BREAKING: Kansas State Coach Collin Klein Announces New Hires, Reaffirms Commitment After Resignation Rumors
**MANHATTAN, Kan.** – In a major announcement following speculation about his future, Kansas State head football coach **Collin Klein** held a press conference today to address recent rumors and outline his vision for the program moving forward. Contrary to circulating reports, Klein has not resigned and instead used the platform to announce key staff additions and reaffirm his commitment to the Wildcats.
Klein, the former K-State quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist who took over as head coach in December 2025 following Chris Klieman’s retirement, addressed the speculation directly .
“I want to be very clear: I am here, and I’m not going anywhere,” Klein stated. “This is my home. This program means everything to me and my family. We’re building something special, and we’re just getting started.”
During the announcement, Klein unveiled two significant staff hires that had been rumored in recent weeks. First, he confirmed the addition of **Stanton Weber** as special teams coordinator, a move aimed at revitalizing Kansas State’s proud special teams tradition established under Bill Snyder . Weber, a former K-State special teams standout, returns to his alma mater with a mandate to restore the Wildcats’ edge in the third phase of the game.
Additionally, Klein announced that **Jordan Dove** has been hired as defensive tackles coach, joining defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt on staff . Dove’s addition rounds out a defensive staff that has been aggressively recruiting, with recent success including the commitment of three-star Oklahoma defensive lineman **Dawayne Jones** to the 2027 class .
Jones, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound hybrid lineman from Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School, chose the Wildcats over offers from Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M, LSU, and others. His brother, Wayne Jones, played for K-State from 2018-21, creating a family legacy that Klein has emphasized in recruiting .
“We’re building this program the right way—through relationships, culture, and keeping Kansas State people in the family,” Klein said. “Dawayne is a perfect example. His brother wore the Powercat, and now he wants to carry on that tradition. That’s what this place is all about.”
Klein also addressed the status of quarterback **Avery Johnson**, who will enter his senior season under center for the Wildcats. Johnson has thrown for 43 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards over the past two seasons, completing 59% of his passes in 2025 . With Klein calling plays—as he did during Johnson’s freshman year—expectations are high for a breakout season.
“He’s one of the best in the country,” quarterbacks coach **Christian Ellsworth** said of Johnson. “There’s a lot of work left to prove that, but we have all the pieces aligned to get that done” .
Klein’s return to Manhattan has energized the program. The 36-year-old coach, who starred for the Wildcats from 2009-12, signed a five-year contract with an average base salary of $4.3 million . His hiring was celebrated as a homecoming, with Athletic Director Gene Taylor calling him “one of our all-time greats” .
With spring practice set to begin March 16, Klein’s announcement today provides clarity and momentum for a program eager to build on its proud traditions. The Wildcats have seven home games on the 2026 schedule, including the return of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown to Manhattan .
