Kansas State coach Chris Klieman states he will not be a candidate for Michigan State opening

The search is officially on at Michigan State after the university fired Mel Tucker for cause on Wednesday. Multiple big names emerged as possible candidates, including Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, who came up on The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s initial list of candidates.

However, when asked about his possible candidacy at Michigan State on Big 12 Radio on SiriusXM, Chris Klieman made it clear his intention is to stay at Kansas State.

“I’ll be sticking in Manhattan and will not be a candidate for that job,” Klieman told Gabe Ikard.

Klieman has been at Kansas State since 2019 and led the Wildcats to a conference title last season. On the whole, he has a 33-21 record in Manhattan, including a 21-16 record in Big 12 play, along with three bowl game appearances.

What’s next for Michigan State after the firing of Mel Tucker, Chris Klieman withdraws name from consideration

Michigan State announced its intention to fire Tucker for cause last week after sexual harassment allegations against him. He had seven days to respond and did so on Monday. However, the university reaffirmed its decision and terminated him for cause.

As a result, the school doesn’t have to pay him the remainder of his contract — a 10-year, $95 million deal signed after the 2021 season.

Tucker spoke out about the university’s plans to fire him last week, reiterating his stance that Brenda Tracy’s claims are “baseless” and the university’s process was a “miscarriage of justice.”

“Simply put, Mr. Tucker’s response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the notice,” Michigan State AD Alan Haller said, via SpartanMag. “Instead, his 25-page response, which includes a 12-page letter from his attorney and a 13-page ‘expert report,’ provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice.”

Tracy, a prominent advocate sexual harassment and violent prevention, alleged in a Title IX complaint — which is being handled by lawyers hired by the university — that Tucker repeatedly made sexual comments and masturbated during a phone call on April 28, 2022. A report that resulted from that investigation was delivered to the university in July.

Tucker’s tenure in East Lansing started off with a 2-5 record in the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season, but he turned things around quickly to the tune of an 11-2 record in 2021. That earned him the landmark extension, but things haven’t gone well since. Michigan State went 5-7 last year to miss out on a bowl game.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.