K-State expected to move quickly in pursuit of head-coaching target Collin Klein
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State will move quickly to hire Collin Klein, with announcement and conference imminent.
- Klein, former K-State quarterback and assistant, leads candidate list despite no head role.
- Klein will likely call plays for Texas A&M in the CFP while transitioning to K-State.
Now that Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman has publicly announced his retirement and explained his decision to both players and fans, it is time for Wildcats athletic director Gene Taylor to shift his focus and begin working to hire a new head coach.
Fortunately for him, the process shouldn’t take long.
K-State has targeted Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein as Klieman’s replacement, and the Wildcats are close to finalizing a deal with him.
K-State is expected to announce Klein, 36, as the team’s next head coach as early as Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the coaching search. An introductory news conference should follow by the end of the week.
“The business is different now,” Taylor said Wednesday. “It’s going to be fast, and it’s going to be efficient. We need to move quickly. And we’ve already got all the things we need to be in place so when we get to the point where we’re ready to make an offer, things can happen very quickly. I think we should make it happen quickly for the players and the staff so they know where the next direction is.”
Sources have confirmed that K-State officials set the wheels in motion to hire Klein earlier this week, when Klieman, 58, informed Taylor that he was considering retirement.
Klein was considered a top candidate to follow Alex Golesh as head coach at USF, but sources said he removed his name from consideration the moment K-State emerged as an option. The Bulls pivoted to Brian Hartline instead.
On Wednesday, Taylor said he hadn’t been in contact with any potential candidates as of 5 p.m. When asked directly about Klein, he said he wasn’t sure if he had his phone number anymore.
But he could have spoken with Klein’s agent or others could have spoken with Klein on his behalf.
Bottom line: Those words shouldn’t deter Klein from succeeding Klieman in Manhattan.
Klein is the slam-dunk choice. He is a former K-State quarterback and assistant coach who has helped Texas A&M go 11-1 this season
He has never been a head coach before, but that won’t matter to K-State fans. They have long clamored for him to get his first opportunity with the Wildcats.
Before he got into coaching, Klein played quarterback for the Wildcats. As a player, he was known for his leadership and his toughness. He rushed for a whopping 2,485 yards and 56 touchdowns to go along with 4,724 yards and 30 touchdowns as a passer during his four years with the Wildcats.
He led K-State to a Big 12 championship in 2012. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist that season.
He later served as an assistant coach under both Bill Snyder and Klieman. He most recently worked at K-State as offensive coordinator in 2023.
Klein called plays for the Wildcats when they won a Big 12 championship in 2022.
The K-State offense averaged 32.3 points and 418.8 yards per game that season. It was even stronger in 2023, when the Wildcats averaged 37.1 points and 445.2 yards per game. K-State won nine games and played in the Pop-Tarts Bowl that year.
Klein has continued to coach an explosive offense at Texas A&M. This season, the Aggies have averaged 36.3 points and 454.4 yards per game behind top playmakers Marcel Reed and KC Concepcion.
The plan is for Klein to continue calling plays for Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff while he gets his start as a head coach at K-State.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 8:01 PM with the headline "K-State expected to move quickly in pursuit of head-coaching target Collin Klein."