University of Northern Iowa Athletics

Collin Klein Named Quarterbacks Coach
7/7/2016 2:00:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa football program announced the hiring of former Kansas State quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist, Collin Klein today as the new quarterbacks coach.
Klein comes to UNI after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant with his alma mater coaching the quarterbacks. Klein graduated from Kansas State in 2011 with a degree in business financial services and controllership.
The Loveland, Colo. native helped quarterback Jake Waters go for a Kansas State record 3,501 yards in 2014 while also improving the play of several quarterbacks in 2015 while the Wildcats battled injuries. He served as an assistant director of recruiting and defensive quality control coach in his first year on staff and was an offensive graduate assistant in 2015.
As a student-athlete at Kansas State, Klein ranks in the program's top-10 in 34 different statistical categories. He led the Wildcat offense and program to a 21-5 record in his final two seasons as a starter and team captain and was the first quarterback from a BCS AQ school in the BCS era to rush for at least 20 scores and pass for 10 in consecutive seasons after doing so in 2011 and 2012.
He was the 2012 Johnny Unitas Award Winner, an award given to the nation's top senior quarterback, and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. He also led Kansas State to a No. 1 national ranking, a Big 12 Championship and a Fiesta Bowl berth in the same year.
Klein and his wife, Shalin, a former Wildcat women's basketball player, will reside in Cedar Falls.
Klein comes to UNI after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant with his alma mater coaching the quarterbacks. Klein graduated from Kansas State in 2011 with a degree in business financial services and controllership.
The Loveland, Colo. native helped quarterback Jake Waters go for a Kansas State record 3,501 yards in 2014 while also improving the play of several quarterbacks in 2015 while the Wildcats battled injuries. He served as an assistant director of recruiting and defensive quality control coach in his first year on staff and was an offensive graduate assistant in 2015.
As a student-athlete at Kansas State, Klein ranks in the program's top-10 in 34 different statistical categories. He led the Wildcat offense and program to a 21-5 record in his final two seasons as a starter and team captain and was the first quarterback from a BCS AQ school in the BCS era to rush for at least 20 scores and pass for 10 in consecutive seasons after doing so in 2011 and 2012.
He was the 2012 Johnny Unitas Award Winner, an award given to the nation's top senior quarterback, and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. He also led Kansas State to a No. 1 national ranking, a Big 12 Championship and a Fiesta Bowl berth in the same year.
Klein and his wife, Shalin, a former Wildcat women's basketball player, will reside in Cedar Falls.
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