Chris Klieman Retires After Seven Years at Kansas State, as Gene Taylor Sounds Off on College Football’s Changing Landscape
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The end of an era at Kansas State came with both tears and frustration, as head coach Chris Klieman announced his retirement after seven seasons leading the Wildcats. Sitting quietly off to the side during the announcement was athletic director Gene Taylor - visibly emotional, his face flushed, eyes wet - watching a close friend and longtime colleague step away from the game they both love.
Klieman didn’t dwell on the state of college football in his farewell remarks. He kept it focused, professional, and heartfelt - a reflection of the way he’s always carried himself. But once Klieman left the podium, Taylor stepped in and pulled no punches about why this moment stung so much.
“You just saw one of the greatest guys in the industry walk out of this room and retire from coaching from a business that he loves - and that’s what really pisses me off,” Taylor said, his voice filled with both sadness and fire. “He is doing it because of where we are in this industry, if we don’t get this thing fixed.”
Taylor and Klieman go way back - all the way to their shared days at North Dakota State, where they built a bond that extended well beyond the football field. That connection was on full display when Klieman gave Taylor a hug before sitting down, calling him his “drinking buddy from Fargo.” But that moment of levity quickly gave way to a sobering message from Taylor about the direction of college athletics.
College sports, in Taylor’s eyes, are spiraling - and fast. From the ever-shifting terrain of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) to looming revenue-sharing models and legal settlements like House v. NCAA, the business of college football is evolving at a pace that’s leaving even the most dedicated coaches and administrators questioning their future.
Taylor didn’t mince words. He took ownership of the state of the sport, acknowledging that athletic directors and conference commissioners alike bear responsibility for where things stand.
“If we don’t get this thing under control, more really, really good guys like Chris Klieman are going to walk away from this business,” he said. “I’ve already seen some of my colleagues do it because they just aren’t ready to deal with what we’re dealing with.”
The frustration runs deeper than just nostalgia for the way things used to be. Taylor pointed to a lack of consistency and fairness across programs nationwide. He referenced schools operating outside of the House settlement framework and emphasized the need for standardization - from participation agreements to NIL regulation - to restore balance and integrity to the sport.
“It really hurts me that guys like Chris Klieman are leaving because what they came into the business for is different,” Taylor said. “It doesn’t mean it’s wrong, it’s just different. We have to find a way to make it as fair as possible across the country, and right now, it’s not.”
At 68, Taylor was asked if he might be next to step away. He shut that down quickly.
Retirement isn’t on his radar - not yet. Instead, he’s focused on staying in the fight, leveraging his experience and influence to help shape the future of college athletics.
“We’ve got the revenue share, but we need to keep that going every year and find true NIL and extra NIL dollars,” Taylor said. “I’m not ready yet, and I want to make sure because of where I am in my experience, that I have a chance to sit on some committees now that can help make some decisions as an industry that can maybe put us in a place that we’re gonna be better off.”
Taylor’s message was clear: the system needs fixing - not for him, but for the next generation of coaches, players, and programs. He’s not walking away. Not until the job’s done.
And as for Klieman? He walks away from Kansas State with his head held high, having guided the Wildcats through seven seasons of grit, growth, and genuine leadership. His departure may be a sign of the times, but it’s also a reminder of the kind of people college football risks losing if the sport doesn’t find its footing soon.