REPORT: Texas A&M OC Collin Klein to become head coach at Kansas State

According to a report from the Manhattan, KS publication The Mercury, Kansas State Head Football Coach Chris Kleiman will announced his retirement this week, and the Wildcats already have their next head coach lined up: Texas A&M Offensive Coordinator Collin Klein. This report has also been confirmed by TexAgs’ Billy Liucci, who adds that Klein will stay with the Aggies and coach the offense in the College Football Playoff.

Klein, of course, is a Kansas State legend, starting at QB for the Wildcats in 2011 and 2012, leading them to a Big 12 championship and becoming a Heisman Finalist along the way (eventually losing out to A&M’s Johnny Manziel). Klein then spent nearly a decade rising the coaching ranks in Manhattan, beginning as a graduate assistant, then becoming QB coach and eventually the offensive coordinator before being hired away by the Aggies when Mike Elko arrived two years ago.

The Aggies were ranked 49th in scoring offense in 2024 thanks in large part to a revolving door at QB and a lackluster WR room, but added talent and stability at signal caller saw A&M rise to No. 16 in scoring offense in 2025. You can also thank a veteran OL and a deep RB room, giving Klein and the Aggies plenty of flexibility in what he would like to call.

At the conclusion of the Playoff, Mike Elko will once again undergo a coordinator search, and the list of interested candidates will likely be long and distinguished, with plenty of folks wanting to be at a place as resource-rich as A&M where they know they will have full control of the offense.