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I mentioned Tang elsewhere but felt this could make for an interesting thread. To recap, Tang led Kansas State to an Elite 8 appearance in his first season at Manhattan. Things have gotten progressively worse ever since. Siting in last place in the Big 12, Tang recently threw his players under the bus after a recent loss. He indicated that his players did not deserve to wear the Kansas State uniform and that most of them wouldn't be back next year.
Definitely statements that should have never been made to the press (even if this is how he honestly felt). This all gets interesting when the school decided to fire Tang with cause. There is undoubtedly some language in Tang's contract that speaks to Tang exercising high integrity, perhaps a morals clause so to speak. Tang's buyout is $18.5 million, a sum that the school is obviously looking to avoid paying. Tang has already retained counsel.
Feel free to weigh in on these questions:
Is publicly going apeshit on your players a fireable offense?
Is firing with cause justified in this situation?
Does the fact that NIL now exists change your opinion (as in Tang should have more leeway to openly criticize since the players are being paid)? Or, should NIL have no bearing on this?
Do you see this case eventually settling and if so, what do you think Tang walks away with?
Without a settlement, who do you see winning this case?
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I think publicly criticising your players can be a fireable offense but I don't necessarily think Tang went over the line. It's clear that KSU wanted to fire Tang for the on-court performance and is trying to use the reputation clause in the contract to do it for cause. I don't really see that being successful unless they find some sympathetic KSU grad judge, meaning I think KSU would lose if it actually went to trial.
I don't think NIL has a bearing on this in that I could see a team trying to pull this in the pre-NIL days (I mean, look at our own school firing ML for cause).
At the end of the day, they probably agree to some settlement that pays Tang an upfront payment that's not offset by a future job.
I see Tang coaching again next season someplace.
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Given the relative newness of the whole NIL regime and the fact that not all that many precedents regarding such issues as what constitutes legitimate firing for cause in the pay-for-play NIL era have been established, I see a settlement in the offing. Tang will accept between a $ 6-8 million buyout to start looking for work elsewhere, probably taking the 2026-27 season off unless something pops that he really likes.