Chris Klieman is starting to round out his staff at Kansas State. Friday, the school announced that Collin Klein and Blake Seiler would remain with the Wildcat staff, Klein to coach the quarterbacks, while Seiler, who was the defensive coordinator in 2018, would coach the defensive line this coming season.
Saturday, Klieman officially announced the men who would be joining him from Fargo and they were not surprises as we had been speculating for the last week.
Courtney Messingham will join Klieman in Manhattan, Messingham will be the offensive coordinator and will coach the tight ends for the Wildcats. Messingham is about to complete a highly successful two year run in Fargo where the Bison offense has flourished, especially in 2018. NDSU’s west coast offense has gone to a new level this fall, thanks to the play calling of Messingham and the play of Easton Stick. Messingham has previous experience in the Big 12, spending five years at Iowa State, the last two as offensive coordinator.
Conor Riley was a holdover of the Bison staff when Klieman took over in 2014. He’ll coach the offensive line at K-State. He came to Fargo in 2013 as the tight ends and fullbacks coach under Craig Bohl and then took over the offensive line the following season. Riley has done a masterful job at that position, coaching several All-Americans ranging from Landon Lechler to Zack Johnson to Austin Kuhnert to now Tanner Volson. Riley has developed some under recruited players and turned them into all-conference players. He also has done a good job recruiting, specifically in Nebraska and Missouri. Klieman wanted that and needs that for his new gig.
Joe Klanderman joined the NDSU staff in 2014 after working for 12 years at MSU Mankato. Klanderman will coach the safeties with the Wildcats. Klanderman has developed some solid players in the Bison secondary, to coaching CJ Smith his final two years in Fargo, to turning Jalen Allison into the player he’s become and most notably, Robbie Grimsley, who’s become an All-American safety.
Jason Ray just arrived in Fargo in June and now will be returning to the Big 12. Ray will coach the wide receivers in Manhattan, he is familiar with Kansas State, playing at Missouri from 2003-2007. He also coached at Oklahoma State for two seasons in 2013 and 2014, and while he hasn’t been here a while, the Bison receivers have shown some impressive growth from the start of the season. Notably, Dallas Freeman has had a solid senior season, while young players Christian Watson and Phoenix Sproles have started to show strides late in the season.
What does that mean for Matt Entz? These were likely the spots he imagined were going to open, and a couple of these jobs are prime jobs.
NDSU coaching staff as of December 22nd:
- Matt Entz – Head Coach
- Nick Goeser – Defensive Tackles coach
- Buddha Williams – Defensive Ends coach
- Tyler Roehl – Tight Ends/Fullbacks coach
- Randy Hedberg – Quarterbacks coach
- Kody Morgan – Cornerbacks coach
Open Positions at NDSU:
- Offensive Coordinator
- Defensive Coordinator
- Linebackers coach
- Offensive Line coach
- Wide Receivers coach
- Defensive Backs coach
We’ll update on this as we continue to know more.