Kansas State University Athletics
‘It’s Something Special to Be Part Of’
Apr 24, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
It's Friday at 8:36 a.m., as Dimitri Donald sits in his black office chair behind a long wood L-shaped desk and begins to talk inside his office on the third floor of the Vanier Family Football Complex. There's nothing on his walls except for a TV. There's a Collin Klein Sports Illustrated and a Deuce Vaughn game program propped on top of a cabinet. There are two black leather chairs on a sea of gray carpet. Upon his desk is a large binder. Upon the white cover is purple lettering that reads: "K-STATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING."
"We have kids on campus," he says. "It's been pretty good. Things are moving fast."
How fast?
He grins.
"One-hundred miles per hour."
It's the two-week anniversary since THE 30-year-old Donald received the fateful phone call from Kansas State director of roster management Clint Brown that he had been hired as director of scouting for the football program, his first appointment at the FBS level. There was a familiarity in Brown's voice. Donald spent the 2021 season coaching tight ends while working alongside Brown at Abilene Christian.
He then moved on to Central Oklahoma as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, helping organize all official visits, managing coaches' travel during evaluation periods, serving as the camp coordinator and also recruiting the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas in addition to the Houston area.
"It's always been a dream to be a part of a program at this level," Donald says. "To finally get that chance, I'm just thrilled and excited. Kansas State football, obviously, is a well-known program. It's something special to be part of."
He adds: I would've never thought in a million years I'd end up in Manhattan, Kansas, but it's been amazing."
"My job description? I do a little bit of everything," he says. "Right now, I'm managing transfers, and kids come on campus, and I work directly with our recruiting staff and find and evaluate kids. Basically, I'm trying to make the recruiting process as easy as possible for the full-time coaches."
Donald has been in Manhattan since April 7. Already he knows what makes K-State football tick in the eyes of recruits.
"Coach Klieman does a really good job having a family environment and making everyone feel valued," he says. "As a recruit, you're leaving home and want to go somewhere where you're not another number. That's something we have to offer.
"The biggest thing in today's work is just trying to get kids to see the long-term goal. A lot of times kids want things now. It's about just trying to teach them to be patient and your time will come. That's the biggest challenge."
Donald has experienced life in a recruit's shoes. As a senior at Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas, Donald racked up 1,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, earning all-state accolades. He gained interest from Army, Navy and Air Force, and was offered a walk-on spot by Sam Houston State, but Donald opted to stay in state and secured a scholarship at West Texas A&M.
A two-year team captain, he played in 30 games with nine starts as a wide receiver and caught 20 balls for 196 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 192 yards, and one punt for 27 yards in his West Texas A&M career (2011-15). He earned a degree in accounting.
"The accounting degree was tough," he says. "At first, I thought I wanted to do people's taxes for a living and work in the business world. When I graduated, I did it for two years and wasn't happy. I decided to go the coaching route and it's been a great decision."
Donald began his coaching career at Harding (2017-18), then Georgia Southern (2018-21) before going to Abilene Christian (2021). Then he went to UCO for two seasons.
"In high school, my coach told me I could be a coach," Donald says. "I told him he was crazy."
He chuckles.
"UCO is a Division II school with limited staff, so I planned gameday visits and coaches' travel and official visits, junior days, camps — I did a little bit of all of that," he says. "It was a great experience. It was a little overwhelming, but I had a great staff. That experience helped widen my net for more things I could do."
What excites Donald most about recruiting?
"Just the relationships you build with kids," he says. "Obviously, you always want to sign your top guys, but in this profession it's unrealistic. You try hard but at the end of the day building those relationships with the kids, then signing them and being able to see them develop in four years is something that most excites me."
It's 8:58 a.m., as Donald leaves his office, takes the elevator downstairs, and reaches the lobby, which echoes with voices. The recruits have arrived at the Vanier Family Football Complex.
Donald smiles.
It's time to get to work.
It's Friday at 8:36 a.m., as Dimitri Donald sits in his black office chair behind a long wood L-shaped desk and begins to talk inside his office on the third floor of the Vanier Family Football Complex. There's nothing on his walls except for a TV. There's a Collin Klein Sports Illustrated and a Deuce Vaughn game program propped on top of a cabinet. There are two black leather chairs on a sea of gray carpet. Upon his desk is a large binder. Upon the white cover is purple lettering that reads: "K-STATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING."
