K-State promotes Riley to OC, adds Wells to staff

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

  • Elder WriterJan 4, 2024, 04:49 PM ET Close College football press reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.Kansas State is promoting

offending line coach Conor Riley to offensive organizer and adding Matt Wells, the previous coach at Texas Tech and Utah State, in a co-coordinator role.Wells, who spent the past two seasons

as an offensive analyst at Oklahoma, will coach Kansas State’s quarterbacks and work as associate head coach. Kansas State is changing Collin Klein, the former Wildcats quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist, who left to become offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. Riley has led Kansas State’s offending line the past 5 seasons and served as interim offensive organizer for the Pop-Tarts Bowl, which the Wildcats won 28-19 over No. 19 NC State. He has actually produced 15 All-Big 12 linemen, including Cooper Beebe, who won Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Riley will continue to oversee Kansas State’s line.Editor’s Picks”Conor has been with me for more than a years, and he is deserving of this opportunity,” coach Chris Klieman said in

a statement.” He did an extraordinary task of leading the offending space during our bowl preparation, and our coaches and players have the utmost regard for him and his ability to lead.”Wells, 50, last served as an offensive planner in 2012 at Utah State before taking the head-coaching job there. He went 44-34 with the Aggies, consisting of a 10-2 season in 2018, and coached quarterback Jordan Love, an 8,600-yard profession passer who now starts for the Green Bay Packers. Wells went 13-17 at Texas Tech, which fired him midway through his 3rd season in 2021. “He is someone who will bring a lot to the table as a member of our staff– from head-coaching experience to developing a few of the leading quarterbacks in the game,”Klieman stated.