Bill Snyder stepping down at Kansas State

[Huckleberry]

Heavy rumor is that Brent Venables is the likely successor.

Venables is an alum and former coach at KSU. He's a fantastic recruiter and a hard worker. With all of these things going for him, I think he can turn the Wildcats into a 7-5/8-4 type program.

Other thoughts?

edit - By the way, word is that Jim Leavitt of South Florida is also being considered.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well, I would have begged you to consider making an offer to Chan Gailey, alas I read this morning that he's getting a contract extension.

[albionmoonlight]

edit - By the way, word is that Jim Leavitt of South Florida is also being considered.
Would that really be a move up for Leavitt? South Florida seems like a much more fertile recuiting ground than Kansas.

[MikeVick7]

I think he stepped down because he couldn't take anymore ugly games like the one that Kansas St and Nebraska played this weekend.

[panerd]

Damn. Mizzou really needs to beat them this weekend for a shot at a good bowl. I hope this doesn't turn into a "Win the final game for Coach Snyder" 72-0 blowout.

(I also always hoped that when we decided to get rid of Pinkel that we might be able to get Venables. Looks like this hurts on two fronts)

[Passacaglia]

There's a Kansas State now?

[the_meanstrosity]

Whoever takes the KSU head coaching position will have a tough job in front of them. There isn't a lot of talent in place and the location isn't great for recruiting. KSU needs a big name hire if they want to get out of the Big 12 basement.

[Klinglerware]

Whoever takes the KSU head coaching position will have a tough job in front of them. There isn't a lot of talent in place and the location isn't great for recruiting. KSU needs a big name hire if they want to get out of the Big 12 basement.

Agreed. Snyder built the program on JUCO recruiting and soft scheduling. I'm not knocking the approach, he did very well. But when they tried to step it up and take the program to "the next level", the previous approach was difficult to sustain.

Again, Snyder did well with what he had--but I'm not sure if KSU can really build on their 90s successes...

[the_meanstrosity]

Klinglerware,

The JUCO route worked incredibly well for KSU because they were able to take some of the students that other schools couldn't take. Now that graduation rates are being tied into scholarships, it's going to be a tougher avenue to take plus the JUCO ranks are being used now more than ever thanks to players leaving early for the NFL. They can build a winner at KSU, but it's going to take a name coach and an excellent coaching staff. One of the big reasons for KSU's recent fall is due to the coaching staff leaving for other schools. It's not as if Snyder suddenly became a poor coach and that's why KSU has struggled in recent years. KSU has some quality football facilities, but they really need to hit a home run with this hire.

[VPI97]

Would that really be a move up for Leavitt? South Florida seems like a much more fertile recuiting ground than Kansas.Exactly...plus it's a lot easier to have success in the Big East than it is in the Big 12.

[BishopMVP]

There is only one Michael Bishop, and his college eligibility is no more.

[sterlingice]

Man, I did not see that coming. Guess I know what Kietzman's show will be about today.

That said, man, what a career. Sure, he played a fluffy schedule but, frankly, a ton of teams do and no one ever got the crap they did (I didn't see anyone saying anything about that Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss, Utah State gauntlet that Alabama played this year). And he turned a team that averaged 1 win a year and was the single worst team in Div I college football into a powerhouse.

SI

[Klinglerware]

Klinglerware,

The JUCO route worked incredibly well for KSU because they were able to take some of the students that other schools couldn't take. Now that graduation rates are being tied into scholarships, it's going to be a tougher avenue to take plus the JUCO ranks are being used now more than ever thanks to players leaving early for the NFL. They can build a winner at KSU, but it's going to take a name coach and an excellent coaching staff. One of the big reasons for KSU's recent fall is due to the coaching staff leaving for other schools. It's not as if Snyder suddenly became a poor coach and that's why KSU has struggled in recent years. KSU has some quality football facilities, but they really need to hit a home run with this hire.

Again, I'm not knocking Snyder--he took the best approach to build his program in the quickest possible manner.

I agree that K-State can have reasonable success, but they are constrained by some of the factors you mentioned (recruiting base, etc.). Of course, other schools in the league operate under the same constraints, so perhaps a name coach may help KSU break through the clutter...

[duckman]

Looks like K-State has found their coach:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2246151

UVa's Prince to be named K-State coach

<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>ESPN.com news services

Barring any last-minute roadblocks, Virginia offensive coordinator Ron Prince will be named the next head coach of Kansas State, sources have told ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel and ESPN's Joe Schad.


"It's going to happen for him," a source with knowledge of the negotiations told Maisel.


Prince, a native of Kansas, is expected to be introduced as early as Monday.




Prince has no connection with Bill Snyder, the legend who over the course of his 17-year career changed the Wildcats from a doormat into a national power. The man assumed to be the top candidate, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, was not interviewed by Kansas State.



Leavitt, a former Kansas State assistant, agreed Tuesday to a contract extension that will keep him at South Florida through 2012.



Prince, 36, has coached the Cavaliers' offensive line for five seasons. He developed two All-Americans last season, guard Elton Brown and tight end Heath Miller. This season, Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson has been touted by Mel Kiper as a possible first pick in the 2006 NFL draft.



He would become the fourth African-American coach in Division I-A.

Prince played at Dodge City Community College in Kansas for two seasons before moving on to I-AA Appalachian State.