Chris Klieman Stepping Down at Kansas State

Things are shifting in Manhattan, Kansas, and it looks like the Chris Klieman era at Kansas State is coming to an end. Whether you want to call it a retirement or just stepping down, the reports are starting to stack. What we do know is that change is coming, and it’s coming fast.

After seven seasons at the helm, Klieman is reportedly on his way out, and the word coming out of Manhattan is that Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein is headed home to take over. It’s not official yet, but it feels like one of those moves that’s more a matter of timing than possibility. The pieces are already in place.

Klieman’s time at K-State wasn’t just productive; it was steady. He delivered a Big 12 Championship in 2022, kept the Wildcats relevant in a loaded conference, and finished with an overall impressive record (54-34 overall, 36-27 CONF). Still, there’s been a sense this year that things were starting to wear thin. The grind of the modern college game, the portal chaos, NIL demands, it’s a lot. If Klieman’s ready to hand it off, no one can really blame him.

Enter Collin Klein. This is the name that’s got every Kansas State fan buzzing right now. He’s a program legend, a Heisman finalist, and one of the most beloved players to ever put on a Wildcat uniform. And now, after a short stint in College Station, he might be coming back to run the whole thing.

Let’s be real, Klein back in Manhattan just feels right. He knows the culture. He knows what Kansas State football means to the people who show up every Saturday. And he’s already got experience calling plays at K-State, so this isn’t some random nostalgia hire. The guy’s been grinding and earning his stripes.

But make no mistake, this isn’t going to be some smooth victory lap. Taking over your alma mater comes with heat. Expectations skyrocket, and there’s not a lot of patience if things don’t click immediately. Klein’s going to need to build his own identity as a head coach, not just rely on what he did as a player.

Still, there’s something poetic about it. Klieman hands off the keys to a guy who lived the Wildcat life, and now it’s Klein’s chance to shape what comes next. If the reports are true, the next era in Manhattan is already walking through the door.