SAN DIEGO — Veteran Kansas mentor Bill Self revealed following Sunday’s concluding setback to St. John’s that he has not yet reached a conclusion regarding his future in coaching.
“I’ll return home to consult with family and assess the situation,” Self remarked after the Jayhawks succumbed to a last-second shot, losing 67-65 in the initial elimination stage of the NCAA tournament. “I cherish my profession, and I require the capacity to perform effectively while maintaining good health and well-being. I’ll get back home, and the matter will be thoroughly deliberated.”
Self then elucidated that his determination will not be contingent upon any game-related aspects, but instead, solely by his physical condition.
Self, 63, has contended with numerous medical concerns of late.
In 2023, he submitted to a “routine cardiac catheterization procedure” after reporting thoracic discomfort and was absent from that subsequent playoff period. In July 2024, he was admitted to a medical facility after manifesting “some worrisome indications,” then had an operation to have two stents implanted into his heart 48 hours afterward.
Then, in January recently passed, Self was transported to a medical center as a “precautionary measure” due to feeling unwell, as the institution announced then. Notwithstanding that medical admission, Self declared this past Sunday that, even if not fully recuperated, he experiences “a level of well-being not felt for an extended period.”
“I’m not issuing any declarations at all,” commented Self, who holds a record of 634 wins and 167 losses since assuming leadership at Kansas in 2003, having secured two national titles. “Upon engaging in this profession for such an extended duration, I used to view it in blocks of five years. Presently, I am likely considering it in shorter, perhaps two-year, phases, as it were. My endeavor was to concentrate on the current season and strive to advance us to a subsequent round, a goal we did not achieve. Therefore, I will now review the situation thoroughly and ascertain the implications.”
Facing the Red Storm, the Jayhawks overcame a 14-point disadvantage, then were left to observe in disbelief when Dylan Darling concluded their campaign by evading the opposing team’s defense for the game-clinching shot as time expired.
“One of the aspects that renders [the tournament] exceptionally remarkable is that it offers moments of triumph, yet can also inflict harsh realities,” Self observed. “I’m undeniably disheartened, feeling sorrow for our players, because they exerted such immense effort. But it was simply a challenging period.”
Under Self’s leadership, the Kansas teams have now been unable to advance beyond the initial elimination stage of the NCAA tournament for four consecutive seasons.
“The initial season we held a top seed, and I experienced grave medical concerns, so I was unable to see out the competitive year,” Self explained when questioned about the sequence of abbreviated tournament performances. “The past two seasons, including the current one, have exhibited inconsistency and a suboptimal level of performance. So, evidently, it causes dismay.”
Although Self expressed a desire that his fourth-seeded squad had performed with more steadiness over the year to secure a superior ranking, he resisted the idea that the institution must alter its fundamental character moving ahead.
“I genuinely hold the conviction that we must perform an exceedingly effective task of assessing talent and attracting new players,” Self stated. “My perception is that in the contemporary era, the ensuing four to six weeks will serve as an indicator for the query posed previously: ‘What steps can be taken for future betterment?’ The next four to six weeks will be the most significant interval to achieve that.”