KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP/KPR) — Kansas State and Chris Klieman are finalizing a new contract that would give the Wildcats’ football coach a substantial pay raise while keeping him tied to the program for the next eight seasons. A person familiar with the deal tells the AP the contract will have a total value of $44 million, making Klieman one of the better-paid coaches in the Big 12. The agreement was first reported by ESPN. Klieman led the Wildcats to the Big 12 title last season before losing to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Klieman’s previous contract ended after the 2026 season, so the new deal adds four years to it. His average pay will go from $4 million annually to $5.5 million per year, or slightly more than Texas is paying coach Steve Sarkisian. The 55-year-old Klieman led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship last season, beating TCU in the title game before the Horned Frogs went on to play in the College Football Playoff. It was the first conference title for K-State since 2012, when Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder was in his second tenure in Manhattan, and a big breakthrough for the Wildcats.
Along with hiring Klieman, Kansas State Athletics Director Gene Taylor also hired men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang, and negotiations have begun on a new contract for him after leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament during his first season.
