Liam Klein enters his 11th season as a member of the Kennesaw State coaching staff in 2024, which serves as his first season coaching inside linebackers after leading the defensive line 10 seasons prior.
Prior to his time at KSU, the Owls' recruiting coordinator and linebacker coach spent 10 seasons at Georgia Tech, including his final seven as director of player personnel.
Klein has been an instrumental part of the defense at Kennesaw State since his arrival, helping the Owls rank in the top five in the nation in total defense in 2018 and 2019, while leading the Big South Conference for five consecutive seasons. Under Klein, the Owls' defense ranked in the top 20 for total defense in the FCS every year from 2015-2021.
The Owls' defensive line coach also played an integral role in the development of Travis Bell, KSU's first-ever NFL draft pick. Bell was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft after five seasons wearing the Black and Gold. Bell joined KSU lineman Jahon Myers as 2022 Phil Steele All-ASUN selections.
Kennesaw State's defensive front has flourished in the nine playing seasons under Klein, including leading the Big South in rush defense during KSU's last five fall seasons in the conference, and ranking No. 5 in the country in 2019, allowing just 88.9 yards per game on the ground to establish a new program record.
In 2023, the Kennesaw State defense held opponents to 17.9 points per game which ranked ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The defense surrendered 308.2 yards per game, good for 15th in the nation.
The Owls set a new school record in 2019 with 104.0 tackles for loss to rank No. 11 in the country. Defensive line standout Desmond Johnson, Jr. led the team with 17.0 TFL’s on the year as he became the fourth player in league history to earn first team All-Big South honors four times in a career.
Klein also developed defensive line phenom Auzoyah Alufohai, who was instrumental in Kennesaw State’s first championship run in 2017 before playing multiple seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
In addition to his coaching success, the Owls have also found success on the recruiting trail with Klein helming the process. Kennesaw State signed its then-highest ranked recruiting class in school history in 2020, earning a No. 9 ranking according to HERO Sports. The Owls had four straight top-25 ranked classes, including coming in at No. 19 in 2019, No. 12 in 2018 and No. 10 in 2017.
As KSU began its transition to the FBS and Conference USA, Klein helped assemble the highest-rated class in KSU's history when the Owls added 15 players during the early signing period to kick off the 2024 class. The Owls put together their highest-ranked recruiting class in program history during the early signing period. KSU inked six three-star recruits per 247Sports and On3.
Prior to his arrival in The Nest, Klein served as the Director of Player Personnel and directed Georgia Tech’s coaching clinics, camps and other events while administering the Jackets’ on-campus recruiting efforts and serving as the team’s academic liaison.
During his 10 seasons on The Flats, Georgia Tech made 10 bowl appearances, including the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl and the 2012 Hyundai Sun Bowl, a 21-7 victory over USC.
Before being promoted in 2007, Klein served as a graduate assistant for three seasons, working with the Yellow Jackets’ nationally ranked defense. In addition to preparing scouting reports and coordinating the scout team, he helped coach linebackers in 2006 after assisting with the defensive line in 2004-05. During his three seasons as a graduate assistant, Georgia Tech’s defense ranked in the top 30 in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.
Klein originally joined Tech’s staff prior to the 2003 season and spent six months as assistant director of football operations before moving to the coaching staff.
Before moving to Atlanta, Klein served as outside linebackers and safeties coach for Harvard in 2002, and defensive line coach at Lafayette College in 2001.
A three-year starter on the offensive line for Monmouth University, Klein earned a bachelor’s degree from Monmouth in education and interdisciplinary in history and political science in 2001.
A native of Norwood, N.J., Klein, his wife, Katie, and sons, Luke and James, reside in Roswell, Ga.
