Kansas State honoring late Dana Dimel with helmet sticker in Rate Bowl

The Kansas State football team is honoring former Wildcats player and assistant coach Dana Dimel during the Rate Bowl against Rutgers on Thursday, the program has announced. Kansas State is putting a helmet sticker with the initials DD on its helmets.

Dana Dimel played at Kansas State from 1984-86, earning All-American honors. He died earlier this month at the age of 62. You can see the helmet stickers Kansas State is honoring him with below:

Rate Bowl Ready @RateBowl

+ an addition to honor the late Coach Dimel pic.twitter.com/V3DRKdCHVv

— K-State Football (@KStateFB) December 26, 2024

In addition to playing and coaching at Kansas State, Dana Dimel was on staff at Illinois during the 2024 season, serving as the Senior Offensive Assistant for the Illini.

He was also previously the head coach at Wyoming, Houston and UTEP. He was an assistant at Kansas State and Arizona.

Following his college football playing career, Dimel spent a season with the Minnesota Vikings. He then got into coaching, starting his coaching career at Kansas State.

“Obviously, we are very saddened by the passing of Dana. He was a special friend and coaching companion,” former Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder said in a statement after Dana Dimel passed away. “I admired his passion for helping his players and fellow coaches. He was a big part of the development of the Kansas State football program, and along with his wife Julie, very meaningful in the Manhattan community.”

Current Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman also released a statement after Dimel died.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dimel family during this difficult time,” Klieman said. “Dana not only had a big impact on K-State Football but more importantly the lives of the players, coaches and staff he interacted with daily – some of which are still in our program today.”

It is clear that Dimel impacted a lot of people during his life, and it is great to see Kansas State honoring him during its bowl game on Thursday.

Dimel also had a large impact on the Illinois football team, as head coach Bret Bielema explained after Dimel’s death.

“Today is a difficult day for college football and our Illini famILLy,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said in a statement. “Dana was an exceptional person, husband, father, friend, and football coach. He affected the lives of countless coaches, players, and staff members for more than three decades in college football.

“His influence on our program was incredible to witness and be a part of. His infectious positive energy had a major impact on me, our players, and everyone in our building every day. He will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.”