Bill Snyder to return to Kansas State in 2009

Nov 24, 2008 - 4:12 AM MANHATTAN, Kansas (Ticker) -- Kansas State evidently will reach into its past to improve the future of its floundering football program.

Bill Snyder, who guided Kansas State to 11 bowl games in 17 seasons from 1989-2005, will end his retirement to coach the Wildcats for the 2009 campaign, according to multiple reports.

Kansas State declined to comment on the reports. But the school has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. local time Monday morning, when it will "introduce its new football coach."

Snyder, 69, retired in November 2005 after coaching the Wildcats to a 136-68-1 record.

But Kansas State feels compelled to bring back Snyder after going 17-20 under Ron Prince over the last three seasons.

The school announced earlier this month that Prince, who guided the Wildcats to a 5-7 record this year, will not return next season.

Kansas State concluded its campaign Saturday with a 38-30 victory over Iowa State.

Under Snyder, Kansas State earned 11 consecutive bowl berths from 1993-2003.

But after winning the Big 12 Conference in 2003 and reaching the Fiesta Bowl, the Wildcats struggled in their last two seasons under Snyder, going 9-13 over that stretch.

Snyder transformed Kansas State from a perennial bottom-feeder into a serious contender in the Big Eight Conference, which became the Big 12 after merging with four Texas schools in 1996.

Kansas State had played in just two bowl games prior to Snyder's arrival and went a combined 0-21-1 under Stan Parrish from 1987-1988.

But after going 1-10 in his first season in Manhattan, Snyder miraculously turned the abysmal program around, coaching the Wildcats to at least a share of four conference titles, two trips to the Cotton Bowl and two appearances in the Fiesta Bowl.