Manhattan
Some were surprised when Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman abruptly announced his decision to retire on Wednesday after spending the past seven seasons in charge of the Wildcats.
But retirement has apparently been on his mind for quite a while.
“After many deep and thoughtful conversations with my family, we have decided that the time is right for me to retire from coaching,” Klieman, 58, said in a statement. “This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health.”
Klieman was hired in 2018 to take over for legendary K-State football coach Bill Snyder. No one else had won at a consistent level in Manhattan. So EMAW Nation was curious to see how Klieman would perform as he made the step up from his previous job at North Dakota State.
Turns out, he was ready for the challenge. He guided K-State to a 54-34 record, six bowl games and one Big 12 championship. He will exit K-State with the second-most wins in school history, behind only Snyder. His best highlights included three wins over Oklahoma, seven wins over Kansas and a trip to the Sugar Bowl in 2022.
But his popularity has dipped in recent years, and this year was trying for him.
Last season, Klieman said he suffered from dizziness during a win against Kansas. This season, he became emotional while defending himself and his team after a road defeat against Utah near the end of a 6-6 campaign.
He seemed in good spirits last week following a win over Colorado. But at some point over the past few days he decided to wind down his coaching career rather than push forward.
“I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men,” Klieman said. “But now is the time for me to step away and spend more time with Rhonda and our three kids. I truly am thankful to Gene Taylor for trusting me with this program in 2018, and we have accomplished many great things including winning the 2022 Big 12 Championship. K-State will always be a special part of our family’s story, and we will forever be Wildcats.”
Taylor, the school’s athletic director, said it has been an emotional few days for him as well.
“Chris Klieman has built a program and culture that embodies what it means to be a K-Stater,” Taylor said in a statement. “Following a legend was no easy task, and he quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the Big 12 and one of the most successful in our program’s history.
“He is a special person, and we have been fortunate to have him leading the young men in our program and being a first-class representative of Kansas State University. I will miss being able to work with Coach Klieman on a daily basis, and it has been an honor to do so the last several years. We wish him, Rhonda and the kids all the success and happiness they desire as they enter this next phase of their lives.”
The plan now is for Klieman to hand the coaching baton to former K-State quarterback and assistant coach Collin Klein, who is currently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
Sources have confirmed that he is working to finalize a deal to return to his alma mater.
It is a natural succession plan that K-State football fans are already excited about.
On Wednesday, though, many of those same fans took time to thank the coach who has led them over the past seven seasons.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM.
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Kellis Robinett
The Wichita Eagle
Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.
