Jerome Tang is out as Kansas State basketball coach.
The school announced the firing Sunday night, Feb. 15.
“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program,’ K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. “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. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”
At a Sunday night news conference, Taylor said Tang ‘has been terminated for cause.’
The Wildcats are 10-15 this season with a 1-11 record in Big 12 play, which comes a season after final records of 16-17 in 2024-25 and 19-15 in 2023-24.
The decision comes days after Tang’s scorched-earth news conference following Kansas State’s 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, where Wildcats fans were wearing paper bags over their heads. Tang said his players didn’t deserve to wear the school’s uniforms after the performance.
Kansas State is coming off a 78-64 loss to Houston on Feb. 14, in which its players had their names removed from their jerseys for the game.
What did Jerome Tang say to get fired?
‘This was embarrassing,’ Tang said after the Cincinnati loss. ‘These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year. I’m embarrassed for the university, I’m embarrassed for our fans, and our student section. It’s just ridiculous.
‘We have practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow. I have no answers or no words. Y’all got two questions, so whoever wants to ask two questions, I’ll answer ’em to the best of my ability right now. But right now, I’m pissed.
‘These dudes have to have some pride, man. It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple, man. Our university’s all about that, and it’s why I love this place, man. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here.’
What Kansas State AD Gene Taylor said about firing Jerome Tang
At Sunday’s news conference announcing the firing, Taylor said, ‘What he said about the student-athletes really concerned me.’
‘There’s language in his contract that addresses certain things that could potentially bring embarrassment,’ Taylor added. ‘Basically, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally is where I kind of thought we needed to make the decision.’
As of Sunday night, the school still has Tang’s postgame news conference from the Cincinnati game live on its YouTube page.
Jerome Tang buyout, contract
Tang’s buyout is set at $18.675 million, according to the USA TODAY Sports head coaches salaries database.
K-State’s athletic director said Tang was fired ‘for cause’, which would affect the conditions of the buyout.
Tang had five years remaining on his contract.
What did Jerome Tang say about being fired by Kansas State?
In a statement to ESPN, the former Kansas State coach said:
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination. I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.
‘I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to serve as Head Coach at Kansas State. It has been one of the great honors of my life.
‘I am grateful to the players, staff, and fans who make this program so special. I remain proud of what we built together and confident that I have always acted in the best interests of the university and our student-athletes.’
How can Kansas State fire Jerome Tang for cause?
Kansas State can fire Tang for cause for the following reasons:
***Material breach of his agreement, intentional negligence, or other failure or refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities as head coach.
Insubordination; objectionable behavior
Failure to report any and all violations of NCAA rules
Fraud or dishonesty related to submitting documents to the NCAA
Serious or multiple rules violations involving himself, an assistant or staff member
Failure to reasonably respond accurately and fully within a reasonable time relating to the coach’s duties to the athletic director
Instruct a coach, student or other person to respond inaccurately, inappropriately or incompetently or destroy or conceal evidence concerning a matter to a student or athletic program
Fail to obtain required approval for outside activities
*** — Among the notable duties listed in Tang’s contract is to conduct himself in a manner consistent with being the head coach. It says that Tang is not to engage in any behavior, actions, or activities that subject himself, Kansas State athletics, or the university to public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule, or scandal, with such conduct reflecting unfavorably on K-State athletics.
What’s next at Kansas State?
Tang, a former longtime Baylor assistant, led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his first year with the program in 2022-23 before eventually falling to national runner-up Florida Atlantic. The fall from grace was fast after reaching impressive heights as a first-year head coach.
Kansas State has three Elite Eight appearances since 2010 under three different coaches — Tang (2023) Bruce Weber (2018) and Frank Martin (2010). The school has produced numerous high-level coaches throughout the years, including Lon Kruger, Dana Altman and Bob Huggins, to name a few.
Associate head coach Matthew Driscoll will serve as interim head coach, Taylor said, as K-State begins its search for Tang’s replacement.