Kansas State coach Chris Klieman's retirement seemed so sudden when it happened.
But a recent interview unveiled his mindset as he stepped away from Manhattan, KS. The seven-year Wildcats coach sat down with The Manhattan Mercury to discuss the stresses of a disappointing season and a shifting college football landscape.
“I’ve been doing this for 35 years, but I’d die if I kept doing this job,” Klieman said. “If I kept doing this job, I was gonna have a heart attack or a stroke. My blood pressure was through the roof.”
Klieman constantly talked about the cycle of recruits, transfers, and NIL deals that added to the stress of coaching the players already on the team.
"That was where I was kind of at my wits’ end," Klieman said. "I don’t blame any of these kids. It’s not their fault. But you get done playing Colorado, and come Monday, there’s 20 [players’ agents] that want to know a number, or they’re ready to go into the portal."
But even among all of these, the Wildcats' loss to Utah seemed to be his breaking point. The team had been dragged for its underwhelming performances to that point, and many outsiders predicted a blowout loss. The Wildcats fought tooth-and-nail, hanging 47 points and over 470 rushing yards against one of the country's best defenses. They suffered a heartbreaking loss, but a valiant effort brought tears to Klieman.
"We’re down so many players, and I know a lot of people thought we'd come down here and lay down, and that maybe the kids have cashed it in. I've heard it enough," Klieman said in his Utah postgame presser. "I've heard I've cashed it in, and that we need to get leadership here, new players, new coaches. I’m tired of it. I've given my friggin a** life to this place for seven years. I've given everything I've had for seven years. I think I deserve some respect."
As coach Collin Klein returns to Manhattan, KS, at the helm, he wants to re-establish the program's championship standards. But Klieman's impact is sacred nonetheless, with five bowl appearances and no leasing seasons outside of the COVID-19 year. And Klein knows he has big shoes to fill, replacing a Wildcats great and trying to live up to the standards he set.
“I’m not standing here today if not for coach Klieman," Klein said in his opening press conference. His leadership and growth, promoting me when the opportunity was right to serve as the offensive coordinator, and then serving as a mentor ever since. Someone I’ve called many times over the last two years. That relationship is special, treasured, and I’m just so grateful for him and his stewardship of a program that means the world to me. And the K-State values and traditions that he fostered so well.”