The Kansas State Wildcats have emerged as one of the Big 12’s most accomplished teams over the past three years, with head coach Chris Klieman leading them to at least nine wins each season. Their notable achievements include a 2022 Big 12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance, culminating in a 9-4 finish for the 2024 season.
Kansas State’s offense was impressive, averaging 426 yards per game, placing them in the top third of the Big 12. Co-offensive coordinators Matt Wells and Conor Riley collaborated to maintain this momentum. However, last week, Riley was appointed as the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line coach, sparking speculation about whether Wells would take over as the sole offensive coordinator or if a dual-coordinator system would continue. On Monday, we learned from ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Wells will serve as the offensive coordinator and playcaller for the 2025 season.
Sources: Kansas State is promoting Matt Wells to the school’s offensive coordinator and play caller. He spent last year as the co-offensive coordinator, QB coach and associate head coach. He’s the former head coach at Texas Tech and Utah State. pic.twitter.com/3FxdElrnNt
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 10, 2025
As Thamel highlights, Wells brings significant head coaching experience. After completing his college career as a quarterback at Utah State from 1993 to 1996, he had coaching stints at Navy, Tulane, and New Mexico. In 2011, he returned to Utah State as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, eventually being promoted to head coach in 2013 when Gary Andersen departed for Wisconsin.
Wells led the Aggies from 2013 to 2018, achieving a 44-34 record and finishing in the top two of the conference in four of those six seasons. He earned the Mountain West Coach of the Year honors twice, in 2013 and 2018, following a successful 10-2 season in 2018. Subsequently, he took the head coaching position at Texas Tech but struggled to replicate his prior success, with a record of 13-17 over three seasons. Most recently, he served as a quality assistant with the Oklahoma Sooners during 2022 and 2023.
