Kansas’ Bill Self unsure of coaching future after tournament loss

Legendary college basketball coach Bill Self said Sunday he’s unsure of his future in the sport after the Kansas Jayhawks lost to St. John’s.

Self said he wasn’t sure if he would return for another season. The 63-year-old won two national championships in 23 seasons with the Jayhawks. But the last few years have been marred by heart problems and other health problems.

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Kansas head coach Bill Self reacts as the team takes on California Baptist during the first half of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

“I’ve been through some things off the field, so I’m going to come back, find my family, visit and see what happens,” Self said. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I feel good and healthy to do it well enough. I’ll go home and all that will be discussed.”

Self 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.

Asked about his health on Sunday, Self said he didn’t know if he was “completely” healthy.

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Kansas head coach Bill Self shouts toward the court against St. John’s during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

“But I feel — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” Self added. “I’m not making any statements. But every year I think… when you start doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I probably look at it in more than two-year increments, so to speak. So I’m trying to focus on this season and trying to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’m going to come back to it now and break it down and see where it goes.”

The 2025-26 season ended with St. John’s guard Dylan Darling hitting a game-winning layup as time expired in the second-round game.

“My career is not going to be based on one game,” Self said when asked if it would be difficult to end his career with such a crushing loss. “I said I would come back and assess my health.”

Self took over the Jayhawks job before the 2003-04 season after three successful years at Illinois. He is 648-166 as head coach of Kansas. Kansas has made the NCAA Tournament every season. He only had five seasons in which he suffered at least 10 losses.

Kansas head coach Bill Self walks to the court during the first half of a game between Kansas and St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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