Collin Klein's Climb to the Top: From Hardwood to Head Coach

The former Heisman Trophy finalist has risen through the coaching ranks to become Kansas State's new head football coach.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:44pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic action on the field.Collin Klein's journey from unheralded high school recruit to Heisman finalist and now head coach at Kansas State is a testament to his dedication and leadership.Loveland Today

Collin Klein's football journey began unexpectedly on the basketball court, where a conversation with his father sparked his interest in the sport. After impressing at Loveland High School, Klein went on to become a Heisman Trophy finalist at Kansas State. Despite failing to catch on in the NFL, Klein pursued a coaching career, quickly rising through the ranks to become Texas A&M's offensive coordinator before returning to his alma mater as the new head coach at just 36 years old.

Why it matters

Klein's rapid ascent to a head coaching position at a major college football program highlights his exceptional leadership abilities, football IQ, and dedication to the game. His journey from an unheralded high school recruit to a Heisman finalist and now a head coach inspires hope for other aspiring coaches who may not have followed a traditional path.

The details

Collin Klein's football career began with a conversation on a plane with his father after a basketball tournament in Houston. Klein, who had just finished his ninth-grade year, told his dad he wanted to play football, and the two started throwing the ball together multiple times a week for the next two years. Klein then joined the Loveland High School football team, quickly impressing head coach John Poovey with his knowledge and poise. Despite leading Loveland to the state championship game as a junior, Klein was an under-the-radar recruit until Kansas State's then-head coach Ron Prince took notice of his maturity and talent. Klein went on to become the Wildcats' starting quarterback, leading them to a Big 12 championship and earning offensive player of the year honors. After his college career, Klein failed to catch on in the NFL or CFL, but he turned his attention to coaching, joining Kansas State as a quality control coach. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a graduate assistant, quarterbacks coach, co-offensive coordinator, and most recently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. This offseason, Klein returned to Kansas State as the program's new head coach at just 36 years old.

  • Klein told his father he wanted to play football after finishing his ninth-grade year.
  • Klein joined the Loveland High School football team and became the starting quarterback for two years.
  • Klein led Loveland to the state championship game as a junior.
  • Klein became the starting quarterback at Kansas State, leading them to a Big 12 championship.
  • Klein was named the Big 12's offensive player of the year and a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The players

Collin Klein

A former Heisman Trophy finalist at Kansas State who has risen through the coaching ranks to become the new head football coach at his alma mater.

Doug Klein

Collin Klein's father, who had a pivotal conversation with his son that sparked Collin's interest in playing football.

John Poovey

The legendary head coach at Loveland High School, who was impressed by Collin Klein's knowledge and poise when he joined the team.

Ron Prince

The former head coach at Kansas State, who recruited Collin Klein and was impressed by his maturity and talent.

Dave Matthews

The coach of the Colorado Chaos AAU basketball team, where Collin Klein played before transitioning to football.

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What they’re saying

“The first time he stepped on a football field that I remember as a member of the Loveland High Football team is the varsity level. He was our JV quarterback, [and] our [varsity starting] quarterback ... he gets hit in the head by a linebacker and he literally knocks him out on his feet. So, all of a sudden, our quarterback's gone. Well, Collin's the next guy up. I don't think he'd even taken a high school snap with the varsity in practice, and ... he walks out and he's all of a sudden with a group he's not really practiced with, and he's out there making checks, calling audibles at the line of scrimmage and running the show. That was Collin. He walked out and took charge. He was under control. And not arrogantly like some people might be. He was ready.”

— John Poovey, Head Coach, Loveland High School

“Every step of the way has been an important, special time because you never know when you're gonna, or if you're gonna progress. And as good as you may or may not be or as hard as you work, there's a lot of other factors that have to fall into place in order for those things to happen. So, we've celebrated every single one of them. Obviously, the Heisman is special.”

— Doug Klein, Collin Klein's Father

“Not a lot surprises me anymore, frankly, but probably the speed. If there was one thing, it would be the speed in which it's unfolded.”

— Doug Klein, Collin Klein's Father

What’s next

As Klein prepares for his first season as the new head coach at Kansas State, all eyes will be on the program to see if he can continue the success he had as a player and build upon his coaching experience to lead the Wildcats to new heights.

The takeaway

Collin Klein's remarkable journey from an unheralded high school recruit to a Heisman Trophy finalist and now a head coach at just 36 years old is a testament to his dedication, leadership, and football acumen. His rapid rise through the coaching ranks inspires hope for other aspiring coaches who may not have followed a traditional path, proving that with hard work and a relentless pursuit of one's dreams, anything is possible.