Five things to know about Jerome Tang, K-State’s new men’s basketball coach
Jerome Tang helped build Baylor into a national powerhouse in his 19 seasons as an
assistant and associate head coach. Now, he’ll be combining that on-court experience
with purple pride as the 25th head men’s basketball coach at Kansas State University.
“I am beyond excited to be the next head basketball coach at Kansas State,” said Tang,
who agreed to a six-year contract, which was approved by the K-State Athletics Inc.
board of directors and President Richard Linton. “Having the opportunity to build
on a program with a rich basketball history at a prestigious university is truly a
blessing. We look forward to bringing an exciting style of basketball to K-State while
helping our student-athletes succeed on the court and in life. My family and I can’t
wait to get to Manhattan and form deep relationships with our students, former players,
alumni and Wildcat fans everywhere. We look forward to making the Octagon of Doom
the best home court advantage in the country!"
Here are five things to know about our new coach:
1. Tang, 55, was an original member of Baylor head coach Scott Drew’s coaching staff
and played an instrumental role in building the Bears program from one rocked by scandal
and NCAA probation into one that now ranks among the nation’s top programs, highlighted
by the 2021 NCAA Championship and consecutive Big 12 regular-season titles in 2021
and 2022.
2. Tang will be the first Black men’s head basketball coach in K-State’s history.
3. Since the 2007-2008 season, Tang has been pivotal in helping Baylor to a stretch of
15 consecutive seasons of at least 18 wins, including a school-record 30 in 2011-2012,
en route to a 361-153 (.702) record and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 2010,
the Bears have appeared in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 five times (2010, 2012, 2014,
2017, 2021), three times advancing to the Elite Eight (2010, 2012, 2021) and once
to the Final Four (2021). Additionally, 13 players from those seasons have gone on
to play in the NBA.
4. Tang was born in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies. He migrated with his parents
to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, until age 10 when his family moved to Texas. He
and his wife, Careylyen (Rae) have a son, Seven, and a daughter, Aylyn.
5. Tang’s coaching experience:
Head coach, Heritage Christian Academy (1993-2003)
Assistant coach, Baylor (2003-2017)
Associate head coach, Baylor (2017-2022)
Head coach, K-State (2022-present)