Five things Kansas State athletics director Gene Taylor said at Big 12 media days

ARLINGTON, Texas — To say that 2022-23 was a success for Kansas State's athletic programs would be an understatement. Especially given the Wildcats' results in the top revenue-producing sports.

In the fall, the football team won a conference title with a thrilling 31-28 overtime victory over TCU in the Big 12 championship game, and the men's basketball team under first-year coach Jerome Tang shattered expectations with a third-place league finish, topped off by an Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament.

To top it off, Gene Taylor, who oversees the department, was named national athletics director of the year.

The Capital-Journal spoke with Taylor on Thursday during the Big 12 football media days at AT&T Stadium, and here are five things he had to say:

Related: Kansas State athletic programs enjoying success under the direction of Gene Taylor

Saying so long to Oklahoma and Texas

This will be the much-anticipated final year for Oklahoma and Texas in the Big 12 before they join the SEC in 2024-25. As far as Taylor is concerned there is no bitterness.

"I've only been in the Big 12 now seven years, but you think back on the history of the conference, and those two brands are massive and a lot of history," Taylor said of the Sooners and Longhorns. "I think we're going to celebrate that on the way out. It will be different without them, but I think we all have to establish this conference, a different look, and I think it was fine.

"But yeah, it's going to be different."

Related: Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark largely mum on realignment at football media days

Big 12 turns into the Big 14 for one year

For one year, the Big 12 will operate with 14 teams as Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston and Brigham Young join the conference with OU and Texas still around.

Even when it drops down to 12 next year, schedules will look different for football and basketball. No longer will there be a true round robin in football and home-and-home round robin in basketball.

For this year in football, each team will continue to play nine conference games, which with the addition of Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston and Brigham Young, four teams will be left off the schedule.

K-State will play newcomers Central Florida and Houston at home, but won't face Cincinnati or BYU, nor Oklahoma or West Virginia.

"It's one of those kinds of deals where you've got to play who you play, no matter where it is," Taylor said of K-State's draw. "Obviously we play at Oklahoma State, and we knew we were going to play them the opposite of where we played them last year.

"But I think the home schedule is good. We don't play Oklahoma, so we get to say that the last three of four, we walked away with a win, so that's a good thing. And we've got to go to Texas."

And then he took a little jab at the two departing schools.

"I think every school in the league wants to make sure that somebody other than Texas and Oklahoma play in this championship game," he said with a smile.

Related: Suzie Fritz out after 22 seasons as Kansas State volleyball coach

A shiny new volleyball arena

K-State recently released photos of the brand-new Morgan Family Arena, a volleyball-only facility that will allow the Wildcats to move out of cavernous Bramlage Coliseum into a modern, more intimate setting.

"It's beautiful," Taylor said of the arena, which will seat just more than 3,000 fans. "I can hardly wait for their fans to see it. It is going to be a phenomenal facility for our fans.

"It is extremely well done. Everything. The weight room, athletic training and offices. And I think it's one of the few if not the only brand-new volleyball-only facilities."

Related: Kansas State exploring sale of naming rights to Bramlage Coliseum

Shifting the fundraising focus

With the completion of the volleyball arena and Olympic training facility next door, not to mention the Shamrock Practice Facility for football, there are no huge facilities projects on the horizon for the athletic department.

And that's a good thing, Taylor said.

"I think there's some things we want to do with golf and tennis, but those projects aren't in the $50, $60 or $70 million deals where you need to give our donors a little bit of a break," he said. "Probably refocus a little bit and say, 'Guys, we love your investment. We might need to invest in some other operational dollars to keep staying competitive,' whether it's coaches' salaries, staff salaries or student-athlete development.

"All those things are very, very important."

K-State also recently announced that it is exploring the sale of naming rights to Bramlage Coliseum.

Related: Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman's new contract a sign of mutual respect

What about a new contract for Jerome Tang?

Taylor recently completed new contract for football coach Chris Klieman and his assistants. The next order of business is rewarding basketball coach Jerome Tang for his head coaching debut.

But Taylor doesn't seem overly concerned.

"It's really up to him and his agent," Taylor said. "We've talked. We've had good conversations and we're kind of at a point where we're pretty good with the information that they have.

"It's just them getting back to us and kind of dotting the i's and crossing the t's. (Tang) doesn't seem to be in a big hurry, and I think we're all pretty good."

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State athletics director Gene Taylor at Big 12 media days