Kansas State Hires Former NFL Special Teams Coach Nate Kaczor
Chris Klieman and the Kansas State Wildcats are adding a new coach to the staff with the addition of former NFL special teams coach Nate Kaczor.
Kaczor, a Kansas native, is a 32-year coaching veteran who spent the previous four seasons with the Washington Commanders from 2019-2023.
The resident of Scott City, Kansas, began his career in coaching at Utah State in 1991, and continued to be a part of the program until 1999. Following that, he worked with three college teams, namely Nebraska-Kearney, Idaho, and Louisiana-Monroe before transitioning to the NFL.
Kaczor spent time with Jacksonville, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Washington during his 15-year stint in the NFL and will now head back to the Sunflower State for the first time in his coaching career. While Washington’s special teams unit over the previous few seasons may not have been anything to write home about, Klieman’s ability to bring a coach from the NFL to college football, given the everchanging NIL landscape, is beyond impressive.
Kansas State’s special teams unit was one of the things that legendary head coach Bill Snyder utilized to initiate the turnaround in Manhattan. While Chris Kleiman has been an incredible hire, his special teams units have struggled during his time in the Little Apple, finishing near the bottom of the league in 2023 in multiple statistical categories.
Kansas State’s special teams unit will have a chance to change the group’s direction when the season kicks off on Saturday, August 31st, against the UT Martin Skyhawks.
