MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Kansas State women’s golf coach Kristi Knight, who has guided the Wildcats since the fall of 1995, announced Friday that she will step away from her position to pursue other professional opportunities.
“I’m so thankful for my time at K-State and have enjoyed it so much, but it is time for something new for myself and for the program,” Knight said. “I’ve worked with a lot of great people during my tenure. I appreciate Max Urick for giving me the opportunity in 1995, and I have worked for many great athletic directors after Max in Tim Weiser, John Currie and Gene Taylor. Additionally, I appreciate the athletics staff that has had an impact on our program, including Casey Scott, Jamie Hamor and Mindy Hoffman.
“There are a lot of great people at K-State, which is the reason why I’ve stayed for as long as I have,” Knight continued. “I am thankful for all the players I have had the opportunity to coach and for our current associate head coach Jared Helin; he is a great coach and a great person. This is a really special place, and I will always help K-State in any way I can.”
All five program appearances in NCAA Regionals (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2017) and four individual berths have come with Knight at the helm. During her tenure, K-State accumulated 71 top-five team finishes, including 47 in the top three and 13 wins. Each of the school’s top-25 team and individual rounds, as well as team and individual 54-hole scores, have come under Knight in addition to the entire top-10 list of team stroke average, highlighted by a school-record 297.30 mark in 2014-15.
“We are indebted to Coach Knight for her many years of dedication to K-State and the women’s golf program,” athletics director Gene Taylor said. “She has helped countless student-athletes over her 28 seasons become not only better golfers but exceptional young women in the classroom and in life, and we wish her nothing but the best. She has poured so much into this program for nearly three decades, providing a wonderful and enticing opportunity for the next head coach.”
Knight also saw K-State women’s golfers accumulate 93 Academic All-Big 12 designations during her tenure in addition to 12 citations to the Women’s Golf Coach Association All-Scholars Team. Knight coached Christine Boucher to three All-Big 12 accolades – including the Big 12 Women’s Golfer of the Year in 2003-04 – while Connie Jaffrey also picked up All-Big 12 honors in 2017-18.
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
