Editor’s note: Brett McMurphy of WatchStadium is reporting that Littrell has withdrawn his name from consideration to succeed Bill Snyder.
Upon legendary head coach Bill Snyder’s retirement Sunday, K-State Athletics is in search of a new leader for its football team. Seth Littrell has been one of the most talked-about people as a potential replacement for Snyder.
Littrell comes from the University of North Texas, where he was the head coach for the last three seasons.
During the 2016 season, Littrell’s inaugural season at the school, the Mean Green were 5-8, and finished 9-5 in 2017. They lost a bowl game both seasons.
With an overall record of 23-16, including a 9-3 mark this season and a pending bowl game, Littrell has turned around a team that was just 1-11 the season before his arrival.
Before he settled down in Denton, Texas, Littrell made various assistant coaching stops along the way. His experience includes time on staff with the University of North Carolina (2014-15) Indiana University (2012-13), the University of Arizona (2009-11), Texas Tech University (2005-08) and the University of Kansas (2002-04).
While at UNC, Littrell served as the assistant head coach for offense and tight ends coach.
Under Littrell’s control, the Tar Heel offense set several records and high marks. During the 2014 season, they set school records of most passing yards, most passing touchdowns and most first downs. In 2015, they were one of 11 teams to average 200-plus yards rushing (229.7) and 250-plus yards passing (266.0).
Quarterback Marquise Williams finished his career under Littrell as the record holder for career touchdowns with 90.
During the 2013 season at Indiana, the Hoosiers were ninth in the nation averaging 508.5 yards of total offense per game. In 2011, Littrell’s Arizona offense averaged 370.8 passing yards per game, third in the country, and 465.2 yards of offense, 15th in the country.
Current Washington State University head coach Mike Leach is one of the top offense minds in college football. Littrell coached at Texas Tech under Leach for four seasons, which is a good backdrop for his offensive successes mentioned above.
Littrell was a graduate assistant at KU for three seasons, including the 2003 Tangerine Bowl season.
Throughout his career, Littrell has been responsible for the development of several NFL draft picks. At Arizona, he oversaw the college careers of two Super Bowl champions in tight end Rob Gronkowski (2010 draft) and quarterback Nick Foles, along with wide receiver Juron Criner (both 2012 draft).
Two Hoosiers made it to the NFL under Littrell’s tutelage, as tight end Ted Bolser and wide receiver Cody Latimer were both selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.
As for his playing career, Littrell played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1997-2000 and was a letter winner each of those seasons.
During the 1999 season, he rushed for 231 yards and scored eight total touchdowns, accumulating 715 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his career.
Littrell was also a captain of the Sooners’ 2000 National Championship team.
