Why Kansas State's Collin Klein Feels He's Walked Into Perfect Situation

Kansas State's Collin Klein is entering his first season as a college football head coach. 

While this is considered a difficult adjustment for everyone, it should be somewhat easier for Klein. For starters, he has the luxury of returning to lead his alma mater. Secondly, he was has prior experience as an assistant with the program. 

No one is saying Klein has an advantage but familiarity goes a long way in sports. Klein addressed the adjustment last week during the Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. 

When he was hired in December, he was still committed to being the Texas A & M Aggies' offensive coordinator for their bowl game. 

"The transition timing is crazy in college football right now," Klein said. "You're doing 10,000 different things and when you're in the middle of a playoff game while putting together a staff, trying to hold the roster together. I was very fortunate having been here two years before, not too long ago, to have a little bit of a lay of the land, a little bit of an understanding of the personnel, of the roster." 

Klein played for the Wildcats during the early 2010s when he starred at quarterback. He later returned to serve as an assistant under former coach Chris Klieman, who resigned after last season. 

It gave Klein a chance to get to know several of the current players, including starting quarterback Avery Johnson. While Klein refuses to diminish the challenges ahead, he likes the situation he is entering. His comfort level could be the difference in a successful season or a flop. 

"The biggest thing was trying to build relationships with the players as fast I could," Klein said. "And really get to bridge that gap with them to understand where they were at, what they're thinking. Coach Klieman had done an unbelievable job. Our culture has been very strong. A good situation to walk into as a first-time head coach." 

MORE K-STATE NEWS 

Collin Klein has a strong message for incoming players 

Are Collin Klein and Avery Johnson already on same page? 

Avery Johnson reacts to Dylan Edwards' departure to KU 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KStateRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]