MANHATTAN, Kan. – Chris Klieman, a proven winner with a championship pedigree, has been named the 35^th head football coach in Kansas State history, Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced Monday.

Klieman (pronounced KLY-men) has won five conference championships and three national championships in five seasons as the head coach at North Dakota State, and he currently has the Bison in the FCS Semifinals with a perfect 13-0 record prior to taking on South Dakota State in Fargo on Friday night.

Klieman has done all this despite losing 23 seniors and welcoming seven new assistant coaches prior to his first season at NDSU in 2014. That season, the Bison went 15-1 and won the national championship before going 13-2 with another national championship in 2015, 12-2 with a semifinal appearance in 2014 and 14-1 with a third national title last season.

“I’m very excited to have Chris Klieman lead our program,” Taylor said. “He is a perfect fit for us, both from a personal standpoint and as a head coach. He’s a tremendous teacher who I had the pleasure to hire at NDSU and watched him turn into a very successful coach. He will bring a ton of energy and excitement. His teams play extremely hard, disciplined football. He’s a winner. That’s all he does is win, and we’re excited to have Chris, Rhonda and the entire Klieman family join our K-State family. They will be a great fit not only for Kansas State Football and Kansas State Athletics, but also the entire community of Manhattan.”

Klieman has agreed to a six-year contract with a base salary of $2.3 million in 2019 with a $200,000 increase each year.

“This is an absolute dream job,” Klieman, a four-time finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS Coach of the Year, said. “I’m so happy and thrilled to follow a legend in Coach Snyder. I’ve followed him from afar, went to his camps while playing in Waterloo, Iowa, and played against his Kansas State team when I was at Northern Iowa. The opportunity to follow in an icon’s footsteps is something I don’t take for granted and don’t take lightly. I know I have huge shoes to fill, and I’m excited to carry on his legacy. I have prepared my entire life for this opportunity and had great experiences at many institutions, most notably North Dakota State where we’ve had unmatched success over the last eight years. I can’t express how pleased I am and thank President Myers, Gene Taylor and the search committee for trusting in me and handing over the keys to this great program.”

Klieman holds a 70-13 record in his six seasons overall as head coach, including a 67-6 mark at North Dakota State. His 84.3 winning percentage as a head coach is the third-highest mark by an active coach among all NCAA Divisions, while it is the top mark among current FCS coaches by nearly seven percent.

Klieman’s record is even more impressive considering 37 of his 67 wins at North Dakota State (55.2 percent) have come over ranked opponents, while he has two wins in two tries over FBS competition – a 34-14 win at Iowa State in his first game at the helm of NDSU and a 23-21 triumph at 11^th-ranked Iowa in 2016. His teams have also been stellar in protecting home field as evidenced by his 42-3 home record at NDSU, which includes a current 18-game home winning streak.

The Bison have won the Missouri Valley Football Conference each of his five years as head coach and have put together a collective 36-4 (90.0 percent) record against conference foes since 2014. He was named the Bruce Craddock MVFC Coach of the Year in 2017, while he was the 2014 Rawlings Football/American Football Monthly FCS Coach of the Year.

“We’re pleased to welcome Coach Klieman to Kansas State University,” President Richard Myers said. “Athletic Director Gene Taylor conducted a high-quality, thorough search and we are confident Chris puts us in a great position for future success. We look forward to introducing Coach Klieman to the K-State family and know he will receive the tremendous support for which we have become nationally known. This is a great time to be a Wildcat!”

Klieman’s teams have been a model of success, ranking highly in many of the key statistical categories throughout his tenure. The Bison scoring offense has ranked in the top 10 each of the last three seasons – including a current ranking of sixth at 41.5 points per game – while their total offense mark has ranked in the top 20 the last two years with a current clip of 460.0 yards per game to rank 18^th.

Klieman, who came up through the coaching ranks on defense, has always produced on that side of the ball as NDSU currently ranks in the top 15 in scoring defense (2^nd; 11.1), total defense (4^th; 278.8), rushing defense (12^th; 106.6) and passing defense (10^th; 172.2). The Bison have ranked in the top six in scoring and total defense in four of his five seasons as head coach, including a No. 1 national ranking in total defense a year ago (237.4).

Elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach at NDSU on December 15, 2013, Klieman’s defensive units during his two-year run as coordinator each included top-10 rankings in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and passing defense. Highlighting that run were No. 1 rankings in scoring defense in both 2012 and 2013, and total defense in 2012, the latter when he was named the Football Scoop FCS Coordinator of the Year. NDSU also led the nation in scoring defense when he was the defensive backs coach in 2011.

Klieman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Northern Iowa, from 1991-92 before being promoted to an assistant coach in 1993. He went on to Western Illinois as an assistant coach from 1994-96 before serving as a GA at Kansas in 1997 and an assistant coach in 1999.

