Legendary Kansas basketball coach Bill Self was taken to hospital on Thursday after experiencing ‘concerning’ symptoms related to his heart.
Self, the most successful basketball coach in Kansas Jayhawks history, had two stents inserted into his heart at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in order to treat blocked arteries, the school’s athletic department said in a statement.
‘The procedure went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery,’ the statement added. ‘He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.’
The 62-year-old directed the final practice of the summer session Thursday morning as he prepares for his 23rd season as head coach of the Jayhawks.
He was forced to miss the 2023 Big 12 and NCAA tournaments because of a heart condition, which forced him to undergo a standard catheterization and have two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries.
Self has led Kansas to national titles in 2008 and 2022 and is the school’s career victory leader with a 609-156 record. Under his leadership, the Jayhawks have also won 16 regular-season conference titles and eight conference tournament championships.
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self was taken to hospital on Thursday due to a heart problem
The 62-year-old, who is gearing up for his 23rd season with Kansas, had two stents inserted
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, the former Oklahoma State player also coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois.
Speculation about Self retiring from college basketball intensified at the end of last season, which he shut down on multiple occasions.
His longtime assistant coach Norm Roberts, who filled in when he was sidelined in 2023, did retire this offseason. He has been replaced by former Kansas star and two-time NBA head coach Jacque Vaughn.
Self and the Jayhawks have welcomed star freshman Darryn Peterson to the team this season, a projected top pick in next year’s draft.
