Monday, 7:10 p.m. CT update
It's official, Chris Klieman will be the next Kansas State head football coach.
The K-State football Twitter account confirmed it with this tweet. It also provided a behind-the-scenes video of when athletic director Gene Taylor offered Klieman the job.
An NDSU media release states Klieman will still coach the Bison in the playoffs. NDSU will begin the process of securing its next head football coach immediately.
“I want to congratulate Coach Klieman and sincerely thank him for the impact he’s had these past five years on the NDSU football program, our players, the Fargo community and Bison Nation,” NDSU athletic director Matt Larsen said in a statement. “Aside from the incredible success on the field, his players consistently excelled at a high level in the classroom and willingly gave back to the community. He has always honored and preserved the traditions and culture of excellence surrounding Bison football, and for that I am forever grateful.”
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Original story
North Dakota State's Chris Klieman will be the next head coach at Kansas State, according to reports from multiple national outlets.
Earlier today, Klieman told media that he hasn't heard back from Kansas State since talking with them late last week, but he expects to hear from them sometime today or tomorrow.
News broke about Kansas State expecting to offer Klieman the job at 5:55 p.m. CT.
ESPN's Jake Trotter reported that it will be a six-year deal paying Klieman $2.3 million a year with $200K annual raises.
In Klieman's five seasons as NDSU head coach, the Bison are 67-6 with three FCS national championships. NDSU is still playing and eyes its seventh national title in eight years. The No. 1-ranked and 13-0 Bison host rival South Dakota State this Friday in the national semifinals.
According to Bruce Feldman's tweet, Klieman is expected to coach the Bison until the playoff run is complete. The national title game is Jan. 5.
Gene Taylor promoted Klieman from defensive coordinator to NDSU's head coach at the end of the 2013 season. Taylor is now the AD at Kansas State, a connection that had Klieman's name in the pool of candidates from the start.
We will continue to update this story as more details come out.
