Former Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang made a surprise appearance at Wichita State’s 69-57 win over Temple, showing support for Shockers head coach Paul Mills.
Prior to tipoff in Wichita, Tang sat 10 to 15 rows behind the Shockers’ bench, and he wasn’t there by coincidence.
Jerome Tang Shows Support for Paul Mills at Wichita State vs. Temple
Dressed in jeans and a gray shirt, Tang watched Wichita State secure its third consecutive win with a 69-57 victory over Temple. His appearance quickly raised questions — why was the former Kansas State head coach in attendance?
Wichita State Head Coach: Jerome Tang pic.twitter.com/BLCN9zhmVw
— Barstool Kansas State (@BarstoolKState) February 22, 2026
The connection goes back more than two decades. Tang and Mills both served on the Baylor coaching staff under current head coach Scott Drew. The two spent 14 seasons together in Waco helping build the Bears into a national contender.
Mills departed first in 2017 to become the head coach at Oral Roberts. In 2021, he led the 15-seeded Golden Eagles on a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen, one of the most memorable NCAA Tournament stories in recent history.
Amid the ongoing dispute surrounding Tang’s “for cause” firing at Kansas State, his appearance wasn't focused on the Wildcats. It was likely on supporting Mills.
Kansas State Basketball Results Since Jerome Tang’s Departure
On the court, Kansas State basketball hasn’t looked much different, but there’s been some upside. The Wildcats earned their second conference win with a 90-74 victory over Baylor before falling to then-No. 13 Texas Tech on Saturday.
Interim head coach Matthew Driscoll summed up the loss bluntly after Kansas State struggled against the Red Raiders: “you can’t win like that.”
Despite the loss, there have been signs of progress. Nate Johnson appears to be finding his rhythm, and both he and P.J. Haggerty posted 30-plus point performances against Baylor. Turnovers have also dropped significantly compared to earlier in conference play.
Even the earlier home loss to Cincinnati looks less impactful now, as the Bearcats took down the Wildcats’ in-state rival inside Allen Fieldhouse by 16 points and are positioning themselves as a potential bid-stealer in the NCAA Tournament.
What’s Next in Jerome Tang’s Legal Dispute with Kansas State?
Tang’s situation off the court continues to develop.
Update: Jerome Tang has retained Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer in the case of his firing for cause. Mars told ESPN: “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… https://t.co/deGmkldkAh
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 16, 2026
Following his departure from Kansas State, Tang retained legal counsel in Tom Mars and Bennett Speyer. Mars has previously handled high-profile NCAA-related disputes and represented former Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Mars issued a strong statement regarding the situation, saying, “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.”
As of now, no new public filings, motions, or updates have emerged in the legal battle between Tang and Kansas State.
Bookmark Jug of Snyderand follow us on X with the username @JugofSnyder and Facebook@ksujugofsnyder.