Kansas State will pay Chris Klieman's coaching staff nearly $1 million more after taking home the Big 12 championship in 2022.
Coordinators Collin Klein (offense) and Joe Klanderman (defense) lead the way. Both netted 2-year deals that pay $825,000 per year, according to documents obtained by the Wichita Eagle.
Klein, who earned $600,000 last year, interviewed for the offensive coordinator job at Notre Dame but (obviously) turned it down. That experience did not inspire AD Gene Taylor to attach a pair of golden handcuffs to his offensive coordinator; Klein's buyout should he leave for a non-Big 12 coordinator job is just two months' salary, roughly $138,000.
Klein is a K-State alum and one of the most accomplished players in program history. In 2012 he led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship, was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and earned a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. “I felt like after going through the process that the Lord really put it on my heart that there was still work to do here," Klein said after turning down Notre Dame.
Klein GA'd at K-State from 2014-15, spent 2016 coaching quarterbacks at Northern Iowa, then returned to Manhattan in 2017, where he's remained ever since with no apparent plans to leave. The 2022 campaign was his first as the Wildcats' sole offensive coordinator.
Elsewhere, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Conor Riley is the highest paid position coach, earning $600,000 per year.
Here's how the full staff salaries break down:
OC/QBs Collin Klein: $825,000
DC/Safeties Joe Klanderman: $825,000
OL/RGC Conor Riley: $600,000
Asst. HC/PGC/CBs Van Malone: $410,000
LBs Steve Sanard: $400,000
RBs Brian Anderson: $400,000
DEs Buddy Wyatt: $375,000
DTs Mike Tuiasasopo: $325,000
WRs Matthew Middleton: $325,000
FBs/TEs Brian Lepak: $283,000
Additionally, Taylor indicated Kansas State will have a new contract for Klieman done shortly. He earned $3.5 million in 2022. K-State is 30-20 in his four seasons on the job.
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