Kansas State expected to lose defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton to Big Ten team
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman will once again be in the market for a defensive coordinator.
Scottie Hazelton, who led the Wildcats’ defense last season, is expected to leave K-State for a similar job at Michigan State, according to two sources with knowledge of the move.
Hazelton interviewed with the Spartans earlier this week and they offered him a substantial raise that would increase his salary north of $1 million, the sources said. That is significantly more than the Wildcats have paid an assistant football coach, which made it difficult, if not impossible, for K-State to retain his services.
The job switch was first reported by Gopowercat.com.
Hazelton was K-State’s top paid assistant last season, earning $550,000. He also received interest from Washington State and Mississippi State earlier this offseason, the sources said. He declined those job opportunities. But he couldn’t pass up an offer from new Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.
The move will leave K-State without a defensive coordinator for the third time since Klieman arrived as coach little more than a year ago.
Klieman originally hired Ted Monachino to lead his defense, but he left after a few weeks to accept a NFL coaching position with the Chicago Bears. He tabbed Hazelton as his replacement, hiring him away from Wyoming at about this time last year.
Hazelton did solid work during his lone year in Manhattan, as he directed one of the better defenses in the Big 12 last season.
Under his guidance, K-State allowed 21.4 points and 368.4 yards per game. Those numbers ranked second and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. The Wildcats were are their best against the pass last season, allowing only 202.9 yards per game.
Known for his long beard and tough attitude, Hazelton seemed to build a quick bond with K-State players.
Hazelton had some history with Klieman, as they both coached together as assistants with North Dakota State.
This will be Hazelton’s sixth different job over the past 10 years. Since leaving North Dakota State in 2011 he has coached linebackers at USC and with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while also serving as defensive coordinator for Nevada, Wyoming and K-State.