The Kansas State Wildcats became the first of likely several college basketball programs to look for a new coach after firing Jerome Tang late last night.
Did Jerome Tang Deserve To Be Fired, And Who Are The Candidates To Replace Him At Kansas State?
Tang burst onto the scene, leading a veteran and talented 2022-23 Wildcats squad to the Elite 8 in his first year as head coach after being a longtime assistant. The Wildcats 26 victories that season are the third most in program history. It was also the first time that they reached the Regional Final since 2018.
While that season was the tip of the mountain, and there is nothing wrong with it, each of his subsequent seasons got progressively worse. The Wildcats only recorded one other winning season, and his rookie campaign was his lone trip to the Big Dance. The Cats did make the NIT in 2024, falling to Iowa in the first round.
This season was a total disaster, and it came to a climax when Tang totally embarrassed himself and the K-State program with his recent rant. The Wildcats returned very little production from a season ago, when they were 16-17, and had nine newcomers.
While the Wildcats (10-15) got off to a strong start with some good wins, they stumbled to a 1-11 record in the Big 12—the Wildcats, whose lone conference win is over Utah, which also has just one conference victory. The Wildcats have lost six straight, with four of those setbacks by double digits. They have been outscored by nearly 13 points a game in conference play. Additionally, they rank in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Why Was Jerome Tang Fired?
To make matters worse, Tang’s rant following K-State’s 91-62 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday went viral.
“This was embarrassing,” Tang told the media after the game against the Bearcats. “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, for our fans, and for our student section. It’s just ridiculous.”
“I’m pissed,” Tang continued. “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.”
Tang finishes his tenure with a 71-57 record, though he was just 29-39 in Big 12 play. The 2021-22 Naismith Basketball Coach of the Year was signed through April 2031. He is slated to receive an $18.6 buyout, though he was fired by K-State with cause, according to K-State athletic director Gene Taylor.
“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program,” Taylor said on Sunday. “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.”
ESPN reported that Tang is fighting the firing “for cause”. Not that this is a surprise, no one wants to lose millions of dollars.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,” he told ESPN in a statement. “I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.”
Who Will Replace Jerome Tang?
So, yeah, Kansas State made the right decision to let Tang go. He was probably never cut out to be a head coach, despite a proven track record as a 20-year assistant. There are plenty of examples to back up this claim.
Kansas State had three future NBA players on Tang’s first squad. The Wildcats never won 20 games after year one and got progressively worse each season despite K-State paying a lot of money for this year’s team (NIL).
There were other issues. Eight of the Wildcats’ 15 losses were by double digits, and they were just 9-7 at home, with each of those losses by nine or more points. One of the Cats’ home losses was to Bowling Green by 16. Meanwhile, half of their setbacks away from home were by one possession. Additionally, the Wildcats have admittedly quit on Tang.
Associate head coach Matt Driscoll takes over for the rest of the season on an interim basis. Driscoll is a good choice for the time being as he is a veteran head coach with a proven track record. The 61-year-old posted a 248-264 record in 16 seasons at North Florida (2009-2024), leading the Ospreys to three A-Sun regular season titles and one NCAA tournament. He was named the conference coach of the year three times.
