Kansas State dismissed men's basketball coach Jerome Tang on Sunday night, midway through his fourth season, citing his recent public comments and the program's direction. The decision follows a viral postgame rant after a loss to Cincinnati and comes amid declining performance since his successful debut year. The move has sparked negotiations over Tang's contract buyout.
Jerome Tang's tenure at Kansas State ended abruptly on Sunday night when the university fired him for cause, less than four days after a heated postgame news conference that went viral. The 59-year-old coach, who had led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his debut 2022-23 season with a 26-10 record and a No. 3 NCAA Tournament seed, saw his teams struggle in subsequent years. Since that breakthrough campaign, Kansas State posted a 45-47 overall record and went 18-32 in Big 12 play. The 2025-26 season has been particularly dismal, with the Wildcats holding just 10 overall wins and one Big 12 victory, marking the program's third-worst winning percentage in a quarter-century.
The firing stemmed from Tang's frustration-fueled remarks following a 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday, the team's fifth straight defeat and 10th loss in 11 games. In the press conference, Tang stated, “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I’m embarrassed for the university. I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. I have no words.” The next day, he removed players' names from their jerseys, and the team fell to Houston by 14 points.
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor announced the decision, saying, “This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program. Recent public comments and conduct, in addition to the program’s overall direction, have not aligned with K-State’s standards for supporting student-athletes and representing the university.” The move invokes a for-cause clause in Tang's contract, which was extended after his first year through 2030 with a guaranteed $18.7 million buyout if terminated without cause. Attorneys for Tang and the university are negotiating the buyout amount, as Tang has issued a statement indicating legal proceedings.
Tang, the 2023 National Coach of the Year runner-up, was hired from Baylor with no prior head coaching experience. The dismissal, the first of a high-major coach this season, has ignited the 2026 coaching carousel, with Kansas State's resources in NIL and recruiting positioned to attract top candidates despite the Big 12's competitive depth and Manhattan's location challenges.
