Kansas State basketball has suspended graduate assistant coach Mark Vital Jr. following his arrest on a domestic battery charge. The incident occurred early on February 9 in Manhattan, Kansas. Vital, a former Baylor standout, has been removed from team duties pending the judicial process.
Kansas State University announced on Monday evening that it has suspended Mark Vital Jr., a 29-year-old graduate assistant coach, from all team responsibilities. The decision came after Vital's arrest in the early hours of February 9 on a domestic battery charge, as detailed in a Riley County Police arrest report.
Vital was taken into custody at 12:20 a.m. in the 600 block of Vattier Street in Manhattan. His bond was set at $2,000, and he is not currently confined. At the same address and just minutes earlier, at 12:04 a.m., a 27-year-old woman was arrested for domestic battery and criminal damage to property. She is being held on a $4,000 bond and is also not confined.
In a statement, Kansas State indicated that Vital has been removed from duties "until the judicial process runs its course." A university spokesperson declined further comment when contacted by the Capital-Journal.
This marks Vital's first season on head coach Jerome Tang's staff at Kansas State. Previously, Vital was a three-time All-Big 12 selection and contributed to Baylor's 2021 national championship team, where Tang served as associate head coach. A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Vital is pursuing a master's degree in counseling and student development at Kansas State.
The suspension comes ahead of Kansas State's next game on Wednesday, February 11, when the team hosts Cincinnati at 8 p.m.
