Fact or Fiction: Chris Klieman finishes his career at Kansas State
In response to Kansas State finalizing a signed eight-year extension with head coach Chris Klieman for $44 million, we tackle the relevant topic about whether or not that the football boss will remain at the top of the pyramid in Manhattan for the remainder of his career.
ARGUMENT FOR FACT
I mean, why not? It doesn’t feel like it, but Klieman has already been at K-State for four seasons. This upcoming one will be his fifth. In just four years, he turned a 5-7 team that was flailing a bit into a Big 12 champion once again.
He has already proven to himself that he can win at the highest level while in Manhattan, has a culture established and a structure configured to potentially win even more league championships at Kansas State, has very little pressure compared to other places, still plenty of resources and a top confidante in his athletic director.
The last part may be the most significant. He loves having the freedom to run his program in his image and not be forced into obligations and other responsibilities that are inconvenient to him. Much of that is because Gene Taylor is his boss.
We haven’t even mentioned that the path to a conference title and thus a playoff appearance becomes a little clearer now that Texas and Oklahoma have abandoned the Big 12. To do it at an average pay of $5.5 million without the pressure and required appearances present at other schools is a very good gig.
The fit between Klieman and K-State is also cozy. His approach to the game and the way he goes about his business and what he wants his program to look like very much aligns with what Kansas State want as a product.
In addition to all of that, he has one of the best defensive coordinators in the league in Joe Klanderman and perhaps one of the best offensive coordinators in the entire country in Collin Klein. K-State is recruiting as well as they have in decades are showing next to no signs of slowing down or sinking.
It isn’t like teams haven’t tried. After removing Scott Frost from the post, Nebraska sought the Kansas State head coach for the vacant position. However, Klieman showed no interest in the role that was eventually filled by Matt Rhule when the Huskers made a second run at the former Baylor head coach.
Other options have not grabbed Klieman’s attention.
ARGUMENT FOR FICTION
Speaking of other options, the lone one that could open up that may intrigue the K-State coach is Iowa. That’s obviously where he grew up and a state that he knows very well, and the Hawkeyes have many financial resources because of being from the Big Ten.
Klieman not only grew up in the state, but he also played and coached at Northern Iowa before making a career in Fargo for North Dakota State. Kirk Ferentz is already pretty long in the tooth, and nobody expects him to remain at the helm for very much longer.
KANSAS STATE PREDICTION: FACT
The problem for Iowa may be the last part. Their head coaching position probably opens up very, very soon, and at that point, Klieman is just beginning his new contract at Kansas State and Gene Taylor has yet to retire.
Despite the gap in resources that does exist between the Wildcats and Hawkeyes, an argument can still be made that Klieman’s success in Manhattan has made K-State more equipped to have success in the near term and certainly a situation he wouldn’t want to walk away from at this stand point.
As one source put it when he turned down overtures from Nebraska after last season, he has worked too hard to assemble everything he has from Kansas State that has already bred success to leave it for something so similar.
I would be stunned if the K-State job isn’t his last one.
The post Fact or Fiction: Chris Klieman finishes his career at Kansas State appeared first on On3.
