Chris Klieman working to add former Big 12 head coach to Kansas State offensive staff
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman is focused on a familiar name as his search for a new offensive coordinator draws to a close.
Matt Wells, who spent three seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech before transitioning to his current analyst role at Oklahoma, is the leading candidate to fill the vacant position on K-State’s coaching staff, according to a source familiar with the hiring process.
If K-State and Wells can finalize a deal this week he is expected to coach quarterbacks and hold the title of co-offensive coordinator along with Conor Riley next season.
It is too early to speculate how the Wildcats may decide to handle play-calling duties under that arrangement, but Wells would bring much-needed experience and knowledge to the K-State offense regardless of his game-day duties.
K-State Online, the On3 website that covers the Wildcats, first reported Klieman’s interest in Wells.
It makes sense that Klieman would want to add Wells to his coaching staff. They became close friends when they were both hired at Big 12 schools in 2019. Texas Tech parted ways with Wells after K-State came from behind to beat the Red Raiders on the road in 2021, and Klieman publicly said he disagreed with that decision afterward.
Wells has spent nine years as a head coach at the FBS level. He led Utah State to a 44-34 record during six seasons in the Mountain West, highlighted by a 10-2 campaign in 2018 that featured current Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love throwing passes for the Aggies.
Utah State finished third in the country in scoring that year, as the Aggies averaged 47.5 points per game.
Things didn’t work out for Wells at Texas Tech, as he went 13-17 in three seasons with the Red Raiders, but he is still viewed as a smart offensive mind who can help college quarterbacks reach their full potential.
He is in line to get an opportunity to tutor K-State quarterback Avery Johnson as he becomes a sophomore next season.
Wells has spent the past two seasons as an offensive analyst working under Brent Venables for the Oklahoma Sooners.
This would mark his return to a full-time coaching position.
K-State has been without a permanent offensive coordinator since Collin Klein left for Texas A&M after the regular season came to an end.
The Wildcats turned to Riley, the team’s offensive line coach, to call plays at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and he guided the offense to four touchdowns and 435 yards during a 28-19 victory over North Carolina State.
Klieman said he thought Riley did a “phenomenal” job as the interim offensive coordinator but left his options open for the future.
Assuming Wells is added to the K-State staff, both he and Riley will likely work together as co-coordinators as they look to guide the offense into 2024.
This story was originally published January 2, 2024 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Chris Klieman working to add former Big 12 head coach to Kansas State offensive staff."