Quotes on Coach Snyder

The college football world has shown its appreciation for the architect of the greatest turnaround in college football history. Keep checking this page for quotes from prominent figures showing their gratitude toward Bill Snyder.

Frank Beamer, Former Virginia Tech Head Coach
"Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay Bill Snyder is that he was unparalleled as a teacher of young men. As the son of a teacher myself, I've always admired and appreciated those individuals blessed with the patience and wisdom to help their students learn, grow and develop into leaders in their own right. The litany of Coach Snyder's former players who have gone on to great success as coaches and in other professions is a testament to the values they learned in his program at Kansas State.

"I always felt like Bill Snyder and his teams earned every yard, every victory and every championship. The work ethic that Bill's mother instilled in him was unquestionably reflected in the personality of his football teams.

"As the head coach of a fellow land grant school myself, I frequently looked to Bill Snyder and Kansas State as an example of how it could be done the right way. And if you were ever looking for a new wrinkle in any phase of the game – offense, defense or special teams – Bill was always finding innovative new ways to give his teams an opportunity to win. What a lasting impact Bill Snyder made on college football and the coaching profession!"

Mack Brown, North Carolina Head Coach
"Bill Snyder will always be remembered as one of the greatest program builders college football has ever seen. What he did in turning around the fortunes at Kansas State is unprecedented and his accomplishments are well-documented. But Coach Snyder's career extends well beyond that. The impact he's had on the enormous number of players and coaches who have played for or worked with him in his 50-plus years of coaching is immense. For me, he was a person I always looked up to and admired, a man I leaned on regularly for thoughts and advice, and he will always be a dear friend. I'm so lucky to have him in my life, and he may be retiring, but he'll never be far away from the many friends and family he has in our great game."

Matt Campbell, Iowa State Head Coach
"The respect that I have for Coach Snyder and his ability to build a program and sustain it is second to none. You can tell his fingerprints is all over the Kansas State program because they've sustained success over the long haul and I think that's my admiration for what he's built and how he's done it. It's amazing how successful he was for such a long period of time. He is giant in our profession and I wish him nothing but the best as he closes out his Hall of Fame career."

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Head Coach
"I took my first full time coaching job at Iowa in 1981 and Bill was our offensive coordinator. It was a magical time in Iowa football history and I was fortunate to work closely with such an outstanding coach the next eight years.

"I had my doubts when Bill accepted the Kansas State job, but his thorough knowledge of the game and of people coupled with an extremely strong will, he has accomplish what most sound football people said would be impossible. Bill is meticulous in all that he does and has a determination to reach his goals that is rare; as a result, he leaves a lasting legacy.

"I am very appreciative of the eight years we worked together and very happy for the unparalleled success he created and experienced at Kansas State – he has earned every bit of it."

Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech Head Coach
"As a young football fan growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I grew up following all the great rivalries in the Big Eight. Eventually I attended the University of Oklahoma where I got my first taste of what it was like facing a Kansas State football team prepared and coached by Bill Snyder. Years later, as I entered the coaching profession myself, I gained an even greater respect and appreciation for Coach Snyder as K-State became an annual contender in the Big 12 and started beating some of those programs I grew up watching as a kid.

"I think all of us in the coaching profession have admired what he built at Kansas State and what a fabulous asset he's been to the game of football. Congrats to Coach Snyder on his retirement and an exemplary career."

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Head Coach
"Coach Snyder is an all-time great. He is legendary, and he is a master of helping young men and teams reach their maximum potential. He will be missed, and I wish only the best for him in retirement."

Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN
"We knew this day would eventually come, and it's a sad day because Bill Snyder is Kansas State Football. No matter who becomes the next head coach, they will have to deal with that weight because he's an icon. He will forever be a legend and forever be remembered and respected in the college football community for what he was able to build in Manhattan, Kansas. I think back to Michael Bishop, Darren Sproles and so many of those great teams. Even the great teams they had that didn't necessarily have great talent, they were just so well coached and always showed up."

