Kansas State Basketball Staffer Mark Vital Arrested on Domestic Battery Charge
Kansas State basketball graduate assistant coach Mark Vital Jr. was arrested early Monday morning in Manhattan, Kansas, on a domestic battery charge, according to a report from the Riley County Police Department.
The 29-year-old Vital was taken into custody at approximately 12:20 a.m. at a residence on the 600 block of Vattier Street. He was booked on one count of domestic battery, with bond set at $2,000. As of the latest update, he is not being held in custody.
Also arrested at the same location was a 27-year-old woman, taken into custody roughly 15 minutes earlier at 12:04 a.m. She faces charges of domestic battery and criminal damage to property. Her bond was set at $4,000, and she is also not currently confined.
Kansas State has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. A university spokesperson declined to comment when contacted.
Vital is in his first season on head coach Jerome Tang’s staff. The two have a history that dates back to their time at Baylor, where Vital played under Tang - then the associate head coach - and helped the Bears capture the 2021 national championship. During his college career, Vital was known for his defensive toughness and versatility, earning All-Big 12 honors three times.
A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Vital is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and student development at Kansas State. His role with the Wildcats includes supporting player development and contributing to the program’s day-to-day operations.
As the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how this situation will impact his standing with the team.