History suggests K-State and Jerome Tang could settle after ‘for cause’ firing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K‑State fired Jerome Tang “for cause,” prompting an $18.7M buyout dispute.
- Precedent shows many high‑profile coach firings end in private settlements.
- Outcome hinges on proving “objectionable behavior” and the AD’s “reasonable” judgment.
Kansas State’s decision to fire Jerome Tang last month caused a stir in the college basketball world because it carried the somewhat rare “for cause” designation instead of the more common “without cause” classification.
But Tang is far from the first high-profile coach to be dismissed for reasons that went beyond losing games.
It happens every few years in a power conference.
In 2023 alone, the Big 12 saw West Virginia force out Bob Huggins after an alleged drunk-driving incident, Texas Tech push out Mark Adams for what it said were racially insensitive words and Texas fire Chris Beard after an arrest on a domestic family violence charge.
Adams and Huggins agreed to step down rather than be fired “for cause,” so they weren’t exactly in the same situation that K-State and Tang experienced this year. But experts expect Tang’s coaching departure to end the same way — with a cash settlement.
An $18.7 million legal battle appears to be looming for K-State and Tang. The Wildcats fired Tang “for cause” — after he made viral comments about K-State players in a press conference when the team lost 91-62 to Cincinnati — in hopes of voiding his expensive buyout. But Tang has retained a pair of prominent attorneys to fight his dismissal and recoup as much of his buyout as possible.
Experts have disagreed on which side would have an advantage if this legal dispute made its way to court.
K-State appears to have fired Tang “for cause” because he violated the “objectionable behavior” clause in his contract. Athletic director Gene Taylor is contractually empowered to fire Tang for cause if it can be proven that Taylor used “reasonable judgment” in deciding that Tang engaged in “objectionable behavior.”
The word “reasonable” will be key.
But it is common for these cases to be settled without a lengthy trial.
As of Tuesday morning, no case involving Tang could be found in the state’s civil court database. Tom Mars, an attorney who is representing Tang, has not responded to messages seeking comment. Mars initially vowed to make K-State feel “embarrassed” for its decision to fire Tang. But he hasn’t posted anything about Tang or K-State on social media during the past two weeks.
Perhaps that is a sign that both sides are quietly discussing settlement options. Or maybe Tang’s legal team has other plans.
In any case, here is a list of several notable college basketball coaches who have been fired “for cause” in the recent past.
The settlements they reached afterward could provide an idea on what to expect from K-State and Tang.
Mark Adams (Texas Tech): Adams stepped down after he made what Texas Tech called a “racially insensitive” remark to players. His buyout was $7.5 million, but he settled with the Red Raiders for $3.9 million, plus bonuses that he was set to earn during his final year in Lubbock.
Bob Huggins (West Virginia): Huggins left his post after he was arrested for suspicion of DUI, but he asked for several provisions on his way out. West Virginia reportedly agreed to send him $1.25 million in deferred payments.
Kevin Ollie (Connecticut): The Huskies fired Ollie “for just cause” following NCAA investigations into recruiting violations that occurred on his watch. They hoped to avoid paying him an expensive buyout. But an arbitrator ruled that UConn had “improperly fired” Ollie. He was awarded $11.1 million. A few months later, Ollie and the school reached a $3.9 million settlement to avoid further litigation.
Kevin Stallings (Pittsburgh): The Panthers fired Stallings after a dreadful stretch of losses. His buyout was believed to be around $9 million. Both sides eventually reached a confidential settlement of unknown value.
Mike Rice (Rutgers): Rice was fired after video surfaced of him mistreating players at practice. Rutgers later agreed to pay him a settlement of $475,000 rather than go to court. His buyout was over $1 million.
Rick Pitino (Louisville): Pitino was fired after he was implicated in a scheme to pay recruits before NIL was legalized in college basketball. He sued Louisville for the $38.7 million remaining on his contract, but ultimately reached a settlement with the school. There was no money involved, but Louisville agreed to classify his departure as a resignation instead of a firing. Pitino also reached a confidential settlement with Adidas after his dismissal from Louisville. He is now coaching at St. John’s.
Will Wade (LSU): Wade lost his job at LSU after the basketball team was investigated for NCAA violations. He did not pursue legal action afterward and resurfaced at McNeese State a few years later. He is now coaching at North Carolina State.
Chris Beard (Texas): The Longhorns fired Beard after he was arrested on a domestic family violence charge. Beard’s attorneys initially suggested he would fight the termination in court, but no case was ever filed. The charges against Beard were dropped a few months later, and he is now coaching at Mississippi.
Chris Jans (Bowling Green): Jans was dismissed after one season at Bowling Green following an investigation into his public conduct. It does not appear that he sought legal action afterward. Jans apologized for his actions and went on to coach New Mexico State and then Mississippi State.