Kansas State gives coordinators Joe Klanderman, Collin Klein lucrative new contracts
Kansas State coordinators Joe Klanderman and Collin Klein both received bonuses for helping the Wildcats win eight football games last season, but those were nothing compared to the rewards that came their way about a month after the Texas Bowl.
Both of Chris Klieman’s top two assistant coaches have agreed to terms on lucrative contract extensions that run through 2024 and feature a significant raise in pay.
Klanderman signed a new deal earlier this month that will pay him $600,000 over each of the next two seasons, according to a copy of his contract obtained through a records request. He earned $375,000 when he was first named defensive coordinator two seasons ago. A K-State spokesperson said he later received a pay bump up to $550,000 before signing his new deal earlier this week.
The Wildcats decided to give him a new deal after Klanderman’s unit played at an impressive level in 2021. Behind All-Big 12 players Russ Yeast and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, K-State held teams to an average of 21 points and 344.9 yards per game last season. Both of those numbers ranked in the top half of the conference.
Klein was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator following K-State’s blowout victory over LSU at the Texas Bowl, and his salary is also expected to nearly double from the $325,000 he made last season. He has not yet signed his new contract, but K-State athletics director Gene Taylor told The Eagle they have tentatively agreed on a salary that will be in the same ballpark as Klanderman.
Klieman already has confidence in Klein as a play-caller after watching him lead the Wildcats to 42 points and 442 yards at NRG Stadium in Houston.
A former star quarterback for the Wildcats, Klein is already busy putting his finger prints on the K-State offense. It will be interesting to see how much different things look next season with him calling the shots and Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez at quarterback.
Two new assistant coaches will assist Klein on the offensive side of things next season. Brian Lepak has been hired to tutor fullbacks and tight ends, while Thad Ward has been hired to coach wide receivers.
They have both agreed to contract terms, as well. Lepak, a former quality control coach for the Wildcats, has signed a deal that will pay him $225,000 a year through 2024. Ward, who joins K-State after previously working at Temple, will make $300,000 in each of the next two seasons.
Both of K-State’s coordinators and its new assistants will be working under two-year deals that feature at least one year’s worth of salary in guaranteed money. The Wildcats’ other six assistants are under contract until Feb. 28, 2023. They have each received extensions on their old deals at the same salary they were previously earning.
K-State football coaching salaries
Chris Klieman (head coach): $3.5 million
Joe Klanderman (defensive coordinator): $600,000
Collin Klein (offensive coordinator): TBD
Conor Riley (offensive line): $425,000
Van Malone (cornerbacks): $385,000
Steve Stanard (linebackers): $340,000
Brian Anderson (running backs) $325,000
Trumain Carroll (strength and conditioning): $325,000
Thad Ward (wide receivers): $300,000
Buddy Wyatt (defensive ends): $300,000
Mike Tuiasosopo (defensive tackles): $297,000
Brian Lepak (fullbacks, tight ends): $225,000
This story was originally published February 5, 2022 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Kansas State gives coordinators Joe Klanderman, Collin Klein lucrative new contracts."