CBS NEWS: An Epochal Open Letter to Kansas State Coach — Honoring a Trailblazer Who Helped Her Players Become the Best
MANHATTAN, KANSAS — In a heartfelt and historic moment, CBS News has published an open letter addressed to Kansas State’s head women’s basketball coach, celebrating her recent national coaching award and the profound impact she has had on her players, both on and off the court.
The letter, titled “An Epochal Tribute to a Leader of Champions,” praises the coach for guiding her team with unmatched passion, discipline, and grace. The coach, who led Kansas State to one of its most successful seasons in recent memory, was recently named National Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year. Her leadership not only delivered wins but helped elevate her players into some of the best in the nation.
“This award is more than a personal achievement,” the letter reads. “It’s a symbol of how your belief in young women—your fierce commitment to their growth—has created leaders, scholars, and fierce competitors.”
Under her direction, multiple Kansas State players earned All-American honors, with scouts and analysts praising the team’s unity, work ethic, and defensive intensity. Beyond the accolades, however, the letter emphasizes her role as a mentor and mother figure, shaping lives far beyond the hardwood.
“Every whistle, every timeout, every pregame speech echoed one message: ‘You are capable of greatness.’ And now, the world knows it,” the letter continues.
The open letter has gone viral across social media platforms, sparking an outpouring of gratitude from fans, former players, and fellow coaches. It concludes with a powerful statement: “For teaching young women how to believe in themselves, to fight with integrity, and to chase dreams unapologetically—you are forever a champion.”
Kansas State is expected to honor the coach at a campus-wide ceremony next week.