Kansas State announces Snyder as new football coach
Associated Press
Nov. 24, 2008, 11:55AM
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<!-- end floating resource box -->MANHATTAN, Kan. — Bill Snyder is back at Kansas State.
Snyder, who turned one of college football’s biggest losers into winners before retiring three years ago, replaces Ron Prince, who was fired with three games left but finished out the season.
Snyder revitalized K-State’s football program in what has been called “the Miracle in Manhattan.” He left with a 136-68-1 record and was replaced by Prince.
At a news conference, the 69-year-old Snyder said he decided to come back to “calm the waters” and restore harmony to the “Kansas State family.”
He said that soon after retiring, he began to regret the decision.
Snyder described Prince as a “good, good, good man,” but declined to comment on the current state of the program.
At the start of news conference, Snyder chided the media for disclosing his decision Sunday night, before he could call his friends with the news.
“I think that’s sad, and also disrespectful,” he said.
Snyder was the offensive coordinator at Iowa when he was hired after the 1988 season. The Wildcats had gone 0-21-1 their two previous years and many people were wondering if the school ought to give up major college football status.
The Wildcats had a record of 299-510, the only major college with 500 losses. They had won one conference title — in 1934 — and enjoyed only two winning seasons in 34 years.
But by 1997, Snyder had the Wildcats contending for national as well as Big 12 honors. As one long-suffering fan put it at the time, “It’s like we’re a big extended family that’s been living in poverty for generations, but now we’ve got a smart uncle who’s making us all rich.”
When Snyder retired as the most revered figure in the school’s athletic history, the stadium was renamed “Bill Snyder Family Stadium,” and the highway leading from Interstate 70 into Manhattan was renamed “Bill Snyder Highway.”
Prince, who replaced Snyder after the 2005 season, was 17-20 and beaten down by the same disadvantages that have plagued Kansas State for decades: no major population within a short distance to recruit from, little tradition and less money than more richly endowed institutions.
In a profession known for sleep-deprived workaholics, Snyder’s nearly inhuman devotion to his work became legendary. During his tenure as head coach, one of sons, Ross, was recruited by several smaller schools in the area as a running back.
On national signing day, Ross decided to attend Butler County Community College. A reporter who knew the family approached Snyder following Kansas State’s recruiting news conference that day and remarked that he thought Ross had made a good choice.
“Who did he sign with?” Snyder asked. He had been so wrapped up in Kansas State’s recruiting, he hadn’t yet learned where his son was going to school.
Another key reason for Snyder’s success was his eye for coaching talent. Among the young assistants he brought to Kansas State who went on to become head coaches were Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, Mark Mangino at Kansas, Jim Leavitt at South Florida and Mike Stoops at Arizona.
His first Kansas State team won only one game, beating North Texas with a last-minute drive. The next year they were 5-6, matching their best record in 17 years. In 1993, they won the Copper Bowl and began a string of 11 consecutive bowl trips.
In 2003, the Wildcats beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game for their only league title since 1934.
Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer told The Associated Press when Snyder retired that he considered what Snyder had done at Kansas State “the greatest coaching job in history.”
Associated Press
Nov. 24, 2008, 11:55AM
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<!-- end floating resource box -->MANHATTAN, Kan. — Bill Snyder is back at Kansas State.
Snyder, who turned one of college football’s biggest losers into winners before retiring three years ago, replaces Ron Prince, who was fired with three games left but finished out the season.
Snyder revitalized K-State’s football program in what has been called “the Miracle in Manhattan.” He left with a 136-68-1 record and was replaced by Prince.
At a news conference, the 69-year-old Snyder said he decided to come back to “calm the waters” and restore harmony to the “Kansas State family.”
He said that soon after retiring, he began to regret the decision.
Snyder described Prince as a “good, good, good man,” but declined to comment on the current state of the program.
At the start of news conference, Snyder chided the media for disclosing his decision Sunday night, before he could call his friends with the news.
“I think that’s sad, and also disrespectful,” he said.
Snyder was the offensive coordinator at Iowa when he was hired after the 1988 season. The Wildcats had gone 0-21-1 their two previous years and many people were wondering if the school ought to give up major college football status.
The Wildcats had a record of 299-510, the only major college with 500 losses. They had won one conference title — in 1934 — and enjoyed only two winning seasons in 34 years.
But by 1997, Snyder had the Wildcats contending for national as well as Big 12 honors. As one long-suffering fan put it at the time, “It’s like we’re a big extended family that’s been living in poverty for generations, but now we’ve got a smart uncle who’s making us all rich.”
When Snyder retired as the most revered figure in the school’s athletic history, the stadium was renamed “Bill Snyder Family Stadium,” and the highway leading from Interstate 70 into Manhattan was renamed “Bill Snyder Highway.”
Prince, who replaced Snyder after the 2005 season, was 17-20 and beaten down by the same disadvantages that have plagued Kansas State for decades: no major population within a short distance to recruit from, little tradition and less money than more richly endowed institutions.
In a profession known for sleep-deprived workaholics, Snyder’s nearly inhuman devotion to his work became legendary. During his tenure as head coach, one of sons, Ross, was recruited by several smaller schools in the area as a running back.
On national signing day, Ross decided to attend Butler County Community College. A reporter who knew the family approached Snyder following Kansas State’s recruiting news conference that day and remarked that he thought Ross had made a good choice.
“Who did he sign with?” Snyder asked. He had been so wrapped up in Kansas State’s recruiting, he hadn’t yet learned where his son was going to school.
Another key reason for Snyder’s success was his eye for coaching talent. Among the young assistants he brought to Kansas State who went on to become head coaches were Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, Mark Mangino at Kansas, Jim Leavitt at South Florida and Mike Stoops at Arizona.
His first Kansas State team won only one game, beating North Texas with a last-minute drive. The next year they were 5-6, matching their best record in 17 years. In 1993, they won the Copper Bowl and began a string of 11 consecutive bowl trips.
In 2003, the Wildcats beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game for their only league title since 1934.
Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer told The Associated Press when Snyder retired that he considered what Snyder had done at Kansas State “the greatest coaching job in history.”
