Kstate

Change, Chaos, and Coaching Update with Kansas State Football

It has been a whirlwind of a week for Kansas State football and its program, with many updates and changes to it.
Ryan Kay|
Kansas State football head coach Chris Klieman waves his hand after standing up at a press announcement where he shared his thoughts on his retirement.
Kansas State football head coach Chris Klieman waves his hand after standing up at a press announcement where he shared his thoughts on his retirement. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State has been in the news for various reasons, including some abrupt changes and decisions within the program.

The fictional movie character Ferris Bueller, from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Well, if you have not been paying attention to Kansas State Football after their last game of the season, you missed a lot of news and information.

First is the abrupt retirement of their now former head coach, Chris Klieman.

It was made perfectly clear that even after a 6-6 season that failed to live up to expectations and after finishing tied for 7th place this season and 8th place last season in the Big 12, he seemed to be well respected and admired by those associated with the Kansas State athletic program.

He was also recognized as a legendary coach who left a legacy by the Big 12 conference.

Kansas State Athletic Director Gene Taylor didn't seem happy that Klieman retired as the Wildcats head coach.

Klieman gave a speech and said that he was "at peace" with his decision to retire.

Then, in probably the fastest FBS coaching search this season, Kansas State had what appeared to be an immediate replacement for the next head coach of the football program.

Then, what appeared to be less than 24 hours after Klieman's retirement announcement, Kansas State named current Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein as the next head coach of the Wildcats.

For those that don't know, Klein was Kansas State's starting quarterback for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He then was an assistant coach for the Wildcats from 2017 to 2023. He left his position as the offensive coordinator for KSU to join Texas A&M, and after only two seasons as the Aggies' offensive coordinator, he returns as the Wildcats' new head coach.

Then, in a somewhat surprising reaction from the current Wildcat players, news began to break that Kansas State would not accept a bowl game invitation this season.

There was then an official announcement from KSU AD Taylor that they would not be accepting a bowl game invitation this year.

The Big 12 then fined Kansas State as well as Iowa State 500 K for not accepting a bowl game invitation.

In summary, this is what happened with Kansas State football this past week.

In a surprising turn of events, Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman announced his retirement this past Wednesday, leaving fans and analysts alike in disbelief. Under his leadership for seven years, he led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title in 2022.

In a swift move following Klieman's departure, Kansas State wasted no time in appointing Collin Klein as its new head coach. Klein, a standout quarterback for the Wildcats, once found himself in the spotlight as a Heisman Trophy candidate his senior season. Klein has led the offense at Texas A&M before announcing he is the new head coach at K-State. He was part of Klieman's staff during a period of time, so the transition should be smoother than most. He will continue to coach Texas A&M during the College Football Playoffs, a decision that may come as a surprise to some, as he will not devote all of his coaching time to being the head coach of KSU. Following that, he will shift his attention solely to his new role as the Wildcats' head coach.

Kansas State wrapped up the season with a 6-6 record, leaving them bowl-eligible. However, they announced their decision to forgo a bowl game in 2025. The decision came after discussions with the current KSU players. The decision stemmed from the arrival of the new coaching staff and the uncertainty surrounding player availability.

The Big 12 Conference then imposed a hefty fine of $500,000 on the university for its absence from any of the league's bowl games. Iowa State, under the guidance of a new coach, faced a fine of the same magnitude.

More from Kansas State On SI

Stay up to date with the Wildcats by bookmarking   Kansas State On SI.

Published
Ryan Kay
RYAN KAY

Ryan Kay is a journalist who graduated from Michigan State in 2003 and is passionate about covering college sports and enjoys writing features and articles covering various collegiate teams. He has worked as an editor at Go Joe Bruin and has been a contributor for Longhorns Wire and Busting Brackets. He is a contributor for Kansas State On SI.

Home/Football