Bill Snyder is a Hall of Fame head coach. He’s pretty much the mayor of Manhattan, Kansas. But the 78-year-old long-time Kansas State coach can’t man the sideline forever.
It’s in this that the program’s brass set forth a succession plan recently that includes hiring the controversial Jim Leavitt to replace Snyder when the latter ultimately steps down.
A former assistant at Kansas State, Leavitt — a man who left South Florida in controversy — would seem to make some sense.
That’s until Snyder himself is brought into the conversation.
“Last December, Snyder pushed back on Leavitt, a former KSU assistant, being named his replacement because Snyder wanted his son Sean, currently KSU’s associate head coach and special teams coordinator, to replace him,” former ESPN college football insider Brett McMurphy reported recently.
The older Snyder began his head coaching career in Manhattan back in 1989 and coached through the 2005 season before ultimately calling it quits. He returned to the job in 2008 and has manned the sideline since.
Needless to say, Snyder bleeds Wildcat football. Having spent over a quarter century as the program’s head coach, it makes sense he would want to keep it in the family once he retires for good.
Having recently battled throat cancer, it’s not yet known when that time will come.
For his part, Leavitt — currently the Oregon Ducks’ defensive coordinator — has an opt out clause in his contract specifically mentioning the possibility of becoming Kansas State’s next head coach.
The Wildcats are currently 5-5 on the season and one win from becoming bowl eligible. It would represent the program’s eighth consecutive trip to a bowl game and 19th overall under Snyder.