Kleiman then moved on to Division III Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2002-04 before taking over as head coach for the 2005 season. He returned to Northern Iowa in 2006 as an assistant coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman was a three-time All-Gateway Conference defensive back at Northern Iowa and four-year letterwinner from 1986-90. He graduated from UNI in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s degree in physical education in 1992.

Klieman and his wife, Rhonda, are parents of two sons, Devin and Colby, and one daughter, Haley.

THE CHRIS KLIEMAN FILE

Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa

High School: Columbus Catholic High School

College: Northern Iowa – Bachelor’s degree in health education (1990), master’s in physical education (1992)

Family: Wife: Rhonda; Children: Devin, Colby, Haley

Playing Career: Northern Iowa (defensive back), 1986-90

CHRIS KLIEMAN COACHING CAREER

1991-92, Northern Iowa (Graduate Assistant)

1993, Northern Iowa (Assistant Coach)

1994-96, Western Illinois (Assistant Coach)

1997, Kansas (Graduate Assistant)

1999, Missouri State (Assistant Coach)

2002-2004, Loras College (Defensive Coordinator)

2005, Loras College (Head Coach)

2006-07, Northern Iowa (Assistant Coach)

2008, Northern Iowa (Co-Defensive Coordinator)

2009-10, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)

2011, North Dakota State (Assistant Coach)

2012-13, North Dakota State (Defensive Coordinator)

2014-2018, North Dakota State (Head Coach)

– k-statesports.com –

RYAN LACKEY
Director of Football and Golf Communications | K-State Athletics

The Geary Community Healthcare Foundation Holiday Glitz on Saturday night raised $64,143.51 to benefit renovation of Suites 101 and 102 at the Geary Community Hospital Medical Arts Building I. The space is being renovated for orthopedic clinic use. A total of 195 people attended the Glitz.

During the event there was a toast to celebrate the 23 years of service to the Foundation by Jolana Montgomery-Matney. She is retiring April 1, 2019.

The total net proceeds from 28 years of the Holiday Glitz are over one million dollars, which has benefited Geary Community Hospital.

During this year’s event Healthcare Foundation board member Allen Dinkel conducted a live auction that raised $21,700. Centerpieces were auctioned off, which added $2,400 to the total, and the Mainstreet dance band performed.

Members of the committee that worked to put on the Holiday Glitz included Laura Cain, Jennifer Craft, Nikki Davies, Susan Doughty, Patti Schoenrock, Meghan Schoenrock, Marilyn Smith, Peggy Stratton, Sharolyn Adams and Jolana Montgomery-Matney.

Junction City community members and participants in the Adopt A Soldier program gathered on Saturday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House to celebrate the Adopt a Soldier program that has matched local host families with Soldiers that are new to the U.S. Army and Fort RIley.

According to the local founder of the program, Phyllis Fitzgerald, 110 Soldiers have been matched in the program with 50 host families. She stated the intent is to match a new Soldier with a family willing to spend some time with them. “Maybe be a mentor, or friend, maybe get them outside the gates of Fort Riley, get them in our community, get them involved.”

Fitzgerald noted the program involves families not only in Junction City and Geary County but in other communities in the Flint Hills.

Senator Jerry Moran attended the event on Saturday. He said it’s inspiring. ” It’s nothing that is a surprise to me about Junction City and about the Flint Hills, nothing that is a surprise about Kansans. But this community in particular has always greeted the Soldiers at Fort Riley with open arms, with love and care and compassion.” After hearing the stories and experiences told by Soldiers and families in the program Moran noted, It’s always inspiring to hear how good people are.”

There were multiple stories about how often the Soldiers and families form long-term friendships through the Adopt a Soldier program.

For the second consecutive year residents in Junction City enjoyed a Hometown Christmas celebration.  Event on Friday ranged from Grinch themed activities at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library to Christmas caroling, musical performances at the C.L. Hoover Opera House, carriage rides and the arrival of Santa Claus at the Bartell House.

( Photos from Phyllis Fitzgerald’s Facebook page.)

The Geary County Public Health Department has been notified about the award of an Opioid Overdose Crisis Response Cooperative Agreement from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This project will augment Central Kansas Foundation efforts in substance abuse treatment by adding emphasis to policy and Geary County agencies and providers.

Health Department representative Dani Holliday stated the grant will total $62,155. ” It is predominantly to assist with the development of policies and protocols that will aid our local health system in responding to opioid overdoses and underlying substance abuse problems. ”

The project will include with community partners including Geary Community Hospital, Central Kansas Foundation, USD 475, Fort Riley and Irwin Army Community Hospital and the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation.

Geary Community Hospital will work on the establishment of policies, programming and training to facilitate the implementation of screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for those with a suspected substance and / or opioid use disorder, or those at risk of an overdose.

