Chris Klieman Retires from Kansas State: A Respected Rival Bids Farewell
In the world of college football, rivalries are often painted in bold lines-us versus them, red versus blue, Wildcats versus Jayhawks. But sometimes, behind the intensity of game day, there’s mutual respect. And in the case of Kansas head coach Lance Leipold and Kansas State’s Chris Klieman, there’s been more than that-there’s been genuine friendship.
So when Klieman announced his retirement after seven seasons at the helm in Manhattan, it wasn’t just a headline for Leipold. It was personal.
“First of all, congratulate Chris on a great career and what he’s done,” Leipold said, reflecting on the news that sent a ripple through the college football landscape on Wednesday. “It’s too bad, because I think Chris has a lot of good football yet ahead of him. But when you feel like it’s time… he just felt it was time.”
Klieman, 58, made the decision official in a statement that cited personal health and a desire to spend more time with his wife, Rhonda, and their three children. “This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors,” he said. “I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men, but now is the time for me to step away.”
Before the announcement hit the public, Klieman made a call to Leipold-a gesture that speaks volumes about the relationship between the two coaches. Both men came up through the ranks of Division III football-Klieman at Loras, Leipold at Wisconsin-Whitewater-and climbed the ladder to lead the two premier programs in the Sunflower State. Their annual clash in the Sunflower Showdown was always fierce, but the respect between them never wavered.
“I know sometimes, especially being at rival schools, people don’t understand the relationship part of that,” Leipold said. “There’s competitiveness, but yet respect.”
And that respect was earned. Klieman didn’t just maintain the standard at Kansas State-he elevated it.
Taking over after the legendary Bill Snyder, Klieman steered the Wildcats to bowl eligibility in six of his seven seasons, including a Big 12 Championship in 2022. He’s expected to coach the team one final time in their upcoming bowl game.
This year was anything but smooth for K-State. The Wildcats opened the season 2-4, and at times, the wheels looked like they might come off.
But the second half of the season told a different story. They rallied, including a dominant 42-17 win over Kansas in Lawrence, and capped the regular season with a win over Colorado to secure their sixth victory and a postseason berth.
The emotional toll of the season was evident. After a tough loss to Utah, Klieman delivered a heartfelt defense of his coaching staff and players in a postgame press conference, saying, “I’ve given everything for seven years, and I feel like I deserve a little bit of respect.”
That passion, that commitment, and that consistency defined Klieman’s tenure. Under his leadership, Kansas State never lost the Sunflower Showdown.
Seven straight wins over KU, including five against Leipold, with the last two going down to the wire-one in Lawrence in 2023, the other in Manhattan in 2024. The Wildcats now carry a 17-game winning streak over the Jayhawks.
But when the two teams meet again, it’ll be a different face across the field from Leipold. Reports point to Collin Klein, the former K-State quarterback and current Texas A&M offensive coordinator, as a likely successor. If that’s the case, the rivalry will have a new chapter-but the respect built between Leipold and Klieman will remain a defining one.
“Anytime good people get out of this profession, it’s not good,” Leipold said. “But understandably so.”
For Kansas State, the search for the next leader begins. For Leipold, the next Sunflower Showdown will have a different energy. And for Chris Klieman, it’s the end of one chapter-and the beginning of something new, away from the grind of the sidelines but not far from the game he gave so much to.