Bill Snyder confirms he plans to return as Kansas State coach in 2018
Will he? Won’t he? Well, we have our answer. Bill Snyder announced on Tuesday he plans to return as the head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats for the 2018 season.
In a statement, Snyder said, “As I have stated many times, as long as I remain in good health, am wanted and have a positive impact on the young people in our program, I will continue to be the head coach at Kansas State University. Those factors have not changed, and I look forward to meeting with our players and beginning our out-of-season program when classes resume. I appreciate President (Richard) Myers and (athletic director) Gene Taylor for their continued support of me, our program and our University. They are truly special K-Staters.”
Speculation has been rampant in recent weeks as to what exactly Snyder might decide on his future. He’s currently the nation’s oldest active head coach and will turn 79 next season.
Last offseason, Snyder announced he was dealing with throat cancer, but was healthy enough to be at Big 12 media days in July, although he did look fatigued. He did coach in every game this season. But the year didn’t go as planned, as Kansas State got off to a 3-4 start and dealt with key injuries, including at the quarterback position to Jesse Ertz. The Wildcats closed the season with five wins in six games, capped off with a 35-17 win over UCLA in the Cactus Bowl.
Athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement, “We are excited that Coach Snyder has decided to continue to lead our program and look forward to building off the late-season momentum, which included five wins in our final six games, a Top 10 road win and Cactus Bowl victory. I know he and his staff, in addition to our student-athletes, are anxious to get winter workouts and spring practices underway in preparation for next season.”
Snyder just wrapped up his 26th season as head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats. He turned around one of the worst programs in college football history when he arrived in 1989. He retired in 2005 and return to the sidelines in 2009. Since then, the Wildcats have been to eight-straight bowl games and finished tied for first place in the Big 12 in 2012.
