Kansas State Football: Will Wildcats bounce back in 2019?
By John Scimeca
Kansas State football enters a new world in 2019 after Bill Snyder’s retirement. How will the Wildcats bounce back under former NDSU boss Chris Klieman?
Bill Snyder is hanging up the clipboard. For good this time, we assume.
The Kansas State coaching legend made it official in December 2018 after the Wildcats finished the season with a 5-7 (3-6) record. Hopefully, disappointing finish will not mar the memory of Snyder for many K-State fans: 2018 marked the first time in nine seasons without a bowl appearance for the team.
Snyder inherited a Kansas State squad in 1989 that had finished winless for two seasons in a row and had achieved two winning seasons since 1954 (yes, you read that correctly). Snyder proceeded to take Kansas State to remarkable heights, including two Big 12 titles, nine bowl wins and nine seasons of 10 wins or better, and 215 overall victories. He also collected numerous conference coach of the year and national coach of the year awards.
Snyder was retired from 2006-08, but made a return to the sideline in Manhattan, Kan., where he has been for the last decade.
In to fill the seemingly impossible large shoes is former North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman. His Bison teams were the dominant force of the 2010s at the FCS level, winning four national titles (including the last two in a row).
Klieman will have his work cut out for him in year one. For the Wildcat faithful filling the stands at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, some patience may pay off this fall.