Jerome Tang out at Kansas St.; coach to fight for-cause firing

Kansas State terminated men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang for cause, the university announced Sunday evening.

Currently at the bottom of the Big 12, the Wildcats have managed just one victory in the conference. Tang, now in his fourth season, expressed frustration with his players after a heavy home defeat against Cincinnati on Wednesday.

The rationale for the for-cause termination, sources told ESPN, hinges on language in Tang’s contract that addresses any actions that could lead to “public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule” for Kansas State.

“This decision was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program,” said Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor in a statement. “Recent public remarks and behavior, along with the program’s overall trajectory, have not met K-State’s expectations for supporting student-athletes and representing the university. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”

In 2023, Tang extended his contract through the 2029-30 season, with $18.67 million still owed on the agreement. Sources indicated to ESPN that Tang intends to contest the for-cause dismissal.

“I am profoundly disappointed with the university’s decision and fundamentally disagree with the description of my termination,” he stated to ESPN. “I have always acted with integrity and diligently fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.”

The Wildcats fell to 1-11 in Big 12 competition with a 78-64 defeat at No. 3 Houston on Saturday. They played that game without player names on their jerseys, just three days after Tang’s emotional comments following the Cincinnati game garnered significant attention.

“These guys do not deserve to wear this uniform,” Tang remarked at that time. “There will be very few of them in it next year. I’m embarrassed for the university, for our fans, our student section. It’s unacceptable… I have no explanation. No words.”

Tang guided Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his inaugural season, amassing 26 wins—the highest total since Bruce Weber’s first year in 2013. but, the Wildcats struggled to maintain that momentum, failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament in Year 2 and finishing with a 16-17 record last season.

This year has been particularly challenging for Kansas State, sitting at 10-15 overall and sharing the last place in the Big 12. Some fans in the student section at Bramlage Coliseum wore paper bags over their heads during the Wildcats’ loss to Cincinnati.

Prior to his tenure at Kansas State in 2022, Tang served as an assistant coach at Baylor under Scott Drew for two decades.

Tang referred to coaching at Kansas State as “one of the great honors of my life.”

“I am thankful to the players, staff, and fans that make this program so exceptional,” he said in the statement. “I remain proud of what we accomplished together and believe that I have always acted in the best interests of the university and our student-athletes.”

Kansas State announced it would soon appoint an interim coach and has begun a national search for a permanent replacement.