Big 12 Basketball: Ranking all 14 head coaches in 2023 after realignment
By Joey Loose
7. Jerome Tang – Kansas State
A high school coach for over a decade, Tang joined Scott Drew’s original Baylor staff way back in 2003 and was Drew’s right-hand man as they rebuilt that Bears program. Two decades ago, Baylor was a program in absolute ruin and Tang had a major role in shifting their fortunes during his 19 years in Waco. At long last, he got his own shot to run a program at Kansas State this past offseason and his first year certainly lived up to any hype.
Picked to finish last in the Big 12, Kansas State instead exceeded any expectations, getting off to a 15-1 start and eventually ending the year with 26 wins. Holding their ground in this tough conference, the Wildcats played some of their best basketball in the postseason, advancing to the Elite Eight to really punctuate an incredible start for Tang in Manhattan.
It’s impossible to fully judge Tang based on one initial season, but things almost couldn’t have gone better, even if their season was ended by Florida Atlantic on the doorstep of the Final Four. Kansas State was under .500 each of the last three seasons but instead was absolutely a contender in this Big 12. Things will be different moving forward in this league, but Tang might just be the head coach with the most momentum.