Kansas State fired basketball coach Jerome Tang on Sunday night, four days after many Wildcats fans showed up with bags over their heads for a home blowout.
Athletic director Gene Taylor announced the move in a statement.
“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. We wish Coach Tang and his family all the best moving forward.”
The school said an interim head coach will be announced soon, and that a national search for a replacement has started.
On Wednesday night at home in a 91-62 loss to Cincinnati, many fans wore bags over their heads in disgust.
“This was embarrassing,” Tang said after that game. “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. We’ve got practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, and we will get this thing right. I have no answer and no words.”
[Jerome Tang: ‘These Dudes Don’t Deserve To Wear This Uniform’]
Kansas State (10-15, 1-11 Large 12) fell 78-64 on Saturday at No. 3 Houston, the Wildcats’ sixth straight loss. Throughout that sport, Wildcats gamers performed with out names on the backs of their jerseys.
In 4 seasons on the faculty, the 59-year-old Tang was 71-57 general and 29-39 within the convention. He led Kansas State to an Elite Eight look in 2023, his first 12 months with this system. Following that season, he was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension. The deal had a base wage of three.6 million, with a $100,000 uptick every season, and an $18.7 million buyout payment.
The Wildcats’ subsequent sport is Tuesday evening at dwelling in opposition to Baylor, the place Tang was an assistant coach for 19 seasons with Scott Drew, together with the Bears’ nationwide title in 2021.
Reporting by The Related Press.
