For the third time in the past three years, news of Kansas basketball coach Bill Self checking into the hospital has created a stir around the program, particularly with a KU fan base that already has been bracing for the end of Self’s run.
According to a statement released by KU, Self, now in his 23rd season in charge of the Jayhawks, was admitted to LMH Health on Monday after feeling “under the weather,” where he was given IV fluids and reported to be feeling better.
He did not join the Jayhawks on their trip to Boulder, Colorado, for Tuesday night’s clash with the Buffs — 10 p.m. (central) tipoff on ESPN — but his absence on the sideline in that one is more of a footnote to the bigger question.
How much longer can this continue?
You’ve heard the chatter during recent years. And we all know that Self is closer to the end of his career than he is the beginning. But after each incident like this, scary, serious or otherwise, you can’t help but wonder if the end just got a little closer.
There was no specific indication that Self’s issue on Monday was or was not related to the recent heart issues that he’s had, first during the 2023 postseason and again in July of 2025.
Both prior hospitalizations required stents to be inserted into Self’s heart and led to him taking a long, hard look at some lifestyle changes to get healthier and better manage stress.
The KU coach turned 63 in December and questions about how much longer he might go on as the Kansas coach have lingered for a handful of years. The recent health scares have only made those questions more relevant.
Self used to say that he didn’t see himself becoming one of those guys who coaches into his 70s. But he’s also said in recent years, after both health scares, that being away from what he loves to do only made him realize he wants to do it for a while longer.
The question now becomes, what’s a while? Five to 10 years? A few more seasons? Or are we talking one or two more years. This most recent issue also brings into the equation the fact that the current season, provided he’s able to return to the sideline — which certainly seems likely — could be his last.
It’s such a tough situation for all parties involved, not the least of which is Self himself. The man became a Division I head coach at age 30. He’s done this and done it as well as anyone for more than 3 decades. To just call it a career when you’ve had so much success, made so many great memories and have the ability to do it at a place like KU for as long as you’d like is tough to do.
That said, if it’s coaching that is creating these health scares in any way, shape or form, Self owes it to himself and his family to make the decision to walk away.
If he does — or maybe more accurate, when he does — that brings in challenges for a number of people. KU AD Travis Goff, who will have to hire Self’s replacement. The current KU roster, both coaches and players. And players Self and his staff are recruiting for the future, as well. Add to that the impact on the KU fan base that has absolutely loved having Self lead their favorite team for the past 2+ decades.
Obviously, the hierarchy of serious impact on that group starts with Self and diminishes the further down the list you go. But this is big stuff, potential big changes and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t rather see Self get to make the decision to hang it up on his own terms rather than as a reaction to his body telling him it’s time.
If it is time, he’ll do the right thing. But that won’t make it any easier on anyone to say goodbye.
For now, the focus is on tonight’s game at Colorado, seeing when Self can return to the team and building on the recent momentum the 19th-ranked Jayhawks have built with blowout wins over No. 2 Iowa State and Baylor.
There has been no word who will take over as acting head coach while Self’s away. In the past, it was Norm Roberts, who was the head coach at St. John’s for a number of years, who slid into the head coaching seat. But with Roberts retired, it remains to be seen where KU turns tonight.
The two most likely options are probably Jacque Vaughn, with his NBA head coaching pedigree, and longtime Self assistant and former KU player Jeremy Case, whom Self has said has a bright future as a head coach and just recently received the Associate Head Coaching title at KU.
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