A large number of dreams came true back in 2021 when Baylor cut down the nets as national champions. It was the first national title for a program decimated by scandal less than two decades prior and it capped off what was truly one of the best rebuilds of all time by Scott Drew and company. Before Drew’s arrival in 2003, Baylor really didn’t even have much of a history of success in basketball, but let’s not act like Drew alone captivated this program.
When he arrived in Waco more than two decades ago, Drew hired Jerome Tang, who became an important part of his staff. Tang was by Drew’s side as they navigated Baylor’s scandal and built a program that made headway in the Big 12 with some nice NCAA Tournament runs. That national championship in 2021 was clearly the icing on the cake and one of Tang’s final salvos in Waco.
Tang departed for the Kansas State head coaching job in 2022, his first top job at the collegiate level after 19 seasons by Drew’s side. The hire looked brilliant, as Tang took Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his first season in a 26-win season. Unfortunately the Wildcats wouldn’t come close to matching that production, failing to even reach the Big Dance in the next three seasons before Tang was fired this past February.
Let’s not ignore the fact that building success is even more difficult in this state of college basketball, with players seemingly coming and going on a yearly basis in the transfer portal. Tang found the right formula in his first season but just couldn’t replicate that success in recent years. His work in year one remains impressive but it was certainly time for a change at Kansas State, and now it’s time for his next big move.
Sources: Baylor is finalizing a multi-year deal to hire Jerome Tang as the school’s new associate head coach. Tang was a long-time Baylor assistant under Scott Drew before taking the Kansas State head job in 2022. pic.twitter.com/IBaNX3ySKA
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 28, 2026
The announcement was just made that Tang is returning to Baylor as the associate head coach, returning to the position he held when Baylor won that title five years ago. After his efforts at Kansas State, it would’ve made sense for Tang to sit out this year and maybe take another head coaching shot next season. Instead, he lands right back at the spot where he’s had his most success, reuniting with Drew in hopes of turning the Bears back into a Big 12 contender.
After winning the Big 12 titles in both 2021 and 2022, Baylor hasn’t been on the same level in recent years since Tang’s departure. The Bears were knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for three straight years and really struggled this past season, tying for 13th in the Big 12 while settling for the NIT.
Tang is signing on for multiple years back at Baylor so this likely isn’t a temporary landing spot as he awaits his next head coaching gig. Could Tang be setting himself up to one day succeed Drew? Regardless of what his future holds, can he help bring Baylor back into national relevance?
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