Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder expected to retire
November 15, 2005
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas State coach Bill Snyder will retire after this season, according to several newspaper reports.
Snyder took over a downtrodden program in 1989 and orchestrated one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history. After winning the Big 12 championship in 2003, the Wildcats have dropped off recently, going 8-13 the last two years.
Snyder, 66, told his players of his decision Monday night, according to reports in newspapers including The Kansas City Star, The Wichita Eagle, The Salina Journal and The Topeka Capital-Journal. All cited sources that were not named.
He was expected to announce his retirement Tuesday. Messages left with Kansas State sports information officials by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.
Snyder went 1-10 in his first season, but his team steadily improved. In 1993, the Wildcats appeared in a bowl game for the second time in school history, defeating Wyoming in the Copper Bowl.
By the late 1990s, with Michael Bishop at quarterback, they were a national championship contender.
Snyder, 135-68-1 at Kansas State, had his team on the brink of playing for a national title in 1998 before Texas A&M upset the previously undefeated Wildcats in the Big 12 championship game. Kansas State then opened 9-0 the following season before being routed at Nebraska in 1999.
The Wildcats made 11 straight bowl appearances before the streak ended last year -- and they won't be eligible this year, either. Kansas State (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) plays its final game of the season Saturday against Missouri.