Kansas State football assistant leaving Wildcats to coach special teams in the NFL

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman has an opening on his football staff.

Chili Davis, a veteran special teams coach who helped the Wildcats on kicks and punts last season, is leaving Manhattan after one year to take a similar job with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL.

K-State hired Davis last year as a special teams quality control coach. The Wildcats don’t employ a special teams coordinator like some college football teams, so he played an important role and shaped how K-State performed when neither its offense nor defense was on the field.

Davis bid farewell to the K-State football team with a post on social media on Monday.

“Truly appreciated our time here in Manhattan, Kansas,” he wrote. “I would like to thank the players, coaches, staff and community for a phenomenal experience. This place is special. Coach Klieman, thank you for allowing me to learn and grow under such great structure.”

Davis is expected to join the Rams as an assistant special teams coach, according to 247Sports.

K-State had some memorable moments on special teams this past season with Davis helping that unit.

The Wildcats averaged 18.1 yards on kick returns, Chris Tennant connected on 11 of 14 field goals and Jack Blumer pinned opponents within their own 20-yard line 22 different times.