards. I won’t even consider ... going out on a down year. I mean, that’s not even in consideration. We have got to get this thing back to exactly where I know it can be consistently. Because it’s been proven over time.”
KU fell short of the Sweet 16 again this season, so perhaps Self will want to return to get the Jayhawks up to what he called “Kansas standards.” Or maybe the latest health scare, which came after that CBS interview when Self was hospitalized in January, will make him decide it’s time to stop coaching.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 10:59 AM.
