Collin Klein will be introduced as the new K-State football coach Friday, and the plan is to have him appear Saturday afternoon at the men’s basketball game at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Mercury has learned from sources close to the situation that, while the exact logistics were still getting worked out Thursday, the basic plan is set. Klein, who’s currently in College Station to coach Texas A&M into the college football playoffs, will be in Manhattan Friday and Saturday.
No details are yet available about a contract, although it’s expected to be in the $4 million range. Chris Klieman, the outgoing coach, was making $5.25 million. Klein was making $1.6 million as the offensive coordinator at A&M. There’s no buyout provision in his contract if he leaves to take a FBS head-coaching position.
Friday’s announcement will be a press conference; Saturday’s event — at K-State’s game against Seton Hall — is intended to be a chance to introduce the new coach to fans.
Klein, 36, is widely regarded as a returning hero, having been a championship quarterback here in 2011-12. He played for Bill Snyder and coached under both Snyder and Kleiman. His stint as offensive coordinator included a Big 12 Championship in 2022. This year, A&M is one of the top-ranked teams in the country. But this would be his first head-coaching job at any level.
K-State Athletics Director Gene Taylor said Wednesday that he had not yet talked to Klein, even though multiple sources told The Mercury that a deal had already been made. Taylor could make such a claim because he had in fact not talked to Klein — but had in fact made the deal happen by way of agents.
The Mercury Wednesday morning first reported Klieman’s retirement and the hiring of Klein to replace him. Mutiple media outlets both in Kansas and Texas followed suit, and both Klieman and Taylor held a press conference later that day as a result.
