Former Kansas Star Frank Mason Makes Plea As Bill Self Retirement Rumors Swirl

Former Kansas Star Frank Mason Makes Plea As Bill Self Retirement Rumors Swirl

Former Kansas star Frank Mason didn’t hold back Wednesday morning, publicly urging Bill Self to stay amid growing retirement speculation.

“I’m about to call Coach Self and try to convince him to stay; I don’t wanna see anyone else coach my Jayhawks anytime soon,” Mason wrote on social media.

The message comes at a time when uncertainty surrounds Self’s future following Kansas’ NCAA Tournament exit. Although Self has pushed back on retirement reports, calling them “bad info,” the conversation hasn’t slowed, and it’s clearly resonating with former players.

Mason, one of the most decorated players in program history, represents the standard of success during Self’s tenure. A national player of the year and consensus All-American, he thrived in Self’s system and helped cement the culture that has defined Kansas Jayhawks basketball for more than two decades.

His public plea highlights just how much Self means to those who came through the program. For many former Jayhawks, Self isn’t just a coach, he’s the foundation of Kansas basketball’s sustained success.

As rumors continue to circulate, Mason’s message adds a personal layer to the uncertainty, showing that whatever decision comes next won’t just impact the future of the program, but its past as well.

Kansas Head Coach Bill Self Denies Retirement Rumors, Calls Reports ‘Bad Info’

Kansas head coach Bill Self made it clear Wednesday: reports of his impending retirement are premature.

Amid a wave of social media speculation following Kansas’ NCAA Tournament exit, Self pushed back strongly, telling the Kansas City Star and Gary Bedore there is no decision, and no timeline, regarding his future.

“No news. All b.s. Bad info,” Self said in a text message.

The comments came just days after Kansas’ season ended with a buzzer-beater loss to St. John's Red Storm in the Round of 32, a result that quickly sparked questions about whether the Hall of Fame coach could be nearing the end of his tenure.

Instead, Self emphasized what he said immediately after the game, he simply hasn’t decided. He is in the process of making his decision with his family. 

“I love what I do,” Self said earlier this week. “I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it’ll all be discussed.”

Health remains the central factor in that decision.

Self, 63, has dealt with multiple medical issues in recent years. In 2023, he underwent a heart catheterization after experiencing chest tightness, forcing him to miss the postseason. In July 2025, he was hospitalized again and had two stents inserted following concerning symptoms during a summer practice.

Most recently, Self missed time in January due to atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. Despite that, he said after the season he feels “as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” even if not at full strength.

On the court, Self’s résumé remains among the best in college basketball. Since taking over Kansas in 2003, he has compiled a 634-167 record, winning national championships in 2008 and 2022 while leading the Jayhawks to four Final Four appearances.

Still, as speculation continues to swirl, Self is keeping his focus off the noise and on taking time to evaluate what comes next. For now, there is no decision. And according to Self, any claims otherwise are simply wrong.

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