Bill Self opens up on losing staffer to the NBA

Bill Self suffered another coaching loss ahead of the 2025-26 season. The legendary coach will enter a new season with an exciting Kansas Jayhawks roster led by Darryn Peterson, one of the best players of his class. 

Self saw Norm Roberts call it a career after last season, following a 14-year stint in Kansas. The coach celebrated Roberts’ career, while admitting that things wouldn’t be the same. 

“This is a bittersweet moment for me because Norm and I have been together since 1995,” Self said. “Norm has played a key role to our success at all of the stops we have had together, especially here at Kansas.”

More recently, he saw one of his former players turned coach getting a call from an NBA franchise. 

Bill Self reflects on losing assistant to the NBA 

The Jayhawks’ coaching staff suffered another loss ahead of the upcoming season. They will challenge for the title without Chase Buford, who left to join the Denver Nuggets in the association.

Head Coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks

“Chase just got hired by the Nuggets … You know, he got an assistant coach’s job, which is great for him and (I’m) happy for him. He did a really good job here,” Self said per On3. “I’m in the process of looking into some different things, but I haven’t done anything yet. I feel like I have the scope kind of narrowed down of what I think would be good for us, but I haven’t done anything yet.”

Buford spent one season in Kansas, helping the team post a 21-13 record (11-9 in the conference). He had played from 2007 through 2010 with the Jayhawks, helping Bill Self win the 2008 national championship.