Jerome Tang Out at Kansas State: Buyout Battle Looms as Program Hits Rock Bottom
Kansas State basketball is officially moving on from head coach Jerome Tang - but how the school parts ways with him could have massive financial implications.
At the center of the drama is an $18.7 million buyout clause. That’s the amount K-State would owe Tang if he’s fired without cause.
But if the school can make a case that Tang’s actions meet the standard for a for cause termination, they could walk away without paying a dime. Right now, based on the university’s statements, it looks like that’s exactly the route they’re trying to take.
In a Sunday evening announcement, K-State athletic director Gene Taylor didn’t mince words.
“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.”
That’s not just a farewell. That’s a clear signal that the school believes Tang’s recent behavior crossed a line - one that could void his buyout entirely.
The Comments That May Cost Tang Millions
The tipping point appears to have come after a brutal 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati, when Tang unloaded on his team in a postgame press conference.
“These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform,” he said. “There will be very few of them in it next year.
I’m embarrassed for the university. I’m embarrassed for our fans and our student section.
It is just ridiculous.”
And he didn’t stop there.
“These dudes have got to get some pride. It means something to wear a K-State uniform,” Tang continued.
“It means something to put on this purple and everything this university is about and all that it has been about and why I love this place. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here.”
Those words echoed far beyond Manhattan. National backlash followed, with many questioning whether Tang had crossed a line in publicly blasting his players and the program. According to his contract, K-State can terminate Tang for cause if his conduct brings “public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule” to the university.
Whether those comments meet that legal threshold? That’s a question that may ultimately be decided in court.
Tang is widely expected to fight for at least a portion of his $18.7 million buyout. That could mean a lengthy legal battle - or a negotiated settlement behind the scenes. As of now, the exact terms of his exit remain under wraps.
A Program in Freefall
The off-court drama only amplifies what’s been a disastrous season for the Wildcats. At 10-15 overall and 1-11 in Big 12 play, K-State sits dead last in the conference and is off to its worst league start in school history. The team has dropped six straight, including three consecutive home losses - each by at least 24 points.
Frustration has boiled over in the stands as well. During the most recent home game at Bramlage Coliseum, students showed up wearing brown paper bags over their heads in protest.
It’s a stunning fall for a coach who looked like a rising star not long ago.
Tang arrived in 2022 after two decades as an assistant at Baylor and immediately energized the program. In his first year, he led the Wildcats to 26 wins and an Elite Eight appearance - one of the best debut seasons in recent memory. Kansas State responded by locking him in with two contract extensions, bumping his salary to $3.6 million and inflating his buyout to that now-crucial $18.7 million figure.
But things unraveled fast. And now, just a few seasons into his tenure, Tang is out - and the legal and financial fallout could be significant.
What’s Next?
As of now, the university hasn’t announced who will take over the program on an interim basis. But whoever steps in will inherit a roster in disarray, a fanbase in revolt, and a program searching for stability after a turbulent stretch.
The Tang era, once full of promise, ends not with a celebration, but with questions - about leadership, accountability, and a contract clause that could shape the future of both the coach and the school.
One thing’s clear: this story is far from over.