https://themercury.com/k_state_sports/r ... ddeb4.html
WILDCATS WEST?
Report: 2 coaches with Kansas State connections candidates for Colorado State opening
Ryan Black rblack@themercury.com Dec 6, 2019
Colorado State could become Kansas State West in the future. At least according to a report from The Denver Post.
The Rams and Mike Bobo, their now-former coach, reached a mutual separation agreement earlier this week. Colorado State is looking for a new person to take over the program. Two potential candidates for the opening, per The Denver Post, have connections with K-State: current quarterbacks coach and Wildcat great Collin Klein, as well as Jim Leavitt, a former assistant under Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder in the 1990s.
On Klein, The Denver Post wrote that the “Loveland (Colo.) native is considered one of the more promising assistants in the game, even at the tender age of 30. The 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist may not know the league, but he sure as heck knows the territory.”
Klein is in his third year as K-State’s quarterbacks coach, his first on the staff of Chris Klieman after previously working for Snyder. Klein also served as the Wildcats’ co-offensive coordinator last year.
In his first year as a K-State assistant coach in 2017, Klein helped then-starting quarterback Jesse Ertz put together the fifth-best pass efficiency mark in a season (150.22) in school history. Ertz also set the school record for lowest interception percentage (1.92) in a single campaign.
Klein started his coaching career in 2014 as the Wildcats’ director of recruiting operations/quality control coach, becoming an offensive graduate assistant the following year. He then left to guide Northern Iowa’s quarterbacks in 2016 before returning to K-State in the same position the next season.
The 2012 Johnny Unitas Award winner, Klein wrapped up his career as a Wildcat ranked among the top 10 in 34 different game, season and career record categories. He became the first quarterback from a Power 5 school since 1998 to rush for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for 10 scores in consecutive seasons, accomplishing the feat in 2011 and 2012. During those two years, Klein led the Wildcats to a combined 21-5 overall record, which included a No. 1 national ranking, Big 12 title and Fiesta Bowl berth in 2012.
Leavitt has bounced around the football coaching world, working at the high school, college and NFL levels. He tutored K-State’s linebackers in 1990 and 1991 before adding the title of co-defensive coordinator in 1992. He remained in that role through the 1995 season, when he left Manhattan to build South Florida’s program from scratch.
He amassed a 95-57 record with the Bulls from 1997 to 2009, leading the program to five of their 10 all-time bowl berths. But he was fired in January 2010 after he was accused of grabbing a player by the throat, slapping him, and later lying about it. He then worked as the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers coach from 2011 to 2014. Leavitt eventually returned to the college game, working at Colorado (2015 and 2016) and Oregon (2017 and 2018).
Upon leaving Oregon, he joined Florida State as a quality control analyst in September. After Florida State dismissed head coach Willie Taggart, Leavitt earned a temporary promotion, working with the team’s linebackers and defensive line on an interim basis.
Noles247, the 247Sports affiliate covering Florida State, reported Friday that Leavitt no longer is part of the Seminoles’ football program.
It’s his two years with the Buffaloes that might pique the Rams’ interest.
Working in Leavitt’s favor is that, “until the last three weeks, the CU defense hadn’t looked the same once he left Boulder following the 2016 regular season. The former Buffs defensive guru still has the fire — and still has a home and family in Boulder County,” the paper wrote.
Prior to Leavitt’s arrival, Colorado’s defense ranked 120th in the nation in yards allowed per play. In his second and final season with the Buffaloes in 2016, they ranked No. 8 in that category.
Colorado gave up just 328.3 yards per game that season, ranking second in the Pac-12 — behind only conference champion Washington, a College Football Playoff participant.
Anyone report this yet? Colorado St. opening......
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stlcatfan
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That would be a great job for Coach Leavitt. I hope it works out for him.
"Don't believe everything you read on the Internet." -- Abraham Lincoln
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02Cat
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Pick 'Em
5
I would be shocked if Klein is announced as the Head Coach at CSU for the 2020 season. SHOCKED.
Tell people that there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure. - George Carlin
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NealyFan
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He has only coached for one other school than KSU. What evidence is there that he knows how to put together a staff and run a program? Just because he was a great player does not mean that he will be a great head coach. It’s CSU’s money, but they would be better off with Leavitt or someone else.
“It’s a tremendous challenge. The opportunity exists here today... for the greatest turnaround in college football history. And it’s not one to be taken lightly.” —- Bill Snyder
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wild@nite
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We're not the interview committee. Asking the the wrong crowd. I'll say this though. Rarely, do people with Ck's personality and work ethic fail. It's probably too soon, but what if it's not? It's a gamble I might take if I'm CSU.NealyFan wrote: ↑December 7th, 2019, 11:31 pmHe has only coached for one other school than KSU. What evidence is there that he knows how to put together a staff and run a program? Just because he was a great player does not mean that he will be a great head coach. It’s CSU’s money, but they would be better off with Leavitt or someone else.
