“Coach Snyder leaves behind a legacy of success for a football program, a university and a community that is stronger and better because of his leadership,” Moran said in his speech. “His successes on the field are matched by his achievements off the field. Coach Snyder has used his prominence in the hearts of K-State fans to promote causes that have strengthened the Manhattan community and the state of Kansas.”

Snyder took over K-State’s football program in 1988, the year Sports Illustrated identified K-State as the worst college football program in the nation. Snyder took on the challenge and within five years, K-State had won the Copper Bowl. During the next 10 seasons, K-State football advanced to bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl, and defeated first-ranked Oklahoma in 2003 to seize the Big 12 Championship. Today, with 135 victories, Coach Snyder has achieved the most wins in K-State football history. 

“On behalf of many grateful Kansans, I thank Coach Snyder for his contributions,” Moran said in his closing. “It will be hard to imagine K-State football without this legendary coach.”

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