Kansas fires defensive coordinator, offensive line coach

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) _ Kansas coach Terry Allen, under increasing criticism from fans after the team's disappointing 4-7 finish, fired his defensive coordinator and offensive line coach on Monday.

``This was a very difficult and extremely painful decision for me personally,'' Allen said in a statement after dismissing defensive coordinator Ardell Wiegandt and offensive line coach Walt Klinker. ``However, I felt it was necessary for the future of our program.''

Wiegandt had worked four seasons as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Before coming to Kansas, he spent eight seasons under Allen at Northern Iowa.

Klinker came to Kansas in 1997, and had worked with Allen for 14 years as an assistant at Northern Iowa.

Allen also said Darrell Wyatt, Kansas' wide receivers coach and assistant head coach, had been promoted to offensive coordinator and associate head coach.