Kansas State expected to elevate Matt Wells to play caller duties in 2025
Kansas State didn’t need much time to replace half of Conor Riley’s job. After losing their offensive coordinator and offensive line coach to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, Chris Klieman has his new play caller. Matt Wells, who spent last season as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will assume full play-calling duties in 2025. Pete Thamel was first to break the news.
Last season was Wells’ first on the Kansas State coaching staff. Before coming to K-State, Wells spent two seasons as an advisor to Brent Venables at Oklahoma. It was his first job since spending two and a half seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech. Wells and Klieman were hired in the same 2018 offseason to become rookie Big 12 coaches in 2019. Coincidentally, Wells was fired by Texas Tech after losing to Kansas State in 2021.
Wells spent eight seasons at Utah State, six of which as head coach of the Aggies where he helped turn Jordan Love into a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Last season as quarterbacks coach, he oversaw Avery Johnson break school records as a true sophomore. This includes the most touchdown passes ever thrown in a single season by a Kansas State quarterback with 25.
Johnson’s 2,712 passing yards in 2024 were the fifth most in school history. Ranking only behind Jake Waters, Josh Freeman (twice) and Michael Bishop in 1998.
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With Wells’ involvement in the offense last season, Kansas State scored 31 points per game. The Wildcats were fifth in the Big 12 with 426.8 yards per game.
Another area where Wells’ impact on staff has been felt is in recruiting. After being hired last offseason, he was able to help land K-State’s first commit of the 2025 cycle in quarterback Dillon Duff. The Oklahoma native has also helped the Wildcats have a recent surging presence in Sooner State recruiting.
K-State has not named a replacement for Riley’s offensive line coaching role. Wells will remain as the quarterbacks coach.
