Jerome Tang, the former Kansas State men’s basketball head coach, is reportedly set to return to Baylor University as an associate head coach, marking a comeback to the program where he previously spent nearly two decades under Scott Drew.
Tang, 59, was dismissed by Kansas State in February after a heated postgame press conference in which he publicly criticized the effort and commitment of his players. His departure came during a difficult season, with the Wildcats finishing 10–15 overall and struggling to a 1–11 record in Big 12 play.
His tenure at K-State began with strong promise. In his debut season, Tang led the Wildcats to a 26–10 record and an Elite Eight appearance in 2023, finishing third in the Big 12. However, the program was unable to sustain that momentum, missing the NCAA Tournament in each of the following three seasons and failing to finish higher than ninth in the conference.
Before taking the Kansas State job, Tang built his reputation at Baylor, where he served as an assistant coach from 2003 to 2022 and later as associate head coach from 2017 to 2022. During that stretch, he played a key role in the program’s transformation under Scott Drew—from a struggling team in the early 2000s to a national powerhouse that captured the 2021 NCAA championship.
Baylor’s rise came after a turbulent period in the program’s history, but under Drew’s leadership, the Bears became a consistent NCAA Tournament contender. Tang’s involvement in that success helped position him for his first head coaching opportunity.
Now, Tang returns to familiar ground as Baylor continues to build on its national reputation, while his exit from Kansas State remains the subject of dispute. The university’s athletic department, led by AD Gene Taylor, dismissed him “for cause,” citing comments made during his press conference that allegedly brought embarrassment to the school.
Tang is reportedly challenging that designation as he seeks to recover a portion of his $18.7 million buyout, setting the stage for an ongoing legal and financial battle even as he begins a new chapter back in Waco.
