Bill Self is still the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks; the main things that have “happened” recently involve his health scares over the past few years and a fresh in‑game ejection that pushed him into the news again.

Quick Scoop: What Happened to Bill Self?

  • He has dealt with heart‑related health issues in recent seasons, including chest tightness and blocked arteries that required stents and an aortic procedure, which caused him to miss parts of the 2023 postseason.
  • He was hospitalized again later and underwent another minor heart procedure, but was released and said he felt strong and was focused on returning to coach.
  • After a further precautionary hospitalization in January 2026, Kansas held him out of at least one game (vs. Colorado), with an assistant stepping in while Self emphasized he was feeling better but being cautious.
  • On the court, he recently drew headlines for being ejected from a Kansas game (only about the third ejection of his long coaching career) after vehemently arguing a foul call, which turned into a big talking point among fans.
  • Despite those issues, he has repeatedly said he plans to keep coaching Kansas long term and feels energized, while also admitting he has to take lifestyle changes more seriously (diet, exercise, etc.).

Health Situation in a Bit More Detail

Self’s major scare came when he experienced chest tightness and balance problems and went to the ER, where doctors found blocked arteries and inserted two stents.

He later revealed he had been dealing with heart problems longer than most people realized and also needed an aortic valve procedure, which explained why Kansas assistants had to step in for him during part of the 2022–23 season.

In 2025, he again felt unwell and was hospitalized; doctors inserted more stents, and the school framed it as addressing “concerning symptoms” before the situation became more serious.

Shortly after that, he was released, said he felt strong, and talked about using the offseason to recharge for the next year, signaling he wasn’t stepping away from the job.

Is He Retiring or Stepping Down?

  • Self has been very direct that he does not intend to retire yet and “missed” coaching when he had to sit out, saying he loves the job and wants to do it for a long time.
  • He has a long‑term, rolling “lifetime” style contract at Kansas that makes him one of the highest‑paid coaches in college basketball, which aligns with the idea that the school expects him to lead the program for years.

That said, he’s admitted the scares forced him to reflect and that to keep coaching at a high level, he has to “wake up a little bit” and consistently manage his health and habits better.

Why He’s Trending Right Now

  • The Arizona State game ejection has been a big talking point because Self almost never gets tossed; this was reported as only the third ejection of his entire coaching career.
  • Fans on forums are mixing that moment with reminders of his recent hospitalizations, sometimes wondering if stress from close games and officiating could clash with his heart history, even though publicly he has only framed the hospital visits as being handled carefully and “precautionary.”

So if you’re seeing “what happened to Bill Self” trending, it’s basically a blend of:

  • His past and recent heart procedures and hospital stays ,
  • His cautious short‑term absences from the bench, and
  • A rare, emotional game ejection that shot him back into the spotlight.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.