Kansas State coach Chris Klieman made it clear on Monday that he has no plans to retire anytime soon, dismissing rumors about stepping down that had circulated after a reporter asked him about it. “I don’t know where you got that from,” Klieman responded. “I haven’t said that to anybody.”
Now in his fifth year leading the Wildcats, the 57-year-old Klieman’s coaching journey began in 1991 at Northern Iowa as a graduate assistant. He later became the head coach at North Dakota State in 2014 after coaching defensive backs and serving as defensive coordinator.
The retirement speculation started after Klieman became emotional during a post-game interview following a 24-14 loss to No. 21 Arizona State, expressing concern for his players. “I’m just hurting for those kids,” he said, adding that the past two weeks had been particularly tough for him, and he felt he had let down his senior players.
Adding to the rumors were reports of Klieman’s recent health issues, including dizziness during the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas on October 26. However, Klieman appeared more upbeat during his Monday press conference, discussing the support he’s received from his team and staff in light of his personal struggles. He mentioned that while it hasn’t been easy, the positive support has helped him through difficult times.
Klieman, who has been dealing with some personal challenges, is set to coach in this Saturday’s Senior Day game against the University of Cincinnati.
