Bill Self reassures Kansas basketball fans that he is here to stay in press conference

Bill Self shot down any rumors of retirement in his long-awaited press conference.

After missing the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament due to a heart procedure, Hall of Fame coach Bill Self has not spoken with the media until now. Speculation about his future with the program had emerged, but it all was futile after announcing he would return for next season and many more.

In the presser, Self spoke about the outlook of next year’s roster and how the Jayhawks’ season ended. He was not on the sidelines to coach during Jalen Wilson’s final game at Kansas, which was a disappointing end to his great career in Lawrence.

When asked about his future with KU, Self had some encouraging words:

"“When you say ‘think about the end,’ I think it does prompt anybody to think about the end. But my end? I don’t even see the oncoming train down the track right now. When you think of the end, you think of it getting closer. When I think about the end now after sitting out and not doing this for a while, I think of it being further away.”"

It seems that Self will not only be returning for 2023-24 but sees himself coaching for a much longer time than that. Although this was the expected announcement, it is still a sign of reassurance to any Jayhawk fans that had doubts about him.

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Self has already been active in the transfer portal, scheduling visits with players and speaking to fellow recruits. He is fully committed to bringing in players that will make the upcoming squad into a Kansas-caliber one.

Anyone who questioned Self’s dedication to the program can sleep peacefully at night. Unfortunately for other Big 12 schools, Bill Self is here to stay in Lawrence for many years to come.