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The Kansas State basketball program has parted ways with head coach Jerome Tang. The fourth-year leader was fired for cause on Sunday.
Are Wildcat fans to blame? Recent social media activity sparked speculation.
Tang was in the middle of his worst season leading the program. His team is 10-15 with an abysmal 1-11 mark in Big 12 play.
The coach’s tenure began with a bang when he helped guide Kansas State to an Elite Eight. Since, it’s been all downhill.
The Wildcats have seen win totals decline each year to follow. They appear headed for a second straight campaign below .500.
The team has dropped 11 of its last 12 matchups while riding a current six-game losing skid. The tailspin had fans looking for dirt to force the coach’s firing.
Did Kansas State fans get Jerome Tang fired?
Last week, social media accounts began posting of an Instagram account in which the head coach supposedly followed. It appears that, at least at one point in time, the account operator was an aspiring golf influencer.
The content has since shifted…
I looked into it last week when rumors surfaced. His account, at that time, appeared to follow. Screenshots on X fuel that online fire. Any possible connection between Tang and the account has since been broken.
A follow is not evidence of wrongdoing. If legitimate, the optics are poor, sure. Anonymous Kansas State fanatics publicized the link in an attempt to smear Tang’s name. Days later, he was fired for cause.
Cited in that firing was a contractual violation. The coach broke a clause referencing activity that brings “public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule” to the school.
That violation holds a potential $18 million impact. Should Kansas State succeed in maintaining the “for cause” status, Tang’s buyout could be wiped clean.
Are online rumors the reason for his firing?
The Wildcats say Tang is to blame.
“This was a decision that was made in the best interest of our university and men’s basketball program,” said AD Gene Taylor.
“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 statement was released after Jerome Tang publicly blasted players for a lack of effort in a loss to Cincinnati.
Kansas State says the public shaming was the reason for the “for cause” firing. Fans attending the last home game with bags on their heads probably didn’t help, either.
“There’s language in his contract that addresses certain things that could potentially bring embarrassment,” Taylor continued. “Basically, his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally is where I kind of thought we needed to make the decision.”
Will it be enough to keep Tang away from his $18.7 million buyout? The coach plans to find out.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination,” he said in response to the firing. “I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach.”
Kansas State fans tried to get Jerome Tang fired. A few days later, he succeeded in doing it himself. A discussion related to money owed is sure to follow.