Big 12 Features Four New Head Football Coaches

Les Miles has returned to the Big 12 as head coach at Kansas

Chris Klieman, Kansas State

Chris Klieman has replaced the legendary Bill Snyder, who retired. Klieman moves up to the NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) from the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Klieman won four FCS national championships at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where over five years (2014-18) as the head coach he compiled a record of 72-13. Prior to his years as head coach, he was on the NDSU staff for three years. 

Matt Wells, Texas Tech 

Kliff Kingsbury was fired at Texas Tech after the 2018 football season, then hired as head coach of the NFL Arizona Cardinals, who will be led at quarterback by 2018 Heisman Trophy Winner Kyler Murray.

Replacing Kingsbury in Lubbock is Matt Wells, who previously served as the offensive coordinator and then head coach (2013-18) at his alma mater, Utah State University, where he was named Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2018. 

Wells compiled a 44-34 record at Utah State, relying on high-powered offenses. Wells had two 10-win seasons at Utah State, including 10-2 in 2018, but his Aggies also suffered three losing seasons with him at the helm. 

Neal Brown, West Virginia 

West Virginia no longer is home for Dana Holgerson, who bolted from the Mountaineers to the Houston Cougars after the 2018 season. Offensive-minded Neal Brown replaces Holgerson in the Mountain State. 

Brown was head coach at Troy from 2015-18, where he went 35-16, won two Sun Belt Conference titles in a row (2017 and 2018) and won three straight bowl games (2016, 2017, 2018). 

Prior to taking over Troy, Brown was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Texas Tech (2010-2012) and Kentucky (2013-2014). 

Les Miles, Kansas

Les Miles has returned to the Big 12 as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, taking over for David Beaty, who was fired after the 2018 season and is now a consultant for the Texas Longhorns.

Miles began his head coaching career began with Oklahoma State, where he coached from 2001 to 2004, going 28-21, with loses in two of three bowl games.

Miles coached LSU from 2005 to 2016, where he replaced Nick Saban and his Tigers won 114 games. On September 25, 2016, LSU fired Miles after an 18–13 loss to Auburn the previous day and a 2–2 start to begin the season. 

In 2007, LSU won the 2007 SEC title and beat Ohio State in that season’s BCS National Championship game, giving Miles his first national championship. LSU won the SEC title in 2011, then lost to Alabama in that season’s BCS National Championship game. 

Miles, who has been out of coaching since 2016, hasn’t had a losing season since 2001. 

Prior to becoming a head coach, Miles was an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, the University of Michigan, the University of Colorado, and with the Dallas Cowboys.