Bill Self Makes Decision on Kansas Future Amid Retirement Rumors After NCAA Tournament Exit

Bill Self will continue to coach into the 2026-27 season.

The Kansas head coach announced Wednesday that he remains "focused and committed to Kansas Basketball competing for a national championship" amidst rumors that he might consider retirement this offseason.

Self had previously denied rumors that he was planning to call it quits, calling them "B.S." and "bad info."

"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," he added at the time. "I'll get back home, and it'll all be discussed."

Self has had a number of health issues in recent years, but the 63-year-old decided to return "after taking more than a week to consult his family and doctors," per The Athletic's CJ Moore.

Moore added that "Self has worked to improve his health, slimming down thanks to a healthier diet and exercise. Kansas has also changed its routine, consistently practicing in the mornings."

There is surely some unfinished business for Self at Kansas given the program's recent form. While the legendary head coach has won 648 games and two national championships at the school, the Jayhawks have gone three years without winning either a Big 12 regular-season or conference tournament title.

Kansas has also gone four straight seasons without advancing past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. That included a loss to St. John's in the second round this season.

"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," Self told reporters after that loss. "So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I'll go back now and break it down and see where that leads."

For now, it leads to Self on the sidelines in the 2026-27 season.