“It’s a bit unusual to be bringing someone onto the coaching staff in March,” your benevolent despot remarked when Joe Bob Clements shared a Powercat on social media and updated his X profile picture.
Although Clements won’t be serving as a position coach, he has indeed rejoined the Wildcats. His new roles are assistant to the head coach cue the Dwight Schrute jokes and offensive forward scout.
Clements is practically Wildcat royalty. He was a four-year letterman and played in the Aloha, Holiday, Cotton, and Fiesta Bowls. He also served as defensive ends coach on both of Bill Snyder’s Big 12 championship teams and helped develop players such as Meshak Williams, Adam Davis, and Jeff Fitzgerald. In short, he has deep roots in Manhattan.
His return follows a 12-year stint at Oklahoma State, including the last two seasons as co-defensive coordinator. After the 2024 season, Mike Gundy reorganized his staff in an effort to turn things around, which resulted in Clements being let go a decision that frustrated many Cowboy fans who believed the issues were elsewhere.
Clements’ presence also gives K-State a seasoned defensive mind waiting in the wings if any of Collin Klein’s early coaching hires don’t pan out or if they succeed so well that other programs try to lure them away. Clements and Klein know each other well, too, as Clements was on staff during Klein’s playing days.
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