K-State wanted a coach with a winning track record at the Division I level, as well as leadership and inspirational skills. The administration got its wish when it introduced Bill Snyder, the winningest coach in school history, as the school’s 34th football coach Nov. 24 in front of the capacity-filled Bramlage Coliseum Legends Room.
After a three-year retirement, Snyder, 69, made the decision to return to the sidelines of the stadium named in his and his family’s honor. He was offered the job just two days after athletic director Bob Krause announced the firing of then-coach Ron Prince on Nov. 5.
Snyder agreed to a five-year deal worth $1.85 million per year.
His age likely will be used against him on the recruiting trail by other coaches. Therefore, it is essential for Snyder to land quality assistant coaches to sustain the success he had from 1993 to 2003 — a stretch in which he took the Wildcats to 11-straight bowl games. It is important for Snyder to have his staff assembled in the next few weeks in order to land quality recruits out of the high- school and junior-college ranks.
K-State fans likely will see some familiar names on the upcoming staff to go along with some young, up-and-coming coaches who can go out and recruit certain territories. Snyder made his mark this way when he first came to K-State by hiring young coaches like current Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and South Florida coach Jim Leavitt.
Here are some candidates for the offensive and defensive coordinator positions.
Defensive coordinator candidates
Vic Koenning: Koenning has served as the defensive coordinator at Clemson since 2005. His first four defenses finished in the top 25 in scoring, rushing, total and pass efficiency defense each season. A top-25 final ranking in all four categories had been accomplished twice.
Phil Bennett: Bennett is the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh. He served under Snyder as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at K-State for three years (1999-2001). During his tenure, the Wildcats finished among the nation’s top five in total defense each season.
Dan McCarney: McCarney serves as the defensive line coach at the University of Florida. He spent 12 years as the head coach at Iowa State from 1995-2006, compiling a 56-85 career record while helping to turn around a struggling program. He led the Cyclones to five bowl games.
Offensive coordinator candidates
Chuck Long: Long was the quarterback at Iowa when Snyder was the offensive coordinator there. Long went on to work at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops for six seasons, including four as the offensive coordinator. After the 2005 season, Long accepted an offer to become the 16th head football coach at San Diego State.
Dana Dimel: Dimel serves as the associate head coach at Arizona while also coaching the tight ends and the running backs. The Wildcats are coached by former K-State defensive coordinator Mike Stoops. Dimel, 45, coached at K-State from 1987 to 1996, including spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator. He left K-State in 1996.
Dave Brock: Brock served the last two years under former coach Ron Prince. He was the wide receivers coach in 2007 and was promoted to offensive coordinator this past season after former offensive coordinator James Franklin left for Maryland to take the same position. K-State finished the season ranked as the nation’s No. 35 team in total offense.
Snyder’s chances of success could hinge on quality of new assistant
Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
 "Photo: Joslyn Brown")
Joslyn Brown
Bill Snyder smiles as he speaks about his return as head football coach at K-State during a Nov. 24 press conference.
6 comments
Just sayin'
Why not bring in Pete Carroll or Urban Meyer to be assistants to Snyder?
Eric 2
please wildcat nation give up on venables...he will not be back in manhattan as an coordinator or a future head coach. he burned a bridge with the alums who pour money into the program...not going to happen unfortunately.
Deege
Defintely a big NO Brock. He is one of the most devisive guys on the staff, treats players, particularly walk-ons and non-startres with indignity and disrespect and Synder wouldn't tolerate that. Koenning, Bennet, Long and Dimel are all good coordinator choices.
Johnson
And what about Brent Venables as DC/Associate Head Coach (Head Coach in waiting)?
berford
What about Norm Chow as OC?
Eric
Brock shouldn't be brought back
