Everyone knows that the past few years of Kansas basketball have not lived up to the program's standard. The Jayhawks have failed to make it out the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since winning a national championship in 2022. Head coach Bill Self is aware that these outcomes were not what fans expected.
Some Jayhawk supporters have gone as far as to call for Self's job this past season, especially after an embarrassing loss to BYU. These critics now have a former player in their corner, as former KU star Julian Wright believes it is time for Self to retire.
“I know head coaches delegate and assistant coaches are more responsive,” Wright wrote in a lengthy Facebook post. “I’m a former player so Coach T doesn’t have to be as responsive. You’re a terrible leader with mid type of playbook (I’m algorithm.. his playbook is old y’all! I don’t even wanna be a head coach.. I’d demolish KU with a Creighton type roster. You 40+ year old coaches, start calling this new wave of 18-years PROS! Let’s admit our parents and grandparents and coaches meant well, but they ain’t have all the answers then and their advice may not work in 2025. Look at the ASW game."
“You old heads need to sit down and stop gatekeeping and rather empower the next wave of players and younger coaches with pro playing experience," he continued. "Fans, boosters. Y’all got it.. $23.1 for a buyout.. I’m putting 5% down if we start a gofundme to send Bill off to early retirement! Lol! If not, he’s no different than false prophets robbing their ‘followers’ BLIND!”
Julian Wright rants about Bill Self in Facebook post
This probably wasn't what you thought would appear on your newsfeed today, but Wright clearly has no love lost for the Hall of Fame coach. He played for Self from 2005-2007, leaving KU the year before it won a national title in 2008.
Wright was one of the most athletic and talented players in KU history. He was the 2005 Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year and was named a Third Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches' All-America. Wright proceeded to enter the NBA Draft, where he would be selected No. 13 overall and spend four years before playing overseas for a decade.
To make things even weirder, Jayhawk legend Sherron Collins issued a public statement on X denouncing Wright's comments. The two players competed together during the 2006-07 season.
It sounds like Wright wanted a job on the coaching staff, yet Self and Townsend would not respond to his calls. Given his absurd rant, it is probably best for the former Jayhawk to stay away from Lawrence for the foreseeable future.