Kansas State Parts Ways with Jerome Tang: A New Era Begins in Manhattan
With a month still left in the regular season, Kansas State has made a bold and early move-firing head coach Jerome Tang after nearly four seasons at the helm. Assistant coach Matthew Driscoll will step in as interim head coach while the Wildcats begin the search for their next leader.
Tang’s time in Manhattan started with promise and pedigree. After nearly two decades as Scott Drew’s trusted assistant at Baylor-helping engineer one of the most impressive rebuilds in college basketball-Tang was handed the keys to the Kansas State program in 2022.
He wasted no time making an impact, guiding the Wildcats to 26 wins and an Elite Eight appearance in his debut season. It was the kind of turnaround that had fans dreaming big.
But the momentum didn’t last.
Kansas State struggled to maintain that level of success in the seasons that followed. Two consecutive 9th-place finishes in the Big 12 raised eyebrows, and this year’s campaign has unraveled with a 10-15 record and just one win in conference play. The Wildcats, once surging under Tang’s leadership, now find themselves in search of a new identity-and a new head coach to build it.
Let’s take a look at some of the names that could be in play for the Kansas State job, a position that just became one of the most intriguing openings in college basketball.
Casey Alexander - The Steady Builder
Alexander’s résumé is hard to ignore. With 15 years of Division I head coaching experience and a proven track record at Belmont, Lipscomb, and Stetson, he’s built a reputation for consistent success.
Since returning to Belmont in 2019, he’s delivered six straight 20-win seasons and has the Bruins contending at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference. He’s shown he can win with limited resources-now the question is whether he’s ready to take on a Power Five challenge.
Jerrod Calhoun - The Turnaround Specialist
Calhoun has quietly put together one of the more impressive coaching résumés in recent years. After cutting his teeth under Bob Huggins at West Virginia, he made his mark at the Division II level before turning around Youngstown State.
Now at Utah State, he’s nearing the 50-win mark in just his second season. With the Aggies eyeing a Mountain West title and a potential NCAA Tournament berth, Calhoun is a name that’s gaining traction-and fast.
Bryan Hodgson - The Program Riser
Hodgson’s coaching journey has been defined by turnarounds. A key part of Nate Oats’ staffs at Buffalo and Alabama, he’s brought that same energy to his own head coaching gigs.
He won 45 games in two seasons at Arkansas State, grabbed a Sun Belt regular season title, and now has South Florida trending upward with a 17-8 record. Hodgson’s recruiting chops and ability to rebuild quickly make him a compelling candidate for a program looking to hit the reset button.
Chris Jans - The Veteran with Big 12 Ties
Jans might be the most battle-tested name on this list. A Kansas junior college coaching alum and Iowa native, he’s led multiple programs to success-including an NCAA Tournament win at New Mexico State and back-to-back Big Dance appearances with Mississippi State.
He knows how to win, and he’s done it in challenging environments. A return to the Midwest, and potentially the Big 12, could be a natural next step.
Ulric Maligi - The Familiar Face
Maligi brings familiarity and recruiting firepower. He’s spent the last 20 years as a Division I assistant, with recent stops at Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, and was part of Tang’s original staff at Kansas State.
While he doesn’t have head coaching experience, Maligi has been instrumental in bringing top-tier talent to every program he’s touched. If Kansas State wants someone who knows the lay of the land and can hit the ground running, he’s a name to watch.
Ryan Miller - The Quiet Climber
Miller has paid his dues. After more than two decades as an assistant at programs like Auburn, Memphis, and TCU, he finally got his shot as a head coach this past offseason at Murray State-and he’s made the most of it.
The Racers are sitting in second place in the MVC, and Miller’s Big 12 and Midwest ties make him a logical fit. He’s a coach on the rise with a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Erik Pastrana - The Homegrown Option
Pastrana’s coaching roots trace back to Kansas State, where he started as a graduate assistant nearly 20 years ago. Since then, he’s been part of successful staffs at Stephen F.
Austin, Oklahoma State, Florida, and Georgia. Now at Miami, he’s already making an impact.
While he hasn’t yet led a program, his familiarity with Kansas State and his recruiting acumen could make him an intriguing option if the Wildcats are open to a high-upside hire.
Josh Schertz - The Mid-Major Maestro
Schertz has been turning heads for a while now. After dominating at the Division II level with Lincoln Memorial, he broke through with Indiana State and now has Saint Louis sitting at 24-1-a national contender among mid-majors.
His teams play with discipline and purpose, and his ability to build winners from the ground up makes him one of the hottest names in the coaching carousel. The only question is whether Kansas State can lure him away.
Takayo Siddle - The Young Gun
Still under 40, Siddle has already built a strong résumé. He’s learned under Chris Holtmann and Kevin Keatts, and he’s been leading UNC Wilmington since 2020.
With a CBI title and an NCAA Tournament appearance under his belt, Siddle has proven he knows how to win. He’s a rising star in the coaching ranks and could be a long-term play for a program looking to build something sustainable.
Travis Steele - The Rebound Candidate
Steele’s coaching journey has had its ups and downs, but he’s currently riding a high. Miami-Ohio is undefeated in mid-February, and Steele has shown he can build a program.
While his tenure at Xavier ended prematurely, he gained valuable experience under coaches like Kelvin Sampson and Chris Mack. He’s proving now that he can adapt and win, and that kind of resilience might be just what Kansas State needs.
What’s Next for the Wildcats?
Kansas State’s decision to move on from Jerome Tang is a clear signal: this program expects more, and it’s ready to invest in a new vision. Whether they go with a seasoned veteran, a red-hot mid-major coach, or a rising assistant, the Wildcats have options-and time-to make a thoughtful hire. With the Big 12 only getting more competitive, the next leader in Manhattan will need to bring not just a plan, but a presence.
One thing’s for sure: Kansas State is aiming high. And with the right hire, the Wildcats could be back in the national conversation sooner than you think.