MANHATTAN, Kan. - New Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman added four of his current North Dakota State coaches to his Kansas State staff on Saturday, the program announced.
The additions are: Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Courtney Messingham, offensive line coach Conor Riley, wide receivers coach Jason Ray and safeties coach Joe Klanderman.
“I am thrilled that Courtney, Conor, Jason and Joe will be joining our staff at K-State,” Klieman said in a release. “Our offensive philosophy at NDSU is similar in schematics to what K-State has been so successful at doing under Coach Snyder, which is a balanced attack built around a power run game and getting our playmakers the ball. Courtney and Jason bring Big 12 experience to the staff, while Conor is one of the top offensive line coaches in the country.
“On defense, I have worked alongside Joe for a long time and have so much respect for him as a coach – he is one of the best secondary coaches in our profession. These guys are all winners and I am excited for them to be Wildcats.”
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Messingham is a 29-year coaching veteran. He served as a coordinator at multiple stops and has coached almost every offensive position.
He has led the NDSU offense the past two seasons. His offenses have ranked in the top-10 nationally in scoring offense in both years.
Messingham has worked at Truman State (1995-98), Missouri State (1999-2002, 2008) and Iowa State (2009-13). He served as Iowa State's offensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.
He helped the program to a school record in touchdown passes in 2012. In that season, the Cyclones set top-5 single-season marks in program history in five different categories.
Riley is finishing his sixth season with the Bison, who have averaged at least 235 rushing yards per game in each of his six years with the program. This season's total is 285.9 rushing yards per game.
His lines have also finished well in fewest sacks allowed. The units ranked 10th nationally in 2016 and are eighth this year.
This season was Ray's only one with North Dakota State. He helped the program rank sixth in scoring offense (41.7 points per game), 10th in passing yards per completion (15.48) and second in passing efficiency (169.72).
Klanderman is a five-year member on Klieman's staff at NDSU. His defensive backs have helped the team rank in the top five in interceptions four times. Last season, the Bison were No. 3 in the category. They're No. 2 right now.
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Newly-hired NDSU head coach Matt Entz now has coaching positions to fill for offensive coordinator, offensive line, wide receivers and defensive backs. Assistants who are still with the Bison are defensive tackles coach Nick Goeser, quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg, cornerbacks coach Kody Morgan, tight ends and fullbacks coach Tyler Roehl and defensive ends coach Buddha Williams.
