Jerome Tang has been fired as the head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball team.
In an official announcement by K-State, the university cited “recent public comments and conduct” as part of the reason for Tang’s dismissal, and multiple reports indicated that he was fired 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 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. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”
The for cause firing comes from the university’s claim that Tang violated the terms of his contract stemming from comments he made publicly calling out his players over their effort in their loss to Cincinnati last week.
The distinction in his termination would allow Kansas State to avoid having to pay Tang’s $18.7 million buyout.
The clause that the university is invoking is found under a section of Tang’s contract about “Specific Duties and Responsibilities,” according to The Mercury.
The ninth clause of the section deals with the manner in which a coach should conduct themselves and how “at all times” it must be in a “manner consistent with the position of head coach, an instructor of student-athletes, and an ambassador and representative of K-State Athletics and the university.”
Also part of the clause, per The Mercury, Tang “shall not engage in any behavior, actions, or activities that subjects coach, K-State Athletics, or the university to public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule, or scandal.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel also reported that it was that section that Kansas State cited for his firing.
Additionally, Thamel reported that Tang is planning to fight the for cause firing.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination. I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach,” Tang said in a statement.
He added: “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 went viral for his postgame comments last week after the Wildcats fell to Cincinnati 91-62.
“These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform; there will be very few of them in it next year,” Tang said in his postgame press conference. “It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple. … I love this place. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here.”
Kansas State is in the middle of the program’s second-worst season in more than 20 years, sitting 10-15 overall and 1-11 in the Big 12.
It went 16-17 last season.
The Wildcats had just come off a 78-64 loss to No. 3-ranked Houston on Saturday in a game where Tang had the players’ names removed from the back of their jerseys.
Tang went 71-57 in his run as head coach that lasted parts of four seasons.
He started off his tenure by leading the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance at the Garden.
But things slipped from there and K-State is on track to record its second straight season under .500.