Report: Chris Klieman, Kansas State Nearing 8-Year, $44M Contract After Big 12 Title

Following a Big 12 title, Kansas State University wanted to show its appreciation for head coach Chris Klieman.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the University is in the process of solidifying a new contract with Klieman that will pay him $44 million and keep him on the sideline until 2030.

Klieman will take home an average of $5.5 million per year, and the deal will go into effect on July 1. Klieman has been the coach of the Wildcats since 2019 and has a 30-20 record with the program.

Klieman came to the Wildcats after a five-year stint as head coach of the Division I FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. He led the Bison to four FCS national championships in his tenure.

The 2022 Big 12 Championship was the seventh league title in program history and the first since 2012. The win was an upset, as they defeated TCU, who would advance all the way to the CFP national title game. After winning the conference title, the Wildcats would face off against Alabama for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, a game the Crimson Tide would win 45-20.

The Wildcats have earned at least eight wins in every full season that Klieman has coached in, and he possesses the best first four-season record of any coach in Kansas State history.