Bill Self has already secured his place among the greatest coaches in college basketball history, but retirement isn’t on his mind anytime soon.
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The Kansas head coach recently explained why he remains motivated to coach despite the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, pointing to his desire to adapt to the modern era of college basketball rather than walk away from it.
Appearing on Jon Rothstein’s Inside College Basketball Now, Self said his motivation has shifted over the years, but his passion for coaching remains as strong as ever.
“I don’t feel I need to [keep coaching]. I feel I want to,” Self said. “It’s different now… But you know what? We all got to change.”
Self enters his 24th season at Kansas with an 855-272 career record, including a remarkable 648-167 mark in Lawrence. He has guided the Jayhawks to two national championships, multiple Final Fours, and has built one of the most consistent programs in college basketball.
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However, the sport has changed dramatically since Kansas won its most recent national title in 2022. NIL opportunities, the transfer portal, revenue sharing and constant roster turnover have transformed the job of a college basketball coach, forcing programs across the country to rethink how they recruit and build teams.
Rather than viewing those changes as reasons to step away, Self sees them as a new challenge.
“All professions change,” Self said. “And one of the challenges to me that I’m excited about is, can I adjust?”
Kansas has experienced mixed results during the NIL era. The Jayhawks have posted a 92-43 record since winning the 2022 national championship but have also suffered four consecutive NCAA Tournament exits before the second weekend — an uncharacteristic stretch for one of the sport’s premier programs.
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Instead of becoming discouraged, Self said the recent challenges have fueled his competitive drive.
“I really want to prove to myself that I can do it with the new generation of college basketball,” Self said. “So I love coaching. I love being around the guys. I love teaching. But I also have an inner drive to say, ‘You know what? I’m not so long in the tooth that I can’t adjust.'”
That mindset has shaped Kansas’ roster construction entering the 2026-27 season. The Jayhawks surrounded five-star freshman Tyran Stokes with experienced transfers such as Leroy Blyden Jr., Dennis Parker Jr., Keanu Dawes and Christian Reeves while continuing to pursue additional frontcourt help before the season begins.
Self has also found success identifying underrated transfer additions in recent years, including Melvin Council Jr., Tre White and Zeke Mayo, showing his willingness to adapt to new roster-building strategies.
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Whether those adjustments translate into another deep NCAA Tournament run remains to be seen, but Self made one thing clear: his passion for coaching hasn’t faded.
Rather than coaching because he feels obligated to continue, Self remains on the Kansas sideline because he still enjoys teaching, developing players and proving he can succeed in college basketball’s evolving landscape.
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