Chris Klieman’s Epochal Open Letter to Kansas State Football, the Supporters, and the Whole Wildcat Family
Dear Family of Kansas State University,
I am overcome with a sense of profound gratitude and humility as I pause to consider this amazing experience. In addition to being a great honour, being the head coach of Kansas State football has changed my life. This message is my sincere homage to all of you—the administration, the devoted players, the devoted supporters, and the larger K-State community—who have embraced me and helped me develop as a coach and a person.
You had faith in me from the beginning. You put your trust in me to oversee a prestigious program with a long history, based on diligence, moral character, and tenacity. It was no easy task to follow in the great coaches’ shoes and enter the Kansas State football tradition. However, your support was unwavering, and together, game by game and block by brick, we created something truly unique.
To the participants: The centre of our program is you. Every achievement we’ve had has been fuelled by your dedication to excellence, your toughness, your accountability to one another, and your faith in our shared objective. One of the greatest honours of my work has been witnessing your development as young men of character and as athletes. Every day I am inspired by your dedication to the game and your work ethic.
To our supporters: You are unparalleled. On a fall Saturday, when the sea of purple rises with pride and the enthusiasm lifts our team in ways that words cannot express, there is nothing like the roar of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. We are fuelled by your passion. We are sustained by your loyalty. And this program’s soul is your faith in Wildcat football, through all the highs and lows. You have transformed Manhattan, Kansas, into a home as well as a place to coach.
To the athletic department and administration at K-State: We appreciate your steadfast trust and support. Our program has flourished both on and off the pitch because of your dedication to our student-athletes, to establishing a first-rate environment, and to making investments in long-term success. A culture of excellence has been established under your direction, enabling both coaches and players to perform at their highest level.
I want to express my gratitude to the entire Kansas State community for their warm welcome to my family and me. Being able to represent you has been a blessing since the values this university upholds—integrity, hard effort, and loyalty—mirror my own. We will always cherish the memories and friendships we have formed here.
I do so with great pride and hope as we look to the future. There are still tasks to complete, objectives to meet, and titles to pursue. But we can accomplish anything with a solid foundation and a cohesive family.
I’m grateful, Wildcat Nation. From my very own heart.
With appreciation and pride in being a Wildcat,
Chris Klieman,
Kansas State Football’s head coach