Chris Klieman promotes Kansas State assistant Joe Klanderman to defensive coordinator
It didn’t take long for Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman to find a new defensive coordinator.
The Wildcats have promoted Joe Klanderman to the job three days after losing Scottie Hazelton to Michigan State.
“Joe is one of the best defensive coaches I have ever been around, and he is ready for this role,” Klieman said Monday in a news release. “In addition to already having coordinator experience, Joe knows our defense as well as anyone, and it is important to continue to develop our players and keep them in our system. We appreciate what Scottie did for our program this past year and hate to see him leave, but we are excited about our future with Coach Klanderman and the rest of our defensive staff.”
Klanderman seemed like an obvious choice to take control of K-State’s defense after the team unexpectedly had an opening before the start of spring practice. By promoting from within, Klieman maintained the most continuity possible for the unit. There has been quite a bit of a turnover at that position over the years. The oldest members of K-State’s roster have already played under three different coordinators.
The Wildcats have changed defensive coordinators in three straight seasons, going from Tom Hayes to Blake Seiler to Scottie Hazelton. Ted Monachino was also briefly in charge of the K-State defense before he left for a position with the Chicago Bears a few weeks after arriving on campus.
Klanderman spent five seasons coaching alongside Klieman at North Dakota State and then tutored safeties under him last season at K-State.
Klieman and Klanderman won four FCS championships together with the Bison. K-State went 8-5 during their lone season together with the Wildcats.
During his first year in Manhattan, Klanderman helped K-State rank first nationally in third down defense, allowing a conversion rate of 28%. That was the best number produced by any K-State team since at least 2003. The Wildcats also ranked second in the Big 12 against the pass, allowing 202.9 yards per game.
Klieman praised Klanderman as both a recruiter and a position coach last season.
“I’m so appreciative to have the opportunity to expand my role in something much bigger than myself,” Klanderman said. “We’re going to work tirelessly to put a product on the field that Wildcat fans can be proud of. We will continue to push ahead with what we did a year ago and expand upon the foundation that was laid last season.”
Cornerbacks coach Van Malone was also promoted into a new role on Monday. He will serve as passing game coordinator next season while continuing to coach K-State defensive backs.
“Van is a veteran coach who has immediately had a big impact on our program and student-athletes,” Klieman said. “Not only is he one of the most respected defensive coaches in college football, but his experience, leadership and development of young men is unmatched.”
Klanderman, who made $350,000 in salary last year, will continue coaching safeties while he takes control of K-State’s defense, meaning the Wildcats are now searching for a new linebackers coach as Hazelton oversaw that position group.
Klanderman has 19 years of coaching experience. He got his start at Minnesota State in 2002 as a defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator there from 2007-13. This is the first time he has coordinated a defense since then.
This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Chris Klieman promotes Kansas State assistant Joe Klanderman to defensive coordinator."