Jerome Tang releases statement disputing K-State basketball firing him for cause
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State fired Jerome Tang for cause, citing public comments and program decline.
- Tang disputed the characterization, saying he acted with integrity and faith.
- From Elite Eight (26 wins) his teams went 19, 16 and 10 wins over three seasons.
Jerome Tang couldn’t have seen this coming.
Shortly after the Kansas State men’s basketball team played better than some expected in a 78-64 loss to Houston on Saturday, he said he was looking forward to the remainder of the season.
A 10-15 overall record and 1-11 start in conference play didn’t seem to bother him.
“As a team, we’ve decided that we can either be the victims or the victor,” Tang said. “We’re choosing to be the victors, and that’s the approach they have. They have a really positive mindset.”
One day later, K-State athletic director Gene Taylor decided to fire him “for cause” with six games remaining before the Big 12 Tournament.
His recent comments about K-State players not deserving to wear purple uniforms, combined with three straight seasons of disappointing results, were too much to justify keeping Tang in charge at Bramlage Coliseum.
“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program,” 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.”
Tang, who had an overall record of 71-57 over the span of nearly four seasons with K-State, issued his own response after news broke of his firing.
Needless to say, he wasn’t happy with the decision.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,” Tang said in a statement. “I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.
“I would also 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.”
Tang spent nearly four seasons in charge of the K-State men’s basketball team.
He was hired to replace Bruce Weber in 2022, and he found immediate success in Year 1. He led the Wildcats to 26 victories and a trip to the Elite Eight that season. After spending the previous two decades as an assistant coach at Baylor, it seemed like a star head coach was born.
The Wildcats rewarded Tang with a pair of contract extensions early in his tenure, which raised his current salary to $3.6 million. His buyout also ballooned to $18.7 million, which is what K-State would’ve owed Tang had he been fired without cause. Tang turned out to be a one-hit wonder. K-State hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2022-23.
The program has declined every year. The Wildcats won 19 games in his second year as coach and then 16 games in Year 3. This season stands with just 10 wins under his watch.
Tang was clearly hoping for more time with the Wildcats.
This story was originally published February 15, 2026 at 10:20 PM.