Collin Klein adds two more defensive coaches to his Kansas State football staff
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Klein builds defensive staff, hiring veteran Nick Toth as linebackers coach.
- Toth brings two decades of coaching, schematic insight and recruiting ties.
- Klein’s staff nears completion; Peterson and Wyatt anchor a defense staff.
The defensive side of Collin Klein’s inaugural coaching staff at Kansas State is complete.
On Monday, the Wildcats hired Marcus Woodson as their new defensive backs coach and Nick Toth as their new linebackers coach.
Toth is a veteran assistant coach who has previously worked at Air Force, Fresno State, Oregon, Texas A&M and several other schools over the past two decades.
“Nick brings a wealth of experience from a schematic and recruiting standpoint,” Klein said in a statement. “He is of extremely high character and hard working. We are excited to have him help us take K-State to the next level.”
Toth spent last season coaching at Air Force, where the Falcons ranked first in the Mountain West in total defense at 341.9 yards allowed per game.
“K-State Athletics has a standard of excellence that (athletic director) Gene Taylor has pushed to the highest level,” Toth said in a statement, and the championship tradition that legendary coach Bill Snyder created is what all coaches strive to be a part of. We cannot wait to get to work.”
Woodson is an accomplished secondary coach with 21 years of experience. He will also hold the title of co-defensive coordinator. Woodson spent the past three years at Arkansas.
“My family and I are incredibly excited to join the Kansas State family,” Woodson said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to pour into our players and help build something special here in Manhattan.”
This will be Woodson’s first stint in the Big 12 having previously spent five seasons in the SEC and three in the ACC.
“Marcus is a great addition to our defensive staff,” Klein said. “He is of high character, hard working and a winner. I am excited for him to help lead our defense and develop our secondary.”
Toth and Woodson are the sixth assistant coaches that Klein has hired in Manhattan. They will join coordinator Jordan Peterson and line coach Buddy Wyatt on the defensive side of the staff.
K-State football coach tracker
Head coach: Collin Klein
Offensive coordinator: TBA
Running backs: TBA
Wide receivers: TBA
Quarterbacks: Christian Ellsworth
Defensive coordinator: Jordan Peterson
Defensive line: Buddy Wyatt
Linebackers: Nick Toth
Defensive backs: Marcus Woodson
Special teams coordinator: Stanton Weber
General manager: Trey Scott
Director of recruiting: Taylor Braet
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM.