Coming home to K-State: 5 things to know about new head football coach Collin Klein '11, '19
By Ashley Pauls
K-State Alumni Association
More than a decade after he stepped off the football field as one of the most decorated
players in K-State history, Collin Klein '11, '19 is coming back home to Bill Snyder
Family Stadium — this time as the new head coach of Wildcat football.
“My family and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to come home,” Klein
said. “Thank you to President Linton and Gene Taylor for believing in us to lead the
’Cats into a new era. The position of head coach at Kansas State has a long legacy
of service, hard work, determination and competitive greatness that I am honored to
carry forward. This is Family business, and we cannot wait to get to work!"
As Klein prepares to kick off his first season leading the ’Cats, here are five things
to know about the new coach:
1. A record of success
A Loveland, Colorado, native, Klein was recruited to K-State in 2009 as a wide receiver,
but switched to quarterback in 2010.
During his time as a player at K-State, Klein led the Wildcats to a pair of 11-win
seasons and a Big 12 Championship in 2012. A three-time team captain, Klein is a Johnny
Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, a Heisman Trophy finalist, a Big 12 Offensive Player
of the Year, and a member of K-State Football’s Ring of Honor.
2. An experienced coach
Klein brings with him 12 years of coaching experience, nine of which have been at
K-State. He served as K-State's offensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023 and most recently
was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
During Klein’s tenure as a full-time assistant coach at K-State, the Wildcats posted
51 wins and five bowl appearances. As offensive coordinator, Klein helped guide K-State
to a 19-8 mark and a Big 12 Championship.
3. K-State connections
Klein is the first K-State alum to serve as head football coach since Ellis Rainsberger ’58 from 1975-77. Klein’s wife, Shalin Spani Klein ’11, also has a K-State degree, and is a former Wildcat women's basketball player. Shalin is the daughter of former K-State and Kansas City Chiefs football player Gary Spani, who was inducted into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
4. Carrying on a legacy
Klein is inheriting his new role from previous head coach Chris Klieman, who recently
announced his retirement. Klein has expressed his gratitude to Klieman for helping
pave the way.
“I’m not standing here today if it’s not for Coach Klieman and his leadership and
growth that he gave to me as coach by retaining me when Coach Snyder retired and promoting
when the opportunity and fit was right for me to serve as offensive coordinator, and
then as a mentor ever since,” Klein said. “I’ve called him a couple times over the
last two years, and that relationship is special, treasured and I’m so grateful for
him and his stewardship of a program that means the world to me with the K-State values
and traditions that he fostered so well.”
He also is thankful for the mentorship of Coach Bill Snyder.
“Thank you for establishing the foundation and a legacy of serving people, players,
staff, faculty, community, and using the Kansas State football program as a vehicle
to impact people’s lives for the better,” Klein said. “I can’t thank you enough. I
didn’t know what that journey was going to look like when you came back, and it was
one I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
5. A plan of attack
Klein recognizes that in the era of NIL and escalating competition, now is an uncertain
time for college football. However, he’s ready to move the program forward.
“I love challenges,” Klein says. “I love going and doing hard things. To take this
program where it’s never been is going to be hard, and I want it to be hard … I want
it to be difficult. We’re going to attack it as a staff, with our players, as a fan
base, and as an administration. We’re going to take this program where it hasn’t been
before.
“We’re going to recruit, and we’re going to be really, really aggressive in how we
move this program forward, and we’re going to be aggressive in this new era of college
football. We’ll target the right type of character individuals, get the right type
of support and alignment so we can attract and attack the best talent in the country,
so when that ball does go down, we can go toe-to-toe with anybody.”
