Kansas State has fired men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang ‘for cause’ after he lashed out at his players in astonishing fashion on Wednesday night.
Tang, who still has almost $19million remaining on his Wildcats contract, went on a furious rant following the team’s blowout home loss to Cincinnati, which marked their fifth straight defeat.
‘This was embarrassing,’ the 59-year-old said in his postgame press conference. ‘These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year.
‘I’m embarrassed for the university, I’m embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is just ridiculous.’,
Four days later, Tang has been fired as Wildcats head coach for cause, meaning Kansas State can now argue it is not obliged to pay him his buyout.
According to ESPN, the basis for the for-cause firing is language in his contract about bringing ‘public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule’ to the school.
Kansas State has fired Jerome Tang ‘for cause’ after he lashed out at his players this week
Tang said he was ’embarrassed’ for the university after their blowout home loss to Cincinnati
Kansas State can now argue it is not obliged to pay his buyout after firing him for cause
‘This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men´s basketball program,’ athletic director Gene 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.’
Tang, who was in his fourth season with the Wildcats, signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season back in 2023, with $18.67m still remaining on that deal.
The Trinidadian-American coach appears set to contest Kansas State’s decision after releasing his own statement on the matter Sunday night.
‘I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,’ he told ESPN. ‘I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.’
Kansas State (10-15, 1-11 Big 12) fell 78-64 on Saturday at No. 3 Houston, the Wildcats’ sixth straight loss.
In four seasons at the school, Tang was 71-57 overall and 29-39 in the conference. He led them to the Elite Eight with a 26-10 mark in his first season.
The Wildcats’ next game is Tuesday night at home against Baylor, where Tang was an assistant coach for 19 seasons with Scott Drew, including the Bears’ national title in 2021.
