Bill Self health update: Kansas coach shares changes made to routine

Legendary Kansas coach Bill Self was hospitalized in late July after experiencing “some concerning symptoms, leading to a heart procedure in which he had two stents inserted. He wasn’t feeling well that Thursday and later went to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for further evaluation, but is now expected to be ready by the beginning of the 2025 season.

Self is preparing for his 23rd season at Kansas, where he has a career 609-148 record. He previously missed the Big 12 tournament and NCAA tournament in 2023 due to a health scare and Norm Roberts coached the Jayhawks in Kansas City that year.

The two-time National Championship winning coach gave an update on how he’s feeling on Friday.

“I did take three or four days off (following the surgery), but I’m feeling pretty good,” Self said. “They’ve asked me and told me that I probably could have some improvements in my lifestyle and life choices, primarily with food and exercise. I know you guys have never heard that, but it is beneficial to feeling good and healthy. They got me doing some stuff but I’m feeling good.”

As Self made his return following his 2023 health scare, Self reflected on the incident. He said it changed his perspective, but he was listening to doctor’s orders as he returned to the office and, eventually, the sidelines. He is doing that once again now.

“The one thing I can tell you without question? I miss my job,” Self said in an April 2023 press conference. “I love my job and I want to do my job for a long time. That’s what is positive.

“Now for me to be as effective doing that? I think I have to wake up a little bit and maybe do some things from a lifestyle standpoint, a personal habit standpoint that I’ve been very, very, very inconsistent with my entire adult life. … I’m taking (the doctor’s advice) serious for the first time that I probably have in my life. All this did, from a job standpoint, was reconfirm how much I love doing what I do.”

Kansas is coming off its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance under Self’s watch, though it came to an end in the first round against Arkansas. The Jayhawks finished the 2024-25 season with a 21-13 overall record and an 11-9 mark in Big 12 play.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.