He’s back.
If you’ve spent any time around Manhattan, Kansas, lately, the air feels different. There’s this weird mix of nostalgia and high-octane anxiety. For the first time in years, the head coach of Kansas State football isn’t Chris Klieman. It’s the guy who once played with a bruised ego and a battered body just to drag the Wildcats to a Big 12 title back in 2012.
Collin Klein is officially the man in charge.
Honestly, the transition happened faster than a Mike Gundy post-game rant. One minute, Klieman is announcing his retirement after a frustrating 6-6 campaign in 2025—a season plagued by five one-score losses that probably aged every fan in Riley County by a decade—and the next, Gene Taylor is handing the keys to the program’s favorite son.
The Heisman Finalist Returns Home
Look, people love a homecoming story. It’s easy. It’s safe. But hiring a former star player as the head coach of Kansas State football usually goes one of two ways. You either get the Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern vibe (pre-scandal, obviously) where the culture is bulletproof, or you get the Scott Frost at Nebraska disaster where the legend burns the house down on the way out.
The pressure on Klein is massive.
He isn't just a guy who knows the playbook. He is the personification of "K-State Family." When he was at Texas A&M as the offensive coordinator, fans in Manhattan kept one eye on the Aggies’ box scores. Seeing him come home on a five-year deal worth about $4.3 million annually feels right, but it’s also a gamble.
👉 See also: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
Why? Because Klein has zero head coaching experience.
What Really Happened With the 2025 Transition?
You might be wondering why Klieman stepped down. He was under contract through 2032, making $5.5 million a year. Most guys would stay for the paycheck alone. But 2025 was brutal. The Wildcats started the year in Dublin, Ireland, and lost a heartbreaker to Iowa State. That set the tone.
Injuries piled up. The offense, led by Avery Johnson, showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency. After the regular-season finale against Colorado—a 24-14 win that at least made them bowl-eligible—Klieman decided he’d had enough. He basically said the job was starting to take a toll that wasn't sustainable.
Then came the bombshell: K-State declined their bowl invitation.
People were ticked. "How do you skip a bowl game?" was the common refrain. But with Klieman out and the roster in flux with the transfer portal opening, the administration chose to hit the reset button immediately. They wanted Klein in the building and recruiting yesterday.
The New Staff: A Tactical Overhaul
Klein isn't doing this alone. He knows he needs grey hair in the room. His first big move as the head coach of Kansas State football was snagging Sean Gleeson to run the offense.
✨ Don't miss: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
Gleeson is an interesting cat. He was most recently at Missouri, where he kept the Tigers' offense afloat despite losing their starting QB to injury. He’s been an OC at Oklahoma State and Rutgers. He knows the Big 12. More importantly, he knows how to develop quarterbacks, which is critical since Avery Johnson still has the keys to the car.
Then you have Thad Ward sticking around as Associate Head Coach and Wide Receivers coach. Keeping some continuity was smart. You can’t just fire everyone and expect the players to stay.
Why the "Klein System" is a Myth
Most fans think Klein is just going to run the Bill Snyder "Power-K" offense until the cows come home.
Not exactly.
While at Texas A&M, Klein’s offense was way more diverse. He’s obsessed with matchups. He’ll use three tight ends on one play and five wide receivers the next. If you expect him to just run Avery Johnson 25 times a game like he used to run himself, you’re going to be surprised. He's evolved.
The Recruiting Hurdle
Basically, the biggest challenge for any head coach of Kansas State football is the "Manhattan Tax."
🔗 Read more: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
You aren't in Austin. You aren't in Los Angeles. You have to find the kids who are "tough, disciplined, and selfless"—the old K-State mantra. Klieman was actually great at this; he pulled in some of the highest-rated classes in school history.
Klein has to prove he can do the same without the "long-time head coach" resume. He’s 36 years old. He’s young. He’s energetic. He can probably still out-sprint half the roster. That helps on the recruiting trail, but in the NIL era, "energy" only gets you so far.
The 2026 class will be the first real litmus test. Can he keep the local Kansas kids from heading to Lawrence or Lincoln?
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the Wildcats this year, keep your eyes on these specific areas. These are the markers of whether the Klein era will sink or swim:
- The Avery Johnson Factor: Watch how Gleeson uses Johnson's legs. If he’s taking 15+ hits a game, the season won't last. They need to turn him into a pure distributor who runs only when necessary.
- The Defensive Identity: K-State has shifted between 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 looks. Under the new regime, look for a more aggressive, blitz-heavy front. They have to replace the production of several departing seniors, so scheme will have to hide some inexperience.
- The Transfer Portal Balance: Klieman was a "build through high school" guy. Klein might have to be more aggressive in the portal to fix the depth issues that killed them in 2025.
- September Schedule: The first four games are make-or-break. K-State fans are loyal, but if they start 1-3, the "he’s too young" whispers will start on the message boards.
The legacy of the head coach of Kansas State football is defined by two names: Bill Snyder and everyone else. Klieman proved you could win big without being Snyder. Now, Collin Klein has to prove that being a legend on the field actually translates to being a leader on the headset. It’s going to be a wild ride in Manhattan.