WATCH: Kansas State shows live phone call when Chris Klieman accepts coaching offer
By Keith Farner
Published:
Even a call from his future employer couldn’t distract Chris Klieman from coaching his current team as he prepares to go for fourth title at North Dakota State.
Kansas State Athletics Director Gene Taylor made a call to Klieman as the soon-to-be-former North Dakota State was still at practice in the middle of the FCS playoffs. Then came the offer.
“I’d be so jacked to be the next head football coach at Kansas State University,” Klieman said, reflecting Taylor’s question back to him. “I’d be so thrilled to be that.”
Taylor replied, “We’re excited about it and we can’t wait to get you here in Manhattan. … You’re going to be following a legend, you know that right?”
Klieman was well aware of retiring coach Bill Snyder, who is most known for turning around a moribund program and being a Hall of Fame coach during a 27-year career.
Snyder coached the Wildcats to a 5-7 record this past season, but he finishes his career with a record of 215-117-1, 19 bowl games, and two Big 12 championships.
“I do know I’m following an icon that I have a ton of respect for, and followed my whole career,” Klieman said. “… It’s a dream of mine to be a Power 5 head football coach.”
Dream meets opportunity.@KSTATEADGT introduces the new #KStateFB head coach, Chris Klieman.#EMAW pic.twitter.com/bDY4QNu36E
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) December 11, 2018
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