Training for healthcare providers in Geary County will include safe prescribing practices for pain control as well as referral to treatment for any underlying use disorders. Community training with USD 475 and Early Childhood Educators will focus on identification and prevention of adverse childhood experiences and building personal and community resiliency. The Health Department will develop public awareness campaigns together with all the community partners.

This funding will enable the local healthcare system to better understand the opioid epidemic and scale up prevention efforts. The project will expand local capacity to address opioid misuse and misuse and overdose and improve community awareness of the opioid crisis.

The grant funding has not yet been received, but Holiday noted that they have been informed that they should be ready to proceed with the nine-month project beginning January 1st, 2019.

A Junction City woman has pleaded guilty in Geary County District Court to conspiracy to commit murder and a related drug crime. according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Amanda Lynn Edison, 34, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree and one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. The crimes occurred between May and August.

The pleas were accepted in District Court. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Junction City Police Department and the Grandview Plaza Police Department.

David McGehee says he is a student-centered leader.

The third finalist candidate for the Geary USD 475 Superintendent of Schools position responded to questions from the public during a Thursday evening forum at Junction City Middle School.

McGehee said he has utilized concepts of professional learning communities in his last two districts to develop a culture that’s student centered. ” I can tell you in that in visiting your schools you have a student-centered culture. You’re doing a lot with supports. You are focusing on the needs of each student.”

He stated he is a midwesterner and wanted to return to school leadership in the midwest. Most recently he has been serving as an educational consultant for schools. Before that he served as superintendent of three districts in Missouri.

McGehee noted he believes his supporting building principals and staff should be supportive. He indicated he would be doing a lot of listening and needed to make sure he was out in the schools and classrooms, if hired to serve as the superintendent.

On school security McGehee commended USD 475 training that has occurred in the schools. School officials and students are training how to respond, for example, if an active shooter enters a school  building.

By Dewey Terrill

jc post

The second of three finalists for the superintendent’s job in Geary USD 475, Dr. Paul Gordon, answered questions from the public during a forum Wednesday evening at Junction City Middle School.

Gordon said he is a standards based person but there is great value for educators to learn from one another. He noted when everybody is doing something different it’s hard to be on the same team. “So I’m a big believer in consistencies, especially when you think about some of the transitional nature of some of our students in their lives. We need to be really cognizant of that and making sure that we have that consistency there for our students.”

Shootings have occurred in different schools across the country in recent years. Gordon made it clear he does not favor arming teachers or staff to help deal with that type of crisis. “I don’t believe in it. It makes no sense to me that I would ask a teacher to carry a gun.”

Gordon believes in policy governance, and there are certain things that the Board of Education is responsible for. “Holding up that vision, holding up the policies that support this district, really making sure that they’re ones voting on the budget, that they’re the ones signing off on the personnel. ” Gordon added he also believes in staff work and there’s a line separating Board and staff work. “I’m not somebody who micromanages my employees because I believe in people.”

Gordon stated he doesn’t micromanage so he doesn’t want to be micromanaged. He wants to be held to standards and outcomes.”I’ll achieve those standards and outcomes. Board has one employee, that’s the superintendent. It’s really important there’s only one employee for the board. Not hundreds, not principals, not teachers, not custodians. They have one employee and if I’m fortunate enough it’s me. ”

Gordon added he’s a true process person and if the Board stays at the governance level and his cabinet brings recommendations to the them he’s okay with the board saying yes or no. “Any board that I’m a part of we will bring our best, most thoughtful recommendations to them.” He stated there’s a clear delineation between his work and the work done by the school board. “The board has huge responsibilities and that’s enough to keep them engaged. They have to trust that their one employee is doing the work with everybody else in the organization.”

The third finalist, Dr. David McGeHee will meet with the public from 5:30 to 6:30 this evening at Junction City Middle School.

By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The first of three finalists for the superintendent’s position in Geary USD 475, Dr. Reginald Eggleston, met with the public Tuesday evening at Junction City Middle School.

A superintendent has many responsibilities. Eggleston was asked how he would engage with individual schools, staff, families and students. He responded by saying he has to be visible and in the schools. “My last position in Mobile ( Alabama ), I was an area superintendent. I supervised 29 schools and evaluated all 29 principals. I was in all of my schools at least once a month. And the reason why I was in there is because when people say things about the school the only way I’m going to know it’s true or not is that I’ve been in the school.”

Eggleston wants to put a focus on all students. He wants to bring collaboration to the process. “Will allow all of the members of the community to be involved. I think we have to be concerned with the military community because based on what I’ve read 60% of our students have some association to the military. But we also want to make sure that the 40% of students who live here in Junction City and the surrounding area feel that they are a part of the district and that they have a voice as well.”

The second of three finalists for the superintendent’s position, Dr. Paul Gordon,  will meet the public Wednesday night and respond to questions from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Junction City Middle School.