FAYETTEVILLE — Travis Geopfert is leaving the University of Arkansas men’s track and field program again, this time to become head coach at Kansas State.

Geopfert, 45, was announced as the Wildcats’ director of track and field and cross country Thursday. He will oversee K-State’s men’s and women’s programs as part of a five-year contract.

He will replace Cliff Rovelto, who retired last month after 32 seasons as the Wildcats’ head coach.

“My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Kansas State community,” Geopfert said in a statement announcing his hiring. “Just look at every named facility on campus and it’s obvious that family and community are the framework of Kansas State. That may be the biggest thing that attracted us to Manhattan.”

Geopfert has spent 12 indoor and outdoor seasons as an assistant coach at Arkansas from 2010-18 and since 2022. He was a three-year assistant for the Tennessee men and women in between his stints with the Razorbacks.

Arkansas won national championships indoors with Geopfert on staff in 2013 and 2023. He was named USTFCCCA national assistant coach of the year both seasons, as well as indoors in 2014 and outdoors in 2023.

Geopfert coached Bowerman Award winners Jarrion Lawson in 2016 and Jaydon Hibbert in 2023, and Bowerman finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme in 2022.

During his first stint at Arkansas, Geopfert coached 4 individuals to a combined 7 NCAA championships, and he has coached 5 athletes to 9 NCAA championships since 2021 for a total of 16 national champions by 9 athletes.

Geopfert coached Lawson to long jump titles indoors and outdoors in 2016. Lawson also won a long jump title indoors in 2014.

Geopfert coached Clive Pullen to NCAA indoor triple jump titles in 2016 and 2017, Kevin Lazas to an indoor heptathlon title in 2013, and Alain Bailey to an indoor long jump title in 2010.

Owens-Delerme (multi events) in 2022, Hibbert (triple jump) and Carey McLeod (long jump) in 2023, and Romaine Beckford (high jump) this year swept NCAA titles under Geopfert. Wayne Pinnock won the long jump title indoors this year.

Arkansas has won 16 SEC championships indoors and outdoors with Geopfert on staff.

“I’m thrilled for Travis, and his family, with this new challenge and adventure,” Arkansas Chris Bucknam said in a statement. “With all of our coaches and athletes, our job is to help them get to next level. With Travis, I feel the same way. His work ethic and competitive spirit will be sorely missed here.”