This one escalated fast. Kansas State fired men's basketball coach Jerome Tang for cause, a move that puts his $18.7 million buyout squarely in dispute.
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Kansas State confirmed the dismissal Saturday night, citing "recent public comments and conduct" along with the overall direction of the program. Multiple reports say the school is invoking a for-cause clause in Tang's contract, which would allow it to avoid paying the buyout.
Athletic director Gene Taylor didn't mince words.
"Recent public comments and conduct have not aligned with K-State's standards for supporting student-athletes and representing the university," Taylor said in a statement.
The breaking point appears to be Tang's postgame rant following a 91-62 loss to Cincinnati last week, when he publicly ripped his players and questioned whether they deserved to wear the uniform.
"These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform," Tang said. "They don't love this place, so they don't deserve to be here."
According to reports, Kansas State is pointing to a contract clause requiring the head coach to avoid behavior that brings embarrassment or public disrepute to the university. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Tang plans to challenge the for-cause designation.
Tang released a statement pushing back, saying he "strongly disagrees" with the characterization of his termination and insisting he acted with integrity throughout his tenure.
The on-court results didn't help. Kansas State is 10-15 overall and 1-11 in the Big 12, tracking toward its second straight losing season. The Wildcats are coming off a loss to No. 3 Houston in a game where Tang removed players' names from their jerseys.
Tang finishes his run at 71-57 over parts of four seasons. It started with an Elite Eight trip at Madison Square Garden.
It ends in a courtroom-sized gray area.
