Life deals everyone a different hand, sometimes unexpected, sometimes unwelcomed. Despite the challenges sent his way, Camden Beebe is making the most of his situation. 

Beebe, a former Kansas State offensive lineman, saw his football journey hit an abrupt conclusion this summer when the sophomore announced his medical retirement and transition to being a student coach.

Thank you for everything K-State family, forever and always a wildcat pic.twitter.com/FeaS68n4Ki

— (@Cbeebe_56) August 19, 2024

The former Piper High School star entered Manhattan as the No. 12 ranked prospect in Kansas’ class of ‘23, joining his older brother Cooper, a consensus All-American, as a Wildcat. 

“When I came here, my goal was to make a name for myself and have people know me as Camden Beebe — not Cooper Beebe’s brother,” he said. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. That’s why I came here.”

“I knew it was going to be the hardest place to make a name for myself, but I’ve always wanted the challenge,” he continued. “Having a different role — is going to be different, but being ‘coach Beebe’ … I think that’s going to be easier to make a name for myself.”

Beebe’s health first came into question roughly one year ago as the Wildcats were preparing for their 2023 season opener. Between lifts and practice, pain in his lower back began to flare up.

“I woke up, and it was just really, really bad,” he said. “… It just kept getting worse and worse and worse. And then the day finally hit me.”

After working relentlessly with the training staff for all of 2023, the conclusion was made that surgery was inevitable. 

“We exhausted all of our options, and surgery was the only thing that was going to give me a fighting chance,” Beebe said. “The doctors told me, ‘The surgery may work, you may have the pain go away, but it might not be enough to play again.’”

“… It’s tough to hear, but I’m just glad that it didn’t get any worse,” he continued. “To be where I’m at right now, it’s been a blessing.”

Though he attempted a comeback this spring, it ultimately became clear Beebe had laced up his cleats for the last time. 

“I had a conversation with coach [Conor] Riley and coach [Chris] Klieman, and they said, ‘Hey, if this doesn’t work out, we’re still going to have you around, have you student coach or help with recruiting,’” he said. 

For Beebe, it was a relief to hear those words and stay on scholarship.

“In the college age, they could have easily said, ‘Hey, sorry, you’re not going to help us on the football field, we just can’t have you here,’” he said. “But that’s not who K-State is … they really wanted me around, they wanted me to learn from them and help in any way possible.”

Riley, the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, said his heart “pours out” for Beebe, but he couldn’t be more proud of him for making the mature decision to change paths. 

“When we had the conversation, we talked about the big picture in life,” Riley said. “… Kids, [and] us as adults, sometimes we can’t see further than three to four inches out in front of our face.”

The goal with the career change is for Beebe to be able to enjoy the rest of his life while experiencing little back pain.

“At the end of the day, I want to live my life, be able to play with my kids in the yard and be able to pick my baby out of the crib,” Beebe said. 

When making the decision, he turned to his father, Tom Beebe, as inspiration for what to do, and not to do. 

“My dad, who has the same back problems, seeing him live day-to-day life, his [problems] are a lot worse than mine,” Beebe said. “Seeing how he lives, it’s something I didn’t want to do.” 

Although he chose to side-step his father’s back problems, Beebe is grateful that his father instilled a love for football in his DNA. 

“I can’t speak for all my brothers … [but] he was the reason we all started playing football,” Beebe said. “He coached all of us through middle school, falling in love with the game and having him there, teaching us how to love the game and play the game properly.”

Seeing the Beebe family’s love for football was a full-circle moment for Tom Beebe as well. 

“When we watch football games on TV, it’s like watching with four coaches,” Tom Beebe said. “The football knowledge … to see them pick that up, you don’t do that unless you really have a love for the game.”

“It really makes me feel great that they love the game as much as I did,” Tom Beebe continued. “And that’s what Camden wants to continue and do. And I think he’ll make a darn good coach.”

Already committing to a coaching career, Camden Beebe has a leg-up on others in the field.

“Being 19 years old and being a student coach at a Division I program, starting out like that, I think I have a massive advantage,” he said. “Watching coach Riley and coach Klieman and how they handle things … it’s going to be a big advantage for me.”

Beebe recalls one of the earliest moments he fell in love with football. Ironically, for someone who “always liked to hit people,” it was an instance when he wasn’t allowed to make contact. 

“It was a flag football game … and this kid took my flag, I got a little aggressive [because] he was playing with my flag,’ Beebe said. “I saw he had it in his hand, so I ran over there, about to hit him, and my mom yells my name from the stands and I immediately stopped.”

Although his mom, Tamara, may not have wanted to see the aggression right then, that’s what made the youngest Beebe stand out to Klieman. 

“Coach Klieman, at one point he told me, ‘We want Camden here and the reason we want him is he plays with an attitude, he plays with an edge,’’’ Tom Beebe said. “[Klieman] said, ‘I don’t ever want him to lose that. That’s what we want.’’’

Now, Beebe channels his energy into the day-to-day operations as a student coach. On game day, he’s coaching from the press box with Riley, who said he’s done a “phenomenal job” adjusting to the new role. 

Although Beebe’s future has changed, he will still be able to make a name for himself, just with a new title: coach Beebe. 

“It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I get to stay around the game. I get to stay around this amazing program, these amazing coaches and these amazing players.”