How player retention become a strength for K-State football coach Chris Klieman
Player retention has become a noticeable strength for the Kansas State football team under head coach Chris Klieman.
Sure, the Wildcats lose players to the transfer portal every year just like every other team in the country. But the vast majority of their best players usually opt to remain in Manhattan until they are ready for the NFL or run out of college eligibility.
That was once again the case this spring when the transfer window opened on April 16 and closed on April 25 with only one significant K-State player (former four star recruit Noah King) bolting for greener pastures.
It is becoming more and more rare for a Big 12 team to hold onto its best players for the long haul. So how is K-State pulling it off?
“It’s relationships, it’s development and it’s growth,” Klieman said at a Friday news conference. “There are opportunities for everybody to go and do something else. That’s not going to change ...
“I believe that the relationships and the development and what we’re doing on the first floor with nutrition, with strength, with athletic training, with recovery is as good as there is in college football. Our guys know that and believe that.”
There are currently 107 players on the K-State football roster, and Klieman feels good about the group he has retained as the Wildcats head into the 2025 season with hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff.
Klieman thinks K-State is in a good place because of the culture it has built in the locker room and the conversations coaches have recently had with players.
It also helps that the Wildcats devote much of their NIL money to returning players. When Avery Johnson, Dylan Edwards, VJ Payne and other K-State football players show out in games and practices, K-State rewards them. Klieman would much rather develop his own guys than enter a bidding war for a high-profile transfer.
Clint Brown, who has settled in nicely to his role as director of roster management, has helped the Wildcats manage their money and prioritize the right players and transfers.
K-State lost just one high-profile transfer while also adding three potential impact players from the portal this week.
The Wildcats also try to be transparent with all players about their roles.
“We are truthful and honest with them,” Klieman said.
Another factor that Klieman surprisingly mentioned: K-State has a relatively small football staff.
“K-State is unique,” Klieman said. “It’s special. It’s got great people here. It’s got great tradition here, and we still are probably understaffed. But I think that helps us because we’re building more relationships with fewer people.
“We don’t have 10 analysts on each side of the ball like a lot of schools do. Having fewer people that they’re interacting with helps us build those relationships.”
Add it all up, and the K-State football roster is heading into another season without much turnover.
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM with the headline "How player retention become a strength for K-State football coach Chris Klieman."