Mike Elko reveals Kansas State hiring Texas A&M OC Collin Klein is 'probably not solidified yet'

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko claimed offensive coordinator Collin Klein leaving for his alma mater Kansas State is not solidified yet. In fact, Elko alluded to reports tend to precede the official notifications.

Basically, there was no confirmation nor denial on Wednesday. News surfaced that Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman was set to retire, even as early as today. With that, Kansas State would bring Klein back to the school as the program’s new head coach.

“It’s probably not solidified yet,” Elko said. “The reports tend to precede the official notifications. I think when you hire really good people, opportunities like that will come. You appreciate that people want to be a part of your program until the next big opportunity for them comes. What you’re trying to avoid is losing really good assistants to other programs, and that’s not the case here.

“If it turns out to be as the reports suggest, obviously, it’s a tremendous opportunity for someone on our staff to take the next step in their career, and I will do everything I can to support and help those endeavors.”

The expectation was for Klein to coach at Texas A&M through the College Football Playoff before going to Kansas State. Elko seemed to confirm that notion.

“That would be the expectation,” Elko said. “Some of the conversations we’ve had have led me to believe that that would be the case.”

Klein returning home should be good news for Wildcat fans. He is a former Kansas State QB (2008-12) and coaching at the school as a GA in 2014 and ’15 and returned as the QBs coach and eventually offensive coordinator in 2017 through ’23.

Klein helped develop Aggies’ QB Marcel Reed over the last two seasons. This year, helping Texas A&M to an 11-1 record and the College Football Playoff, Reed had 2,932 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 61.8% completion percentage, 466 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns with Klein’s guidance.