Kansas State Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton Leaving for Michigan State
And just like that, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman is on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator.
According to GoPowerCat, Scottie Hazelton is leaving Manhattan for the same position with the Michigan State Spartans after the staff overhaul following the retirement of Mark Dantonio.
Hazelton will join Mel Tucker who just left Colorado for the opening. Hazelton reportedly received an offer that Kansas State “can’t match”. He is the tenth hire by Tucker and rounds out the staff.
Kansas State’s resurgence last year was in large part driven by an impressive showing from Hazelton’s unit. The Wildcats ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring defense this season, which was just behind the Baylor Bears, who had one of the best defenses in the country. The Wildcats pass defense also ranked second in the Big 12 and the run defense ranked eighth in the Big 12.
This will technically be the third defensive coordinator Klieman will have to hire at Kansas State after his first hire, Ted Monachino, but he left shortly after being hired for an NFL position.
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