When Bill Snyder retired eight years ago, Kansas State University sent him off with a generous farewell package and a comfortable new role. Chris Klieman, who just surprised everyone by announcing his own retirement, hasn’t gotten anything like that—at least not yet.
K-State’s athletic director, Gene Taylor, says he’s open to bringing Klieman back in some new capacity. But, so far, nothing’s set in stone.
Chris Klieman’s decision to retire in December caught just about everyone in college football off guard. After leading Kansas State to a 54-34 record over seven seasons, he decided it was time to step away.
There were a bunch of reasons behind his choice—his health played a part, and honestly, college football is changing fast these days.
Klieman’s Achievements at Kansas State
During his run at K-State, Klieman managed to notch up a few impressive milestones:
- Five bowl appearances
- One Big 12 championship
- A final season record of 6-6
Even with these highlights, Klieman walked away with six years left on his contract, which would have paid him $5.25 million for the 2025 season. After his exit, the Wildcats actually turned down a bowl invitation.
Potential Roles for Klieman at K-State
Gene Taylor has made it clear that he wants to talk with Klieman soon about possible ways to keep him involved. There’s some hope they’ll figure out a role that fits, but nothing’s official yet.
Possible Positions for Klieman
What could Klieman do next at K-State? Well, a couple ideas are floating around:
- Special advisor: Lending his football expertise from behind the scenes
- Fundraiser: Connecting with big K-State supporters and donors
Taylor says any new position would probably come with a six-figure paycheck. Still, don’t expect Klieman to get the kind of golden parachute Bill Snyder received.
The Legacy of Bill Snyder
When Snyder retired, K-State gave him a $3 million farewell and a $250,000-a-year gig as a special ambassador. His impact on the program is hard to overstate, and keeping him around just made sense to a lot of folks.
Comparing Snyder and Klieman
Snyder’s legacy is one of a kind, but Klieman did plenty for K-State too. The fact that he’s not getting a similar send-off probably says something about how the university is handling these transitions now.
Collin Klein: The New Head Coach
With Klieman out, K-State turned to Collin Klein in December. Klein had been the offensive coordinator, and now he’s in charge.
He’s not just a coach—he played for the Wildcats too. There’s a sense of optimism, but also a lot of pressure as he steps into this new role.
Expectations for Klein
Klein’s got to find a way to build on what Klieman started, all while dealing with the wild world of modern college football. His history at K-State gives him a unique perspective, but let’s be honest, it’s not going to be easy.
The Broader Implications for K-State Football
With Klieman gone and Klein stepping up, K-State football is clearly in a transition phase. The team’s got to adjust to new leadership and somehow stay competitive in the Big 12.
Adapting to Change
College football is a moving target these days—recruiting, player transfers, NIL rules, you name it. Whether Klein can steer the Wildcats through all this? That’s the big question going forward.
Conclusion
Chris Klieman’s sudden retirement has really shaken things up at Kansas State University. It’s not something anyone saw coming, honestly.
There’s a bit of hope floating around, though, since Klieman might return in some other capacity. Wildcats fans are probably hanging onto that idea, even if it feels a little uncertain.
Now, with Collin Klein stepping in, the program has to figure out how to keep moving forward. Can they adapt? That’s the big question on everyone’s mind.
For more details, check out the full story at The Wichita Eagle.
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