Kansas State University boasts a vibrant and illustrious basketball legacy, with the key driving force behind every flourishing program being the heads at the coaching helm.
Back in the early years, the Kansas State basketball coaching scene was a wild frontier. Coaches like James Gardner and Zora G. Clevenger laid the foundation for what would become a formidable program.
No discussion of Kansas State basketball coaching is complete without mentioning the legendary Fred "Tex" Winter.
In this article, we will take a delicious journey through the last 10 Kansas State basketball coaches, giving you a taste of their contributions to the Wildcats' history.
1. Jerome Tang
- Tenure: 2022-Present
- Record at KSU: 36-13 (.735)
- Best start in program history by a first-year coach
- 2023 Naismith College Coach of the Year
Jerome Tang officially assumed the role of head coach for the Kansas State Wildcats on March 21, 2022, taking over from the retiring Bruce Weber.
Tang and the Wildcats reached a six-year agreement valued at $14.1 million.
With a record of 18 victories and only four defeats, he achieved the highest winning percentage in program history during his inaugural season, boasting an impressive .818 success rate.
Before becoming the head coach, he served as an assistant coach alongside Scott Drew at Baylor from 2003 to 2022, during which the Bears achieved victory in the 2021 NCAA Championship.
2. Bruce Weber
- Tenure: 2012-2022
- Record at KSU: 184-147 (.556)
- 2 Conference regular season Championships (2013, 2019)
- 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2013, 2014, 2017-2019)
Bruce Weber assumed the position of head coach at Kansas State University in March 2012.
During his debut season, Weber guided the Wildcats to a 27-8 record, securing a share of the Big 12 Conference title with a 14-4 conference record. This marked K-State's first regular-season conference championship since 1977.
Weber's tenure at Kansas State included two conference co-championships and five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, culminating in reaching the Elite Eight in 2018.
He currently holds the third position on K-State's all-time total wins list, trailing only Jack Hartman and Tex Winter.
3. Frank Martin
- Tenure: 2007-2012
- Record at KSU: 117-54 (.684)
- 4 Tournament Appearances (2008, 2010-2012)
Frank Martin served as the head coach for KSU from 2007 to 2012, guiding the Wildcats to four NCAA tournament appearances and reaching the Elite Eight in one of those occasions.
On January 30, 2008, Martin coached Kansas State to an 84-75 triumph against Kansas, securing the Wildcats' first home victory over their in-state rival since 1983. Ultimately, Martin steered Kansas State to its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1996.
Martin received the Coach of the Year honor from the Big 12 Conference on March 7, 2010, and was granted a contract extension covering the 2014-2015 season. His annual salary for the 2010-11 season was raised to $1.2 million, along with additional incentives.
4. Bob Huggins
- Tenure: 2006-2007
- Record at KSU: 23-12 (.657)
Bob Huggins, nicknamed "Huggy Bear", was the head coach of Kansas State Wildcats for a season in 2006-07.
Following a one-year hiatus from coaching, Huggins took on the head coaching role at KSU on March 23, 2006. following the dismissal of Jim Wooldridge.
Huggins aimed to recruit players such as O. J. Mayo and Bill Walker, both of whom had contemplated joining him during his tenure in Cincinnati.
During his single season with Kansas State, Huggins guided the Wildcats to a 23-12 overall record, including a 10-6 record in the Big 12. The team secured an invitation to the NIT, where they emerged victorious in one game.
5. Jim Wooldridge
- Tenure: 2000-2006
- Record at KSU: 83-90 (.480)
Jim Wooldridge re-entered college coaching in 2000 with Kansas State, where he recorded a coaching record of 83-90 over six seasons.
Despite achieving winning records in his final two seasons, none of his teams secured more than six wins in Big 12 Conference play or qualified for the NCAA Tournament or NIT.
During Wooldridge's tenure, the highlight was Kansas State's sole victory in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry series against Kansas, a 59-55 win on January 14, 2006. This triumph remains the most recent win for Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse as of 2022.
On March 9, 2006, Kansas terminated Wooldridge stating that an NCAA Tournament invitation was a prerequisite for him to retain his position.
6. Tom Asbury
- Tenure: 1994-2000
- Record at KSU: 85-88 (.491)
Tom Asbury's success at Pepperdine earned him the esteemed head coaching position at Kansas State University in 1994.
Over the span of six seasons, Tom led the Wildcats to a single NCAA tournament appearance and two NIT Tournament berths.
Unfortunately, his tenure concluded on a disappointing note during the 1999-2000 season, as Kansas State finished with a challenging 9-19 overall record and a mere 2-14 standing in conference play.
Due to subpar performances, KSU dismissed him in 2000. Subsequently, he resumed his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Alabama before rejoining the Pepperdine Wolves.
7. Dana Altman
- Tenure: 1990-1994
- Record at KSU: 68-54 (.557)
- 1993 Big 8 Coach of the Year
While serving as the head coach for Kansas State, Altman is most notable for his skill in winning tight matches and orchestrating significant upsets in the school's history, despite only securing one NCAA tournament appearance during his four-year tenure.
In 1993, Dana achieved recognition as the Big 8 Coach of the Year. His team for the 1993-94 season concluded with a 20-14 record and reached the NIT Final Four in New York City.
After the season, he took on the role of head coach at Creighton, located in his home state of Nebraska.
8. Lon Kruger
- Tenure: 1986-1990
- Record at KSU: 81-46 (.638)
- 4 NCAA Tournament Appearances (1987-1990)
As the head coach of the Wildcats, Kruger guided K-State to the NCAA tournament in all four of his seasons and reached the Elite Eight in 1988 with a squad that included future NBA players Mitch Richmond and Steve Henson.
Unfortunately, they lost to the archrival Kansas Jayhawks, who eventually became the national champion.
Following his time at Kansas State, Kruger transitioned to the University of Florida, where he assumed control of a program that had experienced limited success both nationally and in the Southeastern Conference.
9. Jack Hartman
- Tenure: 1970-1986
- Record at KSU: 295-169 (.636)
- 3x Conference Regular Season Championships (1972, 1973, 1977)
- 2x Conference Tournament Championships (1977, 1980)
- 7 Tournament Appearances
Jack Hartman served as the head coach at Kansas State for 16 seasons, achieving success with 294 victories and consistently securing first or second place in the Big Eight Conference during 10 of those seasons.
Hartman is acknowledged for introducing a distinctive two-tone uniform for Kansas State's away games, featuring lavender tops and purple shorts, worn by the Wildcats from 1973 to 1982.
Throughout this period, Kansas State achieved a record of 186-81 (.697), participated in five NCAA Tournaments, and secured victories in the 1977 and 1980 Big Eight postseason tournaments.
10. Cotton Fitzsimmons
- Tenure: 1968-1970
- Record at KSU: 34-20 (.630)
- 1x Conference Regular Season Championships (1990)
Fitzsimmons joined the coaching staff at Kansas State University in 1967-1968, working as an assistant coach under Head Coach Tex Winter.
When Winter departed for Washington after the season, he recommended Fitzsimmons as his successor. In 1968, Fitzsimmons became the Head Coach at Kansas State, where his initial team finished with a record of 14-12.
The following season, the Wildcats achieved a 20-8 record, securing the Big 8 Conference Championship. Fitzsimmons was named the 1970 Big 8 Coach of the Year and guided the Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen in the 1970 NCAA tournament.
