Bill Self reflects on how health scare changed his perspective on coaching

We always wish it wasn’t the difficult moments that shift our mindset on things. Still, they provide significant change when it comes to perspective on just about anything. For Bill Self, that’s exactly what he found after his health scare last month.

Self shared what he had learned following the process of getting a heart condition checked out during a press conference on Wednesday. He said it has created time for a lot of reflection and, in doing so, reminded him just how much he loves Kansas and his program.

“I think, the last several weeks, I’ve been able to reflect on a lot of things. The one thing I can tell you without question? I miss my job,” Self said. “I love my job and I want to do my job for a long time. That’s what is positive.”

“Now for me to be as effective doing that? I think I have to wake up a little bit and maybe do some things from a lifestyle standpoint, a personal habit standpoint that I’ve been very, very, very inconsistent with my entire adult life…I’m taking (the doctor’s advice) serious for the first time that I probably have in my life,” said Self. “All this did, from a job standpoint, was reconfirm how much I love doing what I do.”

This is exactly what many in Lawrence wanted to hear after this issue took place. Some worried if it would sideline Self more or even for good. However, it seems as though it has only reinvigorated him for next season and the remainder of his career.

Again, it shouldn’t take serious conditions to cause us to look for serious retrospection. Still, since it did happen, Kansas might have gotten the best outcome out of it as, although they weren’t able to end this season how they wanted to, they may be getting an even better version of Self next year. That’s great news for the Jayhawks and bad news for the rest of college basketball considering what he has already done without the newfound motivation.

Self thanks doctors, others for support during health scare

In the heat of Kansas‘ Big 12 Tournament run, an undisclosed health problem sidelined head coach Bill Self. It both hospitalized him and required a procedure. Self missed the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament, but held a press conference for the first time since his health scare on Wednesday, which he started with a great deal of thankfulness.

“The texts, the emails, the cards have been countless. And they’re certainly appreciated. I apologize for those I have not been able to respond to. I’d like to be able to do that but I haven’t been able to do that yet,” Self said. “This was a health scare for me and I certainly could not thank the KU Health System for the care that they gave me. The doctors, the nurses. Everybody’s just fantastic and I want to thank all the supporters and everyone at KU.”

“And primarily I want to thank my coaches and my players that I thought rallied around this. And, even though it didn’t end the way we all hoped it would’ve, I thought they competed and gave it their very best when maybe there was a distraction that I certainly would never ever want to occur. I’ve always taught my team to eliminate distractions in the most important time of the year. And here I am. I was one of them,” Self said. “So, certainly, I hate that and wasn’t being able to be there with them. But it was the right decision and I’m just excited to get back to work. And I am working and certainly look forward to everything moving forward.”

“But I feel fine. My energy level is probably back to where it was prior to the episode but not where it’s getting ready to go I believe. I think sometimes we don’t realize that we don’t feel well until we actually feel well and know the difference. And I’m in the process of feeling well again,” Self said. “So I’m excited about that.”