"We have kids on campus," he says. "It's been pretty good. Things are moving fast."
How fast?
He grins.
"One-hundred miles per hour."
It's the two-week anniversary since THE 30-year-old Donald received the fateful phone call from Kansas State director of roster management Clint Brown that he had been hired as director of scouting for the football program, his first appointment at the FBS level. There was a familiarity in Brown's voice. Donald spent the 2021 season coaching tight ends while working alongside Brown at Abilene Christian.
He then moved on to Central Oklahoma as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, helping organize all official visits, managing coaches' travel during evaluation periods, serving as the camp coordinator and also recruiting the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas in addition to the Houston area.
"It's always been a dream to be a part of a program at this level," Donald says. "To finally get that chance, I'm just thrilled and excited. Kansas State football, obviously, is a well-known program. It's something special to be part of."
He adds: I would've never thought in a million years I'd end up in Manhattan, Kansas, but it's been amazing."
This is busy season for Donald, who is pressed for time — he's helping host football recruits at 9 a.m. — but offers a contagious energy and wide grin while telling stories of his youth and the path that steered him to the Little Apple."Excited to be joining the @KStateFB staff as the Director of Scouting 🤝🏾👌🏾#EMAW " pic.twitter.com/rVCqiIlLrl
— Dimitri Donald™ (@_CoachDonald) April 16, 2024
"My job description? I do a little bit of everything," he says. "Right now, I'm managing transfers, and kids come on campus, and I work directly with our recruiting staff and find and evaluate kids. Basically, I'm trying to make the recruiting process as easy as possible for the full-time coaches."
Donald has been in Manhattan since April 7. Already he knows what makes K-State football tick in the eyes of recruits.
"Coach Klieman does a really good job having a family environment and making everyone feel valued," he says. "As a recruit, you're leaving home and want to go somewhere where you're not another number. That's something we have to offer.
"The biggest thing in today's work is just trying to get kids to see the long-term goal. A lot of times kids want things now. It's about just trying to teach them to be patient and your time will come. That's the biggest challenge."
Donald has experienced life in a recruit's shoes. As a senior at Clear Springs High School in League City, Texas, Donald racked up 1,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, earning all-state accolades. He gained interest from Army, Navy and Air Force, and was offered a walk-on spot by Sam Houston State, but Donald opted to stay in state and secured a scholarship at West Texas A&M.
A two-year team captain, he played in 30 games with nine starts as a wide receiver and caught 20 balls for 196 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 192 yards, and one punt for 27 yards in his West Texas A&M career (2011-15). He earned a degree in accounting.
"The accounting degree was tough," he says. "At first, I thought I wanted to do people's taxes for a living and work in the business world. When I graduated, I did it for two years and wasn't happy. I decided to go the coaching route and it's been a great decision."
Donald began his coaching career at Harding (2017-18), then Georgia Southern (2018-21) before going to Abilene Christian (2021). Then he went to UCO for two seasons.
"In high school, my coach told me I could be a coach," Donald says. "I told him he was crazy."
He chuckles.
"UCO is a Division II school with limited staff, so I planned gameday visits and coaches' travel and official visits, junior days, camps — I did a little bit of all of that," he says. "It was a great experience. It was a little overwhelming, but I had a great staff. That experience helped widen my net for more things I could do."
What excites Donald most about recruiting?
"Just the relationships you build with kids," he says. "Obviously, you always want to sign your top guys, but in this profession it's unrealistic. You try hard but at the end of the day building those relationships with the kids, then signing them and being able to see them develop in four years is something that most excites me."
It's 8:58 a.m., as Donald leaves his office, takes the elevator downstairs, and reaches the lobby, which echoes with voices. The recruits have arrived at the Vanier Family Football Complex.
Donald smiles.
It's time to get to work.
K-State Men's Basketball | Cat Q's - Nate Johnson and Marcus Johnson
Friday, October 03
K-State Football | Pregame Hype vs Baylor
Friday, October 03
K-State Athletics | Ask the A.D. with Gene Taylor - Oct. 2, 2025
Thursday, October 02
K-State Football | Matt Wells Press Conference - Oct. 2, 2025
Thursday, October 02