Chris Klieman was perfect successor to Bill Snyder at Kansas State | Wheeler
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
MANHATTAN — When Gene Taylor presented Chris Klieman with the opportunity to become Kansas State‘s head football coach, it didn’t come without a warning.
Taylor told him that whenever he got off on Exit 313, the highway to Manhattan was named after the legendary coach he would succeed. Whenever Klieman arrived at the office, “Bill Snyder Family Stadium” would be in big letters on the stadium with Snyder’s statue underneath. Whenever he’d get mad during a game and look up at the press box, Snyder’s name would be there.
Klieman didn’t back down, coming off replacing an FCS national championship-winning coach, and then going on to win four of his own. But this time, Klieman was going to have to step into the shoes and follow the man he considered the greatest coach in college football history.
“He not only built on Coach Snyder’s culture, but he put his own mark on it,” Taylor said.
Klieman announced his retirement on Wednesday, Dec. 3, after seven successful years at Kansas State, becoming the second-winningest coach in the program’s history, only behind the man whose name is on the stadium.
No one wants to be the man who replaces the man, except for Klieman, who did so valiantly and won big in the process. He did so by building on Snyder’s 16 Wildcat Goals for Success, maintaining the toughness and character that one has come to expect from Kansas State since Snyder became its coach in 1989.
Some seasons were better than others. The high point of the Klieman era came when the Wildcats won the Big 12 championship in 2022. Some could argue that this past season was its low point, going from a popular preseason pick to return to Arlington, only to earn bowl eligibility on the regular season’s final day.
But Klieman kept the standard the same. He preached character to his team, with the mantra “how you do one thing is how you do everything,” leading to classroom accolades and post-playing career success. He worked to maintain a culture of selflessness and commitment, which was showcased throughout 2025’s up-and-down year when the Wildcats never backed down. His 7-0 record against the Jayhawks, which extended the program’s winning streak over its in-state rival to 17, didn’t hurt either.
And now, he knows the right time to step away. Whether it be the ever-growing list of changes and frustrations that surround college athletics in 2025, Klieman decided it was time to let someone else take the keys, leading the Wildcats into the sport’s new era.
Time after time, Klieman proved to be an honorable man, and he is now leaving his post after making an honorable decision.
Whether it’s Collin Klein taking over as Kansas State’s next coach, or someone else, Taylor is going to have to give them a warning before accepting the job: They’re going to have big shoes to fill, too.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Chris Klieman was perfect successor to Bill Snyder at Kansas State
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos