After being picked 10th in the Big 12 preseason poll and guiding Kansas State to a 26-10 record with an Elite Eight appearance, Jerome Tang has been named 2023 Naismith Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats entered the season with just two returning players but found a way to post the third-winningest season in school history.
Congratulations to Jerome Tang on being named Naismith Coach of the Year 👏 @NaismithTrophy pic.twitter.com/pU3bCUvsvE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
The sports world reacted to Sunday’s announcement on Twitter.
“Congrats and well deserved,” Scott Drew said.
Congrats and well deserved @CoachJTang ! #JOY https://t.co/aaqS5zSkTU
— Scott Drew (@BUDREW) April 2, 2023
“I’m Not Surprised At All, You’re Appointed None Of This Is Coincidence! Congratulations,” a user tagged Coach Tang.
I’m Not Surprised At All, You’re Appointed None Of This Is Coincidence!
Congratulations @CoachJTang https://t.co/iViSAbijpx— Marcus Nowell (@SelfMadeCapo) April 2, 2023
“Blank check him,” a fan replied.
Blank check him https://t.co/ihMpi3oS5N
— qǝlɐɔ (@EMAWCaleb) April 2, 2023
“Hey AP voters, you dropped this….”
Hey AP voters, you dropped this…. https://t.co/0i3jd1n8ze
— Brian Bookwalter (@BrianBookwalter) April 2, 2023
“Well-deserved. Great coach… an even better man.”
Well-deserved. Great coach…an even better man. https://t.co/EDOpk1upg5
— Geoffrey Campbell (@geoff_boy_ardee) April 2, 2023
— Jareem Dowling 🇻🇮💯💜 (@Coachreem4ever) April 2, 2023
“I like Tang but this should be Dusty May,” another fan replied.
“He won the one that mattered,” a K-State account tweeted. “AP is a joke for not choosing him, COY and it isn’t a debate.”
He won the one that mattered. Ap is a joke for not choosing him, COY and it isn’t a debate. https://t.co/X84SVK8EYt
— STU🌾 (@_SpecialTeamsU) April 2, 2023
Tang can add this one to his trophy case right next to his consensus Big 12 COTY award.