Tom Herman, Texas Head Coach
"Bill Snyder is a man that all of us in the coaching profession look up to and have great admiration for. I count myself as one of the lucky ones who's had the opportunity to get to know him and be blessed with his knowledge and wisdom. I know I feel like I learn something every time I talk with him or when I watched his team play. What he did in building the Kansas State program was truly amazing and will forever make him a legend and an icon in our industry. College football will have a huge void without him, but I wish him the best in his retirement."

Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia Head Coach
"Bill Snyder has been such a fixture in college football and has meant so much to me. I've been so honored and proud to be able to compete against him, be in our Big 12 meetings with him and seeing him around. He's had such an impact on our sport and our profession. We wish him well in retirement. He's meant so much to everyone in the Big 12 and in college football. His legacy has been written and will live on for a long, long time."

Joel Klatt, Former Colorado Quarterback and Current FOX Sports Analyst
"Coach Snyder has always been one of the people in this game that I have respected the most, as a competitor on the field and now covering him from the booth. However, it is his character, integrity, and class as a man that I continue to admire and cherish. College football is indebted to one of the greatest coaches in its history for his unwavering commitment to excellence and his steadfast belief in team and family!"

Jordy Nelson, Former K-State Wide Receiver and Current Oakland Raider
"He's a great coach and a great person. Growing up 20 minutes from Manhattan and K-State, what he's done for that program, university and community words cannot explain what he's done. I look forward to reaching out and talking to him. He's one of the best coaches to ever coach college football."

Jesse Palmer, ESPN
"He got the most out of his players. I think that's the one thing you find out for anyone who has ever played for Bill Snyder – not only did they make them better football players, but he made them better men off the field. His model of consistency – through in through – is just unbelievable."

David Pollack, ESPN
"He leaves, then Kansas State struggles, then he comes back and resurrects it again. Maximizing players (potential) is something he did. They had toughness and discipline. You look at this team every year, they were one of the least penalized teams, special teams were always an X factor and always good. He covered all the little details. He is a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest coaches of all time."

Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma Head Coach
"Coach Snyder is a true legend in this game. It's been amazing to watch the turnaround at Kansas State, and he was certainly the catalyst for that. To get to compete against him and to get to know him a little bit here over the last couple of years was a great honor. I'll always remember the hand-written notes I received from him after every single game we played; kind of a personal touch I always felt from him. Very much appreciate what he did for Kansas State, this league and college football. I'm excited for him and the other opportunities he'll have, but the game is certainly going to miss him."

Matt Rhule, Baylor Head Coach
"One of the great honors of my career has been the opportunity to share the field with Coach Snyder on two occasions. I will forever remember after losing to K-State in 2017, that I received a note from coach encouraging me and our team. He is the epitome of class, dignity and doing things the right way. I hope in some small way I can continue carry on his legacy by coaching and winning the right way. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement."

Holly Rowe, ESPN
"Bill Snyder has possibly done more with less than anyone in college football history. His ability to find and develop players while molding a family and a team is legendary. HE IS KANSAS STATE. But more important is the love and appreciation I have for him as a man – from the heartfelt, personal letters he would send to opponents, to the loving way he helped navigate his first gay player coming out publicly in 2017. His acceptance and love is everything to me and to this young man. Family First, Team First. Always.

"We have often compared cancer notes and walked this road together the last several years. He has encouraged me, and I hope I have encouraged him. I simply love this man. He is everything right about college football but more importantly, human kind."

Bob Stoops, Former Oklahoma Head Coach
"Coach Snyder leaves an incredible legacy of success in many parts of college football and the coaching fraternity. He developed a program that hadn't had much success before he arrived into one that, year in and year, out was as strong and respected as any out there. He sustained that over a long period of time. And he didn't do it just once, he did it twice.

"He has a long track record of coaches working under him who went on to head coaching positions and had their own success. I'll forever be grateful to Coach Snyder for the big opportunity he gave me as a young assistant to coach the secondary and then serve in a leadership position as a coordinator. Those seven years for me at Kansas State were as good any that I've been a part of, and I learned a great deal about developing a program from being there."

Kansas State University Athletics

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