RYAN LACKEY
Associate Athletics Director for Communications
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A seven-year coaching staff member who has tutored Wildcat defensive ends to 10 All-Big 12 honors, Buddy Wyatt will remain on staff to coach the Kansas State defensive line, head coach Collin Klein announced Monday.
Wyatt has coached at K-State since 2019 and guided players to All-Big 12 First Team honors on five occasions.
“I appreciate Collin placing his trust in me,” Wyatt said. “Kansas State has a strong tradition and culture, and I am excited to be a part of this staff. I look forward to helping our players and this program succeed.”
Wyatt worked alongside Klein in each of his first five seasons in Manhattan.
“Buddy has a tremendous track record of developing young men,” Klein said. “I have always admired how he built genuine relationships with players and staff. He is of the highest character, and I am very excited we he will be with us moving forward.”
Wyatt has guided K-State players to three Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors over his first seven seasons in Manhattan. In fact, when adding in his time coaching Adam Carriker at Nebraska to the honor in 2006, Wyatt has tutored the most Big 12 Defensive Linemen of the Year in league history.
The latest recipient of the award was Brendan Mott in 2024, who also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. Mott ranked 26th nationally and was tops in the Big 12 in sacks (0.65 sacks per game), while he tied for fourth in the Big 12 in tackles for loss. He led a defensive unit that finished with a No. 25 national ranking in sacks at 2.69 per game, which was its best ranking since 2015. Of the 35 total sacks on the year, 23 came from Wyatt’s ends.
Wyatt tutored two players to All-Big 12 honors in 2023 with Khalid Duke earning second-team honors in addition to earning votes for the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year award, while Mott was an honorable mention pick.
Wyatt’s unit in 2022 was headlined by Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who earned All-Big 12 First Team honors each of the final two seasons of his career. Wyatt helped Anudike-Uzomah tie for fourth in K-State history in career forced fumbles (8) and sixth in career sacks (20.5).