Updated: Reports say Chris Klieman is expected to be offered and accept the Kansas State head coaching job. Details here.
North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman said at his weekly press conference today that there is nothing new to say about the Kansas State job opening.
"Nothing has changed from when we talked on Saturday in the fact that I had a conversation late in the week," Klieman said. "I think I’ll learn more about it either today, tonight or tomorrow. But nothing has changed from what we had on Saturday. My focus the last two days has been on South Dakota State."
The No. 1-ranked and 13-0 Bison host the Jackrabbits this Friday in the FCS semifinals.
After the quarterfinal game Saturday, Klieman told reporters that he did have conversations with Kansas State late in the week, but was not offered the job and hasn't had any contact since.
Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor held the same position at NDSU when Klieman was promoted from defensive coordinator to NDSU's head coach at the end of the 2013 season. In Klieman's five years leading the program, the Bison are 67-6 with three national championships.
The Taylor connection had Klieman in the pool of candidates from the start and his name has been hot and cold since Bill Snyder announced his retirement in early December.
North Texas head coach Seth Littrell emerged as the front-runner but after he withdrew his name, reports then said Kansas State was zeroing in on Klieman.
I've been told by a Kansas State media member that Taylor was close to making an offer to Klieman on Friday, but the reaction by fans and boosters to Klieman's name was so negative that he put it on pause.
Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, who was said to be a strong candidate, recently tweeted that he isn't going anywhere. That leaves Troy head coach Neal Brown as the other serious candidate.
We will continue to update this story as more details come out.
