It’s been just over two months since Collin Klein took the reins as head coach at Kansas State, and if you ask him, it still hasn’t fully sunk in. The former Wildcats quarterback-once the face of the program during its 2012 Big 12 title run-is now the man steering the ship. And while the transition has been fast and furious, Klein is embracing every bit of it.
“No, [it hasn’t] really [settled in],” Klein said in a recent interview. “It’s been a fast-paced month, but getting the staff in place and the players on campus has really felt good.”
Klein’s connection to Kansas State runs deep. He spent four seasons under center in Manhattan, racking up 4,724 passing yards and 30 touchdowns through the air, while also bulldozing his way to 2,485 rushing yards and 56 scores on the ground. His 2012 campaign-where he led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship and earned a spot as a Heisman finalist-cemented his place in program lore.
But even with that legacy, Klein admits he didn’t always see this path coming.
“As players, you always think you're gonna play forever,” he said. “So no, I didn't have that thought at the time.
But having gotten into the profession, you always work toward the goal of becoming a head coach. Having that come to fruition in a place that I care so much about is just a tremendous blessing.”
The opportunity came quickly. Following Chris Klieman’s retirement, Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor didn’t waste time turning to a familiar face. For Klein, the decision to step up wasn’t difficult.
“It happened within literally a day or two,” he recalled. “Then all of a sudden, you’re flying up here for the press conference, working through those next phases, and then hitting the ground running with everything that goes into it from top to bottom and in the program. But again, I think that it was because of our history, our relationship, and my knowing the lay of the land here a little bit, we were able to get to work quickly.”
And work they have. Klein has already assembled a staff that brings a blend of SEC pedigree and veteran coaching experience-an encouraging sign for fans hoping to see the Wildcats compete at a high level.
But the road ahead won’t be easy. Kansas State didn’t make major moves in the transfer portal and lost several key players, making the rebuild a bit steeper than ideal.
Still, Klein isn’t shying away from the challenge. If anything, he’s leaning into it.
“I love challenges and doing hard things,” he said at his introductory press conference. “Going to take this program where it’s never been is going to be hard.
I want it to be hard, I want it to be difficult. We’re gonna attack it together as a staff, as a fanbase, and as an administration, and we’re gonna take this program where it hasn’t been before.”
That’s the kind of mindset you want from a head coach-especially one who knows what success in Manhattan looks like. Klein’s journey from quarterback to head coach is more than just a feel-good story.
It’s a full-circle moment for a program looking to reclaim its identity. And while the road ahead is filled with question marks, there’s no doubt who’s leading the charge.
Klein isn’t just back-he’s all in.