“There is language in his contract that addresses certain issues that could potentially cause embarrassment,” Taylor responded when asked to explain the reasons why Tang was fired for cause. “In short, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative response to those comments from many sources, both nationally and locally, were where I thought we had to make the decision.”
The university announced the separation Sunday evening and was working with attorneys to finalize the move. Associate head coach Matthew Driscoll was named interim coach.
Tang was in the middle of his fourth season, which had been his worst. The Wildcats are 10-15 overall and tied for last in the Big 12 at 1-11. The team’s 14th loss of the season — a 91-62 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday — prompted Tang’s comments to come under scrutiny.
“These guys don’t deserve to wear this uniform. Next year there will be very few of them,” Tang said after the game. “I’m ashamed of the university, and I’m ashamed of our fans, our student section. It’s just ridiculous. We have practice tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock and we’re going to get this right. I have no answer and no words. … Right now I’m so angry.”
The Athletics reported Thursday that Taylor told Tang he would get another year as head coach. In Tang’s favor was an $18.7 million buyout sum that would be due to him if he were fired without cause before April 30.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my dismissal. I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach,” Tang said in a statement to media members.
“I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity to serve as head coach at Kansas State. It has been one of the greatest 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 have built together and am confident that I have always acted in the best interests of the university and our student-athletes.”
Tang’s tenure got off to a promising start as he went 26-10 and made the Elite Eight in his freshman year. Tang had developed quickly through the portal, winning with two outside-the-box additions in his freshman year: Keyontae Johnson, who had missed most of the previous two seasons due to a heart condition, and junior college transfer Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Tang was also smart to retain point guard Markquis Nowell, who became a star in his final season in Manhattan.
Optimism was high the following season, but the Wildcats suffered a major loss in the preseason. Tomlin, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was involved in a bar fight in the preseason and was dismissed from the team after an arrest for disorderly conduct. Tomlin transferred to Memphis and played the second semester for the Tigers, while K-State failed to make the NCAA tournament and went to the NIT.
However, over the past two years, with a healthy NIL budget, Tang has made some questionable moves in the transfer portal. The 2024-25 team had invested heavily in three players – Coleman Hawkins, Achor Achor and Ugonna Onyenso – who were central for their previous teams. The latter two were not part of the rotation and K-State went 15-16 and 9-11 in the Big 12.
Tang received two starter transfers, graduated his other three starters and had to rebuild again this year. He hired former North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll, who worked with him at Baylor, to run the offense. Driscoll’s North Florida teams played fast and shot a lot of threes. So K-State focused on shooters and perimeter scorers, especially PJ Haggerty, who was a second-team All-American last year at Memphis.
Haggerty is averaging 23.3 points and K-State has shot the 3 well (36.4 percent), but the defense and rebounding have not been good. Tang’s first three teams all ranked in the top 40 in adjusted defense; this team is ranked 137th.
The Wildcats had one of their better performances considering the opponent on Saturday in Houston. Without their names on the back of their jerseys, the Cats jumped out to a 15-6 lead early, but ultimately lost 78-64.
Now the Cats will end their season without their head coach and K-State’s search for its next coach begins.
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