Former Kansas State University men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang has retained multiple attorneys following his firing, as the school seeks to terminate him for cause, according to a report Monday.Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Tang has hired attorneys Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer. “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 told KMBC.Kansas State is attempting to fire Tang for cause, a designation that could significantly reduce, or eliminate, the buyout owed under his contract.Kansas State announced Sunday night that it had fired Tang, effective immediately. Athletics Director Gene Taylor said the decision was made in the best interest of the university and the men’s basketball program, citing recent public comments, conduct, and the overall direction of the program as not aligning with school standards.Tang later told ESPN he was “deeply disappointed” with the decision and strongly disagreed with the university’s characterization of his termination. He said he acted with integrity and in the best interests of the program and its student-athletes.Tang led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance in his first season in Manhattan.Kansas City attorney discusses potential legal battle between Kansas State, Jerome TangKansas State is attempting to terminate Tang for cause, a move that could limit or eliminate what remains on his contract. Tang is owed approximately $18.7 million in buyout money.To better understand how a dispute like this could play out, KMBC spoke with Cooper Mach, a partner at Popham Law.“I think that Jerome Tang, any coach, in a situation like this has got, a little bit of an upper hand just because there is no true definition,” Mach said. “And so if this goes all the way to a jury trial or a bench trial, you know, they’ve got a Kansas State University has to prove, that there was cause and so they’ve got the burden of proving their side, whereas Jerome Tang here just has to prove, you know, hey, I was doing what I felt was best for motivating the team.”Kansas State is currently 1-11 in conference play with six games remaining before the Big 12 Tournament.Mach said timing and on-court performance may also factor into how the decision is viewed.“It kind of seems like there was kind of that vote of two of like, okay, we’re going to look for a reason to and that’s, you know, and I think if the cats were on a six game winning streak instead of a six game losing streak, I think the decision goes differently.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. —

Former Kansas State University men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang has retained multiple attorneys following his firing, as the school seeks to terminate him for cause, according to a report Monday.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Tang has hired attorneys Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer.

“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 told KMBC.

Kansas State is attempting to fire Tang for cause, a designation that could significantly reduce, or eliminate, the buyout owed under his contract.

Kansas State announced Sunday night that it had fired Tang, effective immediately.

Athletics Director Gene Taylor said the decision was made in the best interest of the university and the men’s basketball program, citing recent public comments, conduct, and the overall direction of the program as not aligning with school standards.

Tang later told ESPN he was “deeply disappointed” with the decision and strongly disagreed with the university’s characterization of his termination.

He said he acted with integrity and in the best interests of the program and its student-athletes.

Tang led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance in his first season in Manhattan.

Kansas City attorney discusses potential legal battle between Kansas State, Jerome Tang

Kansas State is attempting to terminate Tang for cause, a move that could limit or eliminate what remains on his contract. Tang is owed approximately $18.7 million in buyout money.

To better understand how a dispute like this could play out, KMBC spoke with Cooper Mach, a partner at Popham Law.

“I think that Jerome Tang, any coach, in a situation like this has got, a little bit of an upper hand just because there is no true definition,” Mach said. “And so if this goes all the way to a jury trial or a bench trial, you know, they’ve got a Kansas State University has to prove, that there was cause and so they’ve got the burden of proving their side, whereas Jerome Tang here just has to prove, you know, hey, I was doing what I felt was best for motivating the team.”

Kansas State is currently 1-11 in conference play with six games remaining before the Big 12 Tournament.

Mach said timing and on-court performance may also factor into how the decision is viewed.

“It kind of seems like there was kind of that vote of two of like, okay, we’re going to look for a reason to and that’s, you know, and I think if the cats were on a six game winning streak instead of a six game losing streak, I think the decision goes differently.”