Kansas State Fires Jerome Tang for Cause After Public Outburst

Kansas State University shocked the college basketball world Sunday night by firing men's basketball coach Jerome Tang for cause, ending his tumultuous fourth season with the Wildcats amid controversy and poor performance. The decision came just days after Tang's explosive public criticism of his players went viral following a blowout home loss.

The firing stems from Tang's heated post-game comments Wednesday after Cincinnati demolished Kansas State in a 29-point defeat. In a rant that quickly circulated across social media, Tang declared that his players "do not deserve to wear this uniform" and indicated major roster changes were coming.

"These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform," Tang said in the aftermath of the loss. "There will be very few of them in it next year."

Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor cited the coach's public conduct as incompatible with university standards in announcing the termination. The for-cause firing was based on contract language referencing any activity that brings "public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule" to the university.

"This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men's basketball program," Taylor said in a statement. "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 Wildcats have struggled mightily this season, sitting in last place in the Big 12 Conference with just one conference victory in 12 games. Their struggles continued Saturday with a 78-64 loss at No. 3 Houston, a game they played without player names on jersey backs – a symbolic gesture following Tang's Wednesday outburst.

Tang, who signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season in 2023, still had $18.67 million remaining on his deal. The for-cause termination allows Kansas State to avoid paying the full buyout, though Tang plans to contest the decision through legal channels.

"I am deeply disappointed with the university's decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination," Tang told ESPN in a statement. "I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach."

The 54-year-old coach's tenure at Kansas State began with promise, leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season (2022-23) after taking over from Bruce Weber. That breakthrough campaign raised expectations and earned Tang his lucrative contract extension. However, the program has declined significantly since that initial success.

Tang's public criticism of his players marked a breaking point for university administrators, who viewed the comments as detrimental to both player development and program culture. The incident highlighted growing tensions within the program as losses mounted and frustrations boiled over.

The firing leaves Kansas State searching for its third head coach since 2019, when they parted ways with Weber. The program faces significant challenges in rebuilding both its roster and reputation after this turbulent season.

For Tang, the dismissal represents a dramatic fall from the heights of his Elite Eight run just three years ago. His bitter exit serves as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in college basketball and the importance of maintaining professionalism even during difficult times.

Kansas State will likely begin its coaching search immediately as the program looks to restore stability and competitiveness in one of college basketball's most challenging conferences.