Kansas State has parted ways with men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang, according to multiple reports Sunday, ending a four-season tenure highlighted by an Elite Eight run but followed by a sharp downturn.
Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman first reported the move, saying Tang has an $18 million buyout and that the sides were in discussions on terms. The decision came a day after the Wildcats’ loss to Houston, which dropped Kansas State to 10–15 overall and 1–11 in Big 12 play.
The Kansas State University program slid to the bottom of the conference standings during Tang’s fourth season and never recovered after conference play began.
Tang finishes his time in Manhattan with a 71–54 record, though some reports list the mark as 71–57. He was hired in March 2022 after a long stint as an assistant at Baylor and delivered an immediate jolt to the program.
In his debut season, Tang led the Wildcats to a 26–10 record and an unexpected run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Florida Atlantic. The turnaround earned Tang national acclaim, including Naismith National Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year honors, behind the play of Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson.
Kansas State went 19–15 the following season and reached the NIT, then finished 16–17 last year for the program’s first losing record under Tang. This season’s struggles intensified amid defensive issues, with the Wildcats scoring 80.2 points per game while allowing 80.7.
Tension peaked after a lopsided home loss to Cincinnati, when Tang called the performance “embarrassing” and said several players did not deserve to wear the uniform. Students wore paper bags over their heads during that game, and Tang said afterward that practice would begin at 6 a.m. the next day.
The Manhattan Mercury reported that Kansas State dismissed Tang for cause related to those comments, which would negate the buyout. Tang could challenge that determination.