Kansas State’s national reputation took a hit for handling of Jerome Tang firing
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas State labeled Jerome Tang's firing 'for cause' to avoid an $18.7M buyout.
- National commentators blasted K‑State for trying to avoid paying Tang's buyout.
- Widespread criticism has tarnished Kansas State’s national reputation.
My colleague Kellis Robinett on Thursday reported many people have expressed an interest in becoming Kansas State’s next men’s basketball coach.
That wasn’t surprising to ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla.
“It’s a good @Big12Conference job with a great @KStateMBB fan base and resources,” Fraschilla wrote as he reposted Kellis’ message on X. “A good coach can win there. Just pay Tang and move forward.👍🏼😉🏀”
That would be Jerome Tang, of course.
Kansas State fired Tang over the weekend with a “for cause” designation. K-State athletic director Gene Taylor believes the school doesn’t need to pay Tang an $18.7 million buyout because of comments he made after a blowout loss to Cincinnati.
Taylor said Tang’s words “brought embarrassment to the school,” as Kellis reported.
However, the embarrassment for K-State this week has been for trying to avoid paying Tang the buyout. National pundits have ripped the school, which has seen its reputation take a hit.
Fraschilla is hardly alone in urging Kansas State to give Tang his money.
On TNT’s college basketball show Wednesday night, former Kentucky star Jamal Mashburn said he was fully on Tang’s side.
“They got to go ahead and pay this particular man because he didn’t say anything that any other coach wasn’t saying at any particular time, and that $18 million, I hope he fights long and hard for that,” Mashburn said.
Former Auburn and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl ripped K-State.
“You know what’s embarrassing? I think it’s embarrassing the Kansas State University leadership, that they would allow that,” Pearl said. “You want to fire the man who didn’t win enough games? OK, this is what our expectation is. But don’t say it’s with cause.”
ESPN’s Dick Vitale also voiced his displeasure with Kansas State’s attempt to get around Tang’s buyout.
Vitale wrote on X: “Jerome Tang is a solid coach that had a down year & @kstatesports has a right to make a coaching change but it is RIDICULOUS to say it is due to violating his contract my buddy @SethOnHoops is 100% right as it was due to not enough WINS. K State HONOR HIS CONTRACT!”
Vitale mentioned Seth Greenberg, who also criticized Kansas State while on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
“He’s getting fired because he did not win enough games. End of conversation,” Greenberg said. “What he did in that press conference, that’s not a fireable offense. Let’s be honest with it. Am I saying that it’s embarrassing to the university? No, what’s embarrassing is trying to weasel your way out of a contract.
“If the athletic director signed him, the Board of Visitors signed him to that contract. You know what? Once you sign someone to a contract, if you don’t like what that person’s doing, you buy them out and you pay them the money that you owe them. That’s your choice.”
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde wrote on X: “Weasel’s way out of yet another bad contract. Own your decision and pay the buyout.”
SiriusXM’s Chris Childers also unloaded on Kansas State.
“Kansas State firing Jerome Tang ‘for cause’ over a recent rant is gross and flat-out ridiculous,” Childers wrote on X. “Schools have tried shady buyout tricks before, but what Gene Taylor offered today takes the cake. Taylor should resign immediately and Tang should be paid every penny he’s owed. This is as unethical as it gets.”
Kansas State certainly does not look good in this fight.
This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 9:26 AM.
