Report: Chris Klieman signs agreement to be Kansas State athletics consultant, will make up to $500,000

According to Ned Seaton of The Mercury, former Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman is back in the athletic department. Klieman will serve as a consultant to AD Gene Taylor. Some help will be lent to Collin Klein, too, as the Wildcat legend now takes over the program. Seaton says the deal lasts through the calendar year.

“Klieman, who retired last November as the K-State football coach, has signed an agreement to serve as a consultant to the athletics department through the end of the year,” Seaton said. “He’ll help advise Coach Collin Klein and athletics director Gene Taylor, Taylor said in a phone interview with The Mercury on Tuesday.”

The role for Klieman is reportedly “temporary,” as he will move on to something else in 2027. But a nice payday is heading his way for around eight months’ work — $500,000.

A good chunk of money was left on the table by Klieman by leaving his job as the Kansas State head coach. Just around $21 million remained on his contract. But something with him and Taylor appeared destined to get worked out. And while it’s not the same from a dollar figure perspective, Klieman will have a salary this year.

Everyone’s goal in Manhattan appears to be aligned — getting back to winning ways. Sept. 5 will be the season opener vs. Nicholls. Two big nonconference games come in the form of Washington State and Tulane before getting into the grind of a Big 12 schedule.

More on Chris Klieman, time as Kansas State head coach

After seven seasons as the head coach at Kansas State, Klieman announced that he would be stepping down and retiring from his position in early December. Over that span, Klieman led the Wildcats to a 54-34 (36-27) record. This past season was disappointing, however, as they opened the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll but finished just 6-6.

He was succeeded by Klein, who had been serving as Texas A&M‘s offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. With Klein calling the plays in 2025, the Aggies compiled an 11-1 regular season record and made an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

After a disappointing 2025 season, Kansas State is looking to return to its winning ways next season. Prior to this last season, the Wildcats had won at least eight games in four consecutive seasons.

On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this report