K-State fans react to Chris Klieman retirement announcement

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kansas State fans reacted to the announcement of head football coach Chris Klieman’s retirement on Wednesday with a mix of mild shock and gratitude.

They shared their thoughts with KSN at Emerson Biggins in Wichita’s Old Town.

Some said they expected Klieman would have coached the team for a bit longer because of how positive an impact he’d had on his players, as evidenced by many former Wildcats reaction to the announcement.

“He was truly a player’s coach and seeing all of the love and the outpouring of emotion from former players about how much they loved him, that’s all you could ask,” said K-State Alum Zach Kratochvil. “He was training good men and good leaders for the community, for the future.”

‘Proud of what we accomplished’: K-State coach Chris Klieman retires

Other fans see Klieman’s retirement as a chance for the program to undergo a much-needed change of course, particularly on the offensive end.

I think Coach Klieman may have been set in his ways,” said K-State fan Keenon Brinkley. “Times have changed, I think they need to upgrade the program [and] a young coordinator to come in and bring some nuances to the offense that was there.”

But every fan who shared their thoughts expressed the same belief on Klieman’s career with K-State as it comes to a close.

They respected who Klieman was as a player and coach, and felt he had run the program honorably.

“You didn’t hear controversy, you didn’t hear scandal,” Brinkley said. “You didn’t hear anything like that during this time frame because he set a tone for a program that was above reproach.”

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