Collin Klein, Kansas State Agree to HC Contract, Ex-QB Was Heisman Finalist at School

Kansas State has hired one of its own to be the football team's next head coach in Collin Klein, who shined as the Wildcats' starting quarterback in 2011 and 2012.

The 36-year-old Klein has been coaching since 2014 and most recently served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024 and 2025 for Texas A&M, which is 11-1 and recently found itself slotted seventh in the latest College Football Playoff ranking.

As KSU's quarterback, Klein finished third in the Heisman Trophy race in 2012, when he rushed for 920 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 2,691 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through the air (nine interceptions). That Wildcats team won 10 straight games and even hit No. 2 in the Associated Press poll before finishing 11-2.

Klein received 60 first-place votes in the Heisman race and ultimately finished behind Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

Two years later, Klein got his coaching start as a defensive quality control coach and graduate assistant for Kansas State. He then left for a year to become Northern Iowa's quarterbacks coach before returning to KSU from 2017-2023. He started as the Wildcats' QB coach before rising to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022.

Klein then left for the Aggies to join new head coach Mike Elko's staff. Texas A&M has been tremendous this year, with quarterback Marcel Reed leading a team scoring 36.3 points per game (16th in Division I FBS). The Aggies have scored 31 or more points in 10 of their 12 games and even won their first 11 contests before falling in the regular-season finale to Texas, 27-17.

Still, the Aggies are headed to the CFP in part because of Klein's work. He'll stay in College Station until their run is complete.

He's also on a five-year deal in Manhattan.

Klein released a statement after news became public.

Klein takes over for Chris Kleiman, who is retiring after seven years at the helm. Kleiman led North Dakota State to four Division I-FCS championships from 2014-2018 before taking over the KSU program. He went 54-34 in seven seasons, including 2022, when the team won 10 games and earned the Big 12 title.