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Bill Self health update: Kansas coach reveals how he is feeling ahead of return to bench vs. Kansas State

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels01/25/26ChandlerVessels

After a brief one-game absence, Kansas coach Bill Self is set to make his return Saturday evening for the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State. The longtime Jayhawks coach was hospitalized earlier this week, causing him to miss the team’s trip to Colorado on Tuesday.

Self experienced atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular and rapid heart beat that can cause shortness of breath and lightheadedness. But before the rivalry matchup, he assured fans that he is feeling well and good to go during a pregame interview on the FOX broadcast.

“I feel great and I think you’re exaggerating right off the bat,” Self said when asked about his health. “I don’t think it was that big a deal. I do feel good. I had an AFib episode, which I didn’t even know I actually had. So that’s good to find that out.”

The recent health scare for Self came after the coach was already hospitalized this past July after experiencing “some concerning symptoms” during a summer practice. He underwent an additional heart procedure and had two stents inserted before being released two days later.

Self was also hospitalized in 2023, causing him to miss the entire Big 12 Tournament and the start of the NCAA Tournament. At that time, Self underwent a heart catheterization and had two stents placed to treat blocked arteries, per ESPN.

Bill Self turned 63 this past December and is in his 23rd season coaching at Kansas and his 35th overall as a head coach. He has won two national championships with the Jayhawks in 2008 and 2022 and taken the team to four Final Fours. His overall record in Lawrence is 637-161, making him the winningest coach in program history.

This year, the Jayhawks are off to a 14-5 (4-2 Big 12) start to the season and rank No. 19 in the latest AP Poll. They are hopeful to make their 22nd NCAA Tournament in the 23 seasons that Self has been coach and look well on their way.

They run into a K-State team that currently sits at the bottom of the Big 12 standings with a 1-5 conference record. But with this being a rivalry game, anything is capable of happening, and Kansas will surely be glad to have a healthy Self back on the bench.