Retired football coach Chris Klieman could return to Kansas State in a new role
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State open to bringing Chris Klieman back in an advisory role.
- AD Gene Taylor hopes to meet Klieman to discuss consulting and fundraising.
- Any semi-retired role would likely come with a six-figure salary, not a Snyder-style gift.
When Bill Snyder hung up his headset eight years ago, Kansas State sent the legendary football coach into retirement with a $3 million farewell gift and a new job that paid him $250,000 annually to serve as a special ambassador for the university.
Nothing like that has been arranged for Chris Klieman since he surprisingly decided to retire in December, but that could change in the near future.
The Wildcats are open to bringing Klieman back to campus in a new role.
K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said in an exclusive interview that he is hoping to meet with Klieman soon and discuss a few options that could potentially keep him in purple in a new semi-retired role.
“I may see if there is anything I can figure out for him,” Taylor said, “with an idea for consulting on some things and maybe even some fundraising.”
Taylor said he would welcome Klieman as an adviser on his staff or as a fundraiser who meets with influential K-State donors from time to time. Other K-State coaches have shifted into similar roles after they decided to step away from the sidelines.
Is Klieman interested in returning to K-State in a new capacity? For now, that is unclear.
Taylor stressed that Klieman is welcome back, but Klieman may be happy pursuing other interests in retirement.
Any new job with the Wildcats would likely come with a six-figure salary for Klieman. But Taylor said K-State is not planning to pay Klieman a lucrative retirement incentive the same way it did with Snyder.
Klieman’s salary was $5.25 million during the 2025 season. He walked away with six years left on his contract.
“This decision was not taken lightly,” Klieman said at the time, “and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health.”
Klieman, 58, guided K-State to an overall record of 54-34 during his seven-year tenure in Manhattan. He was hired to replace Snyder in 2018 and did an admirable job leading the Wildcats until he called it quits in part because of the changing landscape of college football.
K-State played in five bowls and claimed one Big 12 championship under Klieman. His final season ended with a 6-6 record. He chose to retire and spend time away from Manhattan immediately afterward. The Wildcats declined a bowl invitation.
Collin Klein was hired as K-State’s new head coach in December.
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 10:09 AM with the headline "Retired football coach Chris Klieman could return to Kansas State in a new role."