Jerome Tang's time at Kansas State is over.
KSU fired Tang on Sunday following the Wildcats' latest loss. KSU fell to 1-11 in the Big 12 with a 78-64 loss to Houston. It was the sixth straight defeat for Kansas State and came a game afterTang said he was "embarrassed for the university"when criticizing his team following a 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati.
Kansas State went 71-57 in Tang's time with the school. His buyout for a firing without cause is over $18 million, but Kansas State is attempting to fire Tang for cause, according toThe Manhattan Mercuryand other reports.
The cause? Those comments after the loss to the Bearcats for allegedly disparaging the university. By firing Tang for cause, Kansas State can say it isn't obligated to pay him his buyout. Tang would have the ability to challenge Kansas State's basis in court if he so chooses.
And it appears he will do so. He told ESPN that he plans to contest Kansas State's reasoning.
"I am deeply disappointed with the university's decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,"Tang told ESPN. "I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach."
Advertisement
Tang's best season at Kansas State came in his first year with the school. The Wildcats went 26-10 in 2022-23 and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before losing to Florida Atlantic. It was the only time KSU would make the tournament in Tang's tenure; KSU went 19-15 the next season and then fell to 16-17 in 2024-25.
This season, the Wildcats are just 10-15 despite signing PJ Haggerty from Memphis out of the transfer portal. Haggerty is averaging 23.3 points per game and shooting 48% from the field. But Kansas State's defense has been abysmal.
K-State is averaging 80.2 points per game but giving up 80.7 points per game. Just 28 teams are allowing more points per game than the Wildcats this season.
That Cincinnati game appeared to be the tipping point for many Kansas State fans as students wore paper bags over their heads during the game. In his postgame news conference, Tang said the game was "embarrassing" and that "these dudes did not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few in it next year."
Tang will also not be wearing Kansas State colors next season. He then went on to say the team had practice at 6 a.m. the next day and he had "no answers and no words."
Tang came to Kansas State from Baylor. He was the Bears' associate head coach under Scott Drew from 2017-22 and was on the staff when the Bears won the 2021 national title. Before he was the team's associate head coach, Tang was an assistant with the team since 2003 after coaching high school basketball in Texas.
