Texas A&M assistant reportedly set to land Big 12 head coaching job, replacing retiring HC
By David Wasson
Published:
College football’s Early Signing Day isn’t the most ideal day to make a coaching change, but Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is reportedly set to announce his retirement this week – with Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein set to take his place in Manhattan.
The Mercury newspaper in Manhattan, Kan., broke the news Wednesday morning that Klieman is stepping down from Kansas State after 7 seasons. The 58-year-old Klieman compiled a 54-37 record and captured the Big 12 Championship in 2022. The Wildcats went 6-6 in 2025 and will play in an as-yet-undetermined bowl game.
Klein, 36, has directed the Aggies offense for 2 seasons and also coached quarterbacks in College Station. A K-State alum, Klein was a second-team All-American and a finalist for the 2012 Heisman Trophy after leading the Wildcats to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.
After graduation and a short playing stint in the CFL, Klein returned to Manhattan to serve as a quality control analyst and graduate assistant from 2014-15, then after a 1-year stint coaching quarterbacks at Northern Iowa returned again to coach quarterbacks at Kansas State in 2017, serve as co-offensive coordinator in 2018 and work as offensive coordinator from 2022-23.
Klein was reported as a target for USF to replace Alex Golesh before news of Klieman’s sudden retirement broke.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
