Chris Klieman retires as K-State football coach, Collin Klein rumored as replacement

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman is retiring, an announcement that drew national attention on Wednesday as fans and pundits speculate on what’s next for the program.

The news developed quickly throughout the day. The Manhattan Mercury first reported the story around 8:30 a.m., followed by a National Signing Day press conference being moved back to 4 p.m., and a team-only meeting at 2 p.m. with Athletic Director Gene Taylor.

Ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s news conference, the Kansas State University Athletic Department shared the following statement from Klieman:

“After many deep and thoughtful conversations with my family, we have decided that the time is right for me to retire from coaching,” said Klieman, the second-winningest coach in school history with 54 victories. “This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health. I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men, but now is the time for me to step away and spend more time with Rhonda and our three kids. I truly am thankful to Gene Taylor for trusting me with this program in 2018, and we have accomplished many great things including winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship. K-State will always be a special part of our family’s story, and we will forever be Wildcats.”

While Klieman said his decision was a based on many different factors, Taylor said that it was also influenced by the state of college athletics.

“You just saw one of the greatest guys in this industry walk out of this room and retire from coaching from the business that he loves, and it pisses me off is he’s doing it because of where we are in this industry. If we don’t get this thing under control, more really good guys like chris kleiman are going to walk out o this business,” Taylor said.

Klieman just completed his seventh season in Manhattan and has a 54-37 record, with a Big 12 championship in 2022. He concludes his coaching career as the second winningest coach in K-State history.

Klieman came to Kansas State from North Dakota State where as a coordinator and eventual head coach (from 2014-2018), he won four NCAA Division I FCS national championships.

Klein emerges as potential successor

Despite early reports that Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein will become the next Wildcat head coach, Taylor said he hasn’t talked with anyone about the head coaching job.

At Wednesday’s news conference surrounding Klieman’s retirement, Taylor did not provide much insight on a replacement, only saying that he didn’t know if a decision would happen in two days or two months.

Klein, presumed to be the program’s choice, was on staff with the Wildcats from 2017-23, also serving as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. He is currently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, having served in the same role with K-State from 2022-23.

As a player, the 36-year-old from Loveland, Colo. gained national attention with his ability to run with power and speed and to use his rushing ability to open up the K-State passing game. He played at K-State from 2009-12 and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2012.

In his senior season, Klein led the Wildcats to a 10-0 start and BCS No. 1 ranking before the Wildcats lost on the road to Baylor. K-State rebounded to handle Texas on Senior Night, locking up the 2012 Big 12 championship and securing a spot in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

In his final home game for the Wildcats, Klein kept the Longhorns on their heels all night, compiling 184 passing yards and 103 rushing yards.

The softspoken leader earned respect from coaches across the U.S., especially in the Big 12. In Klein’s senior season, Texas Head Coach Mack Brown touched on what made Klein special.

“Without him, they’re not the same guy. He’s the leader, he’s the toughness, he’s the heartbeat, he’s hard to tackle, they run him a whole bunch,” Brown said of Klein. “He can run power for a quarterback, he can run option. Out here (at Texas in 2011), we knocked the heck out of him and knocked him around and he still found a way to win the game.”

From his playing days, Klein earned a reputation as a strong offensive mind. That played into his coaching career and his ability to climb the ladder relatively quickly.

Klein and his wife, Shalin Spani, a former player on the K-State women’s basketball team, have four children.