Former K-State hoops coach Jerome Tang returning to Baylor

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Former Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang, who worked under Scott Drew at Baylor from 2003-22, is returning to the school as associate head coach, according to reports.

The 59-year-old Tang was fired by K-State in February following a postgame press conference in which he questioned the dedication and performance of Wildcats players.

He previously was associate head coach at Baylor from 2017-22 after 14 years as an assistant coach.

Tang was in his fourth season with K-State when he was fired, with the Wildcats holding a 10-15 record and 1-11 in the Big 12.

The Tang era started with a bang, as he led K-State to the Elite Eight in 2023 following a 26-10 season that included a third-place finish in the Big 12.

The Wildcats never reached those heights again under Tang, failing to reach the NCAA Tournament for the next three years and never finishing better than ninth in the conference.

Tang was with Baylor as the school transformed from a beleaguered bottom-feeder into a national power.

After major off-court trouble during the tenure of previous coach Dave Bliss that involved the murder of one player by another, Drew took over in 2003 and finished 8-21.

Baylor didn’t have a winning record under Drew until 2007-08 and soon after became an NCAA Tournament regular. The Bears’ frequent postseason appearances culminated in a national championship in 2021.

Tang was part of that staff, and the title helped propel him to his first head coaching job. He worked extensively with WSU coach Paul Mills, who was a Drew assistant from 2003 until taking the head coaching job at Oral Roberts in 2017.

Tang will look to rebuild his career in a familiar spot after falling out of favor quickly in Manhattan. The K-State administration, led by athletic director Gene Taylor, fired Tang “for cause,” claiming Tang’s press conference brought embarrassment to the university.

Tang is fighting that distinction and looking to reclaim as much of his $18.7 million buyout as possible.