- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Kansas Coach Bill Self Noncommittal About Future
Self leaves open possibility that season-ending loss could mark end of decorated tenure with Jayhawks
Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:12am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Kansas coach Bill Self left open the possibility that the Jayhawks' season-ending loss to St. John's in the NCAA Tournament could mark the end of his decorated tenure with the program. Self, 63, did not announce any decision on his future but indicated he would evaluate his health and desire to continue coaching after returning home from the tournament.
Why it matters
Self has been one of the most successful college basketball coaches of the last two decades, leading Kansas to two national titles and becoming the winningest coach in program history. His potential retirement would be a major shakeup in the sport, especially given the Jayhawks' recent struggles to advance deep into the NCAA Tournament.
The details
After Kansas' 67-65 loss to St. John's in the Round of 32, Self said he would return home, meet with family and evaluate his future. Self has dealt with several health issues in recent years, including heart procedures in 2023 and 2025, and he acknowledged he is now looking at his future in two-year increments rather than five-year increments. The Jayhawks' early tournament exit capped a season marked by flashes of elite play but also instability around star freshman Darryn Peterson's availability.
- In 2023, Self missed the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments after being hospitalized with chest tightness and undergoing a heart catheterization procedure.
- In July 2025, Self had two more stents inserted after 'feeling unwell and experiencing some concerning symptoms'.
- In mid-January 2026, Self was taken to the hospital and did not travel with the team for a game at Colorado.
The players
Bill Self
The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team since 2003, leading the program to two national championships and becoming the winningest coach in school history.
Darryn Peterson
A freshman phenom for the Kansas Jayhawks who has dealt with availability issues this season.
Dylan Darling
The point guard for the St. John's Red Storm who hit the game-winning layup to eliminate Kansas from the NCAA Tournament.
What they’re saying
“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.”
— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks
“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.”
— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks
What’s next
Self will meet with his family and evaluate his future with the Kansas program in the coming days and weeks.
The takeaway
Bill Self's future with the Kansas Jayhawks is uncertain after the team's early NCAA Tournament exit, with the Hall of Fame coach hinting that his health concerns and desire to keep coaching at a high level will factor into his decision on whether to continue leading the program.
