Oct 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman on the sidelines against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

In what has been one of the craziest coaching carousels in recent memory, another little wrench got thrown in from The Little Apple.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is reportedly considering retirement after seven seasons in Manhattan, with Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein — a Kansas State alum — tabbed to replace him, per the MERCURY Manhattan.

Klieman's retirement is not yet official, nor is Klein's subsequent hiring.

Klieman has gone 54-34 in his time with the Wildcats, which was preceded by a wildly successful tenure at North Dakota State. The Bison went to the FCS championship game in all five of Klieman's seasons there, going 4-1 in those games. They went 69-6 with Klieman at the helm.

Under Klieman, Kansas State went 3-2 in bowl games, including a loss in the Sugar Bowl in 2022. The last time Kansas State had made a BCS bowl game was in 2012, when it lost the Fiesta Bowl under the legendary Bill Snyder in his second stint coaching the team.

This year was a disappointment for the Wildcats, who went 6-6. They are, however, bowl eligible, with Klieman slated to coach in that final game.

Klein would become the latest coordinator to return to his roots as a head coach. Will Stein will be heading to Kentucky to take over another Wildcat team after Oregon's season is over, though he played at Louisville rather than Lexington. With the big-name head coaching candidates mostly scooped up or extended, the timing of this move makes it apparent Kansas State had a plan of succession should Klieman step down.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas State coach Chris Klieman considering retirement, Collin Klein potential replacement

Reporting by Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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