Kansas State Football Loses Defensive Coach to Ole Miss

Wildcats' co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson departs for new role at SEC program.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:08pm

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Kansas State football head coach Collin Klein is reportedly losing defensive assistant Marcus Woodson, who has accepted a coaching position at Ole Miss. Woodson had served as the Wildcats' co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach since 2024.

Why it matters

Woodson's departure is a significant loss for the Kansas State football program, which has seen steady defensive improvement under his leadership over the past two seasons. His move to an SEC program like Ole Miss represents a career advancement opportunity.

The details

Woodson joined the Kansas State coaching staff in 2024 after previous stints at Memphis and Louisiana. As co-defensive coordinator, he helped guide a Wildcats defense that ranked among the Big 12's best in several key categories last season.

  • Woodson has accepted a new coaching position at Ole Miss for the 2026 season.

The players

Collin Klein

The head coach of the Kansas State football team.

Marcus Woodson

The former co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Kansas State football team, who has accepted a new position at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) football program that has hired Woodson away from Kansas State.

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What’s next

Kansas State will now need to find a replacement for Woodson on the coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The loss of a key defensive coach like Woodson is a blow to the Kansas State football program, but also represents an opportunity for career advancement and a new challenge for the respected assistant coach at an SEC powerhouse like Ole Miss.