K-State Names Christian Ellsworth New Quarterbacks Coach
Dec 21, 2025 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A former Wildcat staffer with strong ties to the Midwest, Christian Ellsworth has been named Kansas State's quarterbacks coach, head coach Collin Klein announced Sunday.
Ellsworth returns to Manhattan after serving the last two seasons at Texas A&M, first as a senior offensive analyst and then as the program's tight ends coach. He also previously worked at South Carolina (2022) and Nebraska (2023).
"My family and I are humbled and excited to be back in Manhattan," Ellsworth said. "It is an honor to serve this program, university, and community. It's Family Business."
Ellsworth's stint at Texas A&M isn't the only time he has coached with Klein having worked as an offensive graduate assistant at K-State in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, he was a true freshman quarterback at Northern Iowa when Klein tutored that position group.
"Christian is a rising star in this profession," Klein said. "His work ethic and competitive nature are on another level. He is of the utmost character and integrity, and I am proud for him to develop our quarterbacks."
In his first season as a full-time assistant coach, Ellsworth's tight ends combined to tally 43 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns in addition to being an integral part in the running game as the Aggies averaged 184.7 rushing yards per game. Texas A&M ranks 20th in the country in scoring offense (33.8 points per game) and 23rd in total offense (444.5 yards per game).
In his first season in College Station in 2024, Ellsworth helped the Aggies earn a 5-0 start in conference play, the program's best start in the SEC. Texas A&M finished the year ranking 26th nationally and second in the SEC in rushing offense (195.5 yards per game).
Ellsworth began his coaching career with a two-year stint as an offensive graduate assistant at K-State in 2020 and 2021. During his first year on staff, the Wildcats ranked fourth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in red zone percentage (93.9%). The following year, the Wildcats placed in the top 30 in the country in fourth down percentage (6th; 75.0%), completion percentage (22nd; 65.6%), fewest interceptions thrown (23rd; 7) and third down percentage (30th; 43.8%).
Spending the 2022 season at South Carolina – the same staff that K-State special teams coordinator Stanton Weber served on – Ellsworth helped the Gamecocks rank No. 23 in the final Associated Press Top 25 thanks to consecutive top-10 victories over Tennessee and Clemson. He then moved to Nebraska in 2023 where he worked with the Husker tight ends and quarterbacks as an offensive analyst.
A decorated high school player, Ellsworth was a three-time all-state performer at Grand Island Northwest in Grand Island, Nebraska. At the end of his prep career, he held the Nebraska state records for career passing yards, career completions, career touchdowns, single game completions, single game attempts and season completions.
Ellsworth earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Iowa in 2019 in digital media leadership with an emphasis in sports broadcasting, while he obtained his master's degree in academic advising from Kansas State in 2022. He and his wife, Cassidy, have a daughter, Ada, and a son, Brooks.
THE CHRISTIAN ELLSWORTH FILE
Hometown: Grand Island, Nebraska
High School: Grand Island Northwest
College: Northern Iowa – Bachelor's degree in digital media leadership (2019); Kansas State – Master's degree in academic advising (2022)
Family: Wife: Cassidy; Children: Ada, Brooks
Playing Career: Northern Iowa (quarterback), 2016-19
CHRISTIAN ELLSWORTH'S COACHING CAREER
2020-21, Kansas State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2022, South Carolina (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2023, Nebraska (Offensive Analyst)
2024, Texas A&M (Senior Offensive Analyst)
2025, Texas A&M (Tight Ends)
2026, Kansas State (Quarterbacks)
Ellsworth returns to Manhattan after serving the last two seasons at Texas A&M, first as a senior offensive analyst and then as the program's tight ends coach. He also previously worked at South Carolina (2022) and Nebraska (2023).
"My family and I are humbled and excited to be back in Manhattan," Ellsworth said. "It is an honor to serve this program, university, and community. It's Family Business."
Ellsworth's stint at Texas A&M isn't the only time he has coached with Klein having worked as an offensive graduate assistant at K-State in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, he was a true freshman quarterback at Northern Iowa when Klein tutored that position group.
"Christian is a rising star in this profession," Klein said. "His work ethic and competitive nature are on another level. He is of the utmost character and integrity, and I am proud for him to develop our quarterbacks."
In his first season as a full-time assistant coach, Ellsworth's tight ends combined to tally 43 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns in addition to being an integral part in the running game as the Aggies averaged 184.7 rushing yards per game. Texas A&M ranks 20th in the country in scoring offense (33.8 points per game) and 23rd in total offense (444.5 yards per game).
In his first season in College Station in 2024, Ellsworth helped the Aggies earn a 5-0 start in conference play, the program's best start in the SEC. Texas A&M finished the year ranking 26th nationally and second in the SEC in rushing offense (195.5 yards per game).
Ellsworth began his coaching career with a two-year stint as an offensive graduate assistant at K-State in 2020 and 2021. During his first year on staff, the Wildcats ranked fourth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in red zone percentage (93.9%). The following year, the Wildcats placed in the top 30 in the country in fourth down percentage (6th; 75.0%), completion percentage (22nd; 65.6%), fewest interceptions thrown (23rd; 7) and third down percentage (30th; 43.8%).
Spending the 2022 season at South Carolina – the same staff that K-State special teams coordinator Stanton Weber served on – Ellsworth helped the Gamecocks rank No. 23 in the final Associated Press Top 25 thanks to consecutive top-10 victories over Tennessee and Clemson. He then moved to Nebraska in 2023 where he worked with the Husker tight ends and quarterbacks as an offensive analyst.
A decorated high school player, Ellsworth was a three-time all-state performer at Grand Island Northwest in Grand Island, Nebraska. At the end of his prep career, he held the Nebraska state records for career passing yards, career completions, career touchdowns, single game completions, single game attempts and season completions.
Ellsworth earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Iowa in 2019 in digital media leadership with an emphasis in sports broadcasting, while he obtained his master's degree in academic advising from Kansas State in 2022. He and his wife, Cassidy, have a daughter, Ada, and a son, Brooks.
THE CHRISTIAN ELLSWORTH FILE
Hometown: Grand Island, Nebraska
High School: Grand Island Northwest
College: Northern Iowa – Bachelor's degree in digital media leadership (2019); Kansas State – Master's degree in academic advising (2022)
Family: Wife: Cassidy; Children: Ada, Brooks
Playing Career: Northern Iowa (quarterback), 2016-19
CHRISTIAN ELLSWORTH'S COACHING CAREER
2020-21, Kansas State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2022, South Carolina (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2023, Nebraska (Offensive Analyst)
2024, Texas A&M (Senior Offensive Analyst)
2025, Texas A&M (Tight Ends)
2026, Kansas State (Quarterbacks)
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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