Jerome Tang is ready for an $18 million legal fight — and it could get ugly.
Tang was abruptly fired as Kansas State men’s basketball coach on Sunday, the university announced, citing “recent public comments and conduct” as well as the program’s “overall direction” as part of the reasons for his dismissal.
Kansas State’s statement added that both factors “have not aligned with K-State’s standards for supporting student-athletes and representing the university.”
The firing was for cause, according to multiple reports, and that nullified his $18.7 million buyout.
A day later, Tang’s lawyers, Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer, came out swinging as the coach looks to recoup buyout.
“If K-State’s President and AD really think the school was embarrassed by recent events, that’s nothing compared to the embarrassment that both of them are about to experience.” Mars and Speyer said in a statement to ESPN on Monday.
Kansas State invoked a Specific Duties and Responsibilities clause in Tang’s contract, according to multiple reports, on what a coach’s conduct should be at “all times.”
The critical part of the clause states that Tang “shall not engage in any behavior, actions, or activities that subjects coach, K-State Athletics, or the university to public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule, or scandal.”
The incident seemingly in question is Tang’s viral postgame comments after the Wildcats’ 91-62 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday.
He made his disappointment very clear.
“These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform; there will be very few of them in it next year,” Tang said. “It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple. … I love this place. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here.”
The loss is part of a second straight frustrating season for Kansas State, which sits at 10-15 overall and 1-11 in the Big 12 — on the heels of a 16-17 campaign — that has the program looking at its third straight year of not making the NCAA Tournament.
Tang was 71-57 in three-plus seasons with the Wildcats.
“I am deeply disappointed with the university’s decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination. I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as head coach,” Tang said in a statement.
He called leading the program one of the “great honors of my life” and added that he remains “proud of what we built together and confident that I have always acted in the best interests of the university and our student-athletes.”
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