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Bill Snyder: My Football Life and the Rest of the Story
“The opportunity for the greatest turnaround in college football exists here today, and it’s not one to be taken lightly.” — Bill Snyder
A captivating autobiography from the architect of Kansas State football
When Kansas State hired Bill Snyder as its head football coach in 1988, the Wildcats had one of the worst programs in college football and hadn't won a conference title since 1934. Little could anybody predict that Snyder would soon engineer a total transformation in Manhattan, Kansas.
From his humble beginnings in St. Joseph, Missouri, Snyder rose to greatness, bringing K-State up from the ashes to a No. 1 ranking, six 11-win seasons in a span of seven years, and one Big 12 Championship. He still wasn’t finished. After a three-year retirement, Snyder returned to lead the Wildcats to another Big 12 title.
In 2015, he became just the fourth person in college football history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as an active coach. In this new memoir, Snyder reflects on a successful yet complicated life, detailing the grueling 80-hour work weeks, his visionary Wildcat Goals for Success, and the virtues he doubled down on during his final years as head coach, all the while battling throat cancer.
Readers will discover a multi-faceted portrait of one of college football's greatest leaders, his triumphs and defeats, his greatness and his flaws, and his passion and drive to, not once, but twice, lead a championship team while developing young men.
A captivating autobiography from the architect of Kansas State football
When Kansas State hired Bill Snyder as its head football coach in 1988, the Wildcats had one of the worst programs in college football and hadn't won a conference title since 1934. Little could anybody predict that Snyder would soon engineer a total transformation in Manhattan, Kansas.
From his humble beginnings in St. Joseph, Missouri, Snyder rose to greatness, bringing K-State up from the ashes to a No. 1 ranking, six 11-win seasons in a span of seven years, and one Big 12 Championship. He still wasn’t finished. After a three-year retirement, Snyder returned to lead the Wildcats to another Big 12 title.
In 2015, he became just the fourth person in college football history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as an active coach. In this new memoir, Snyder reflects on a successful yet complicated life, detailing the grueling 80-hour work weeks, his visionary Wildcat Goals for Success, and the virtues he doubled down on during his final years as head coach, all the while battling throat cancer.
Readers will discover a multi-faceted portrait of one of college football's greatest leaders, his triumphs and defeats, his greatness and his flaws, and his passion and drive to, not once, but twice, lead a championship team while developing young men.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2021
32 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 28, 2022
I guess in the spirit of Coach Snyder, I will deflect praise which should be aimed towards him, to the author instead. :) Thank you D. Scott Fritchen for a book that so clearly uses Coach’s voice, and also pushes him to enumerate his successes (which I believe is hard for him to do). I’ve lived Coach’s career (KSU grad), and I was still amazed at the stats that supported the tale of the greatest turn around in college football history. However, of course, it is the values-based approach of this Coach and this program that mean so much to me. I was brought to tears many times throughout the book!
Only one criticism is the too short explanation for the misconduct allegations before the 2004 Fiesta bowl game, and coach’s decision to allow that player to participate at that time. I’m not arguing with the decision, just felt it deserved more detail in the book about the decision process.
Edit: this book was read as part of my own personal trilogy of sports heroes 2022. Book 2 of 3.
Only one criticism is the too short explanation for the misconduct allegations before the 2004 Fiesta bowl game, and coach’s decision to allow that player to participate at that time. I’m not arguing with the decision, just felt it deserved more detail in the book about the decision process.
Edit: this book was read as part of my own personal trilogy of sports heroes 2022. Book 2 of 3.
March 16, 2022
This should be a winner of the "book of the Year'. A very scholarly work of not only a biography of the coach and becoming the winingest coach of collegiate football but basically a history of the Big 8 now the Big 12. He definitely had a very positive effect on a every on every person he came in tough with. Sprinkled throughout the book notes of high praise from players, coaches, administrators and naturally his loyal fans. Should be not just recommended reading but a MUST reading in upcoming coaches. You'll find it very hard to put the book down. Coach Bill Snyder has a career full of accomplishments that well not surpassed in a decade or
even the century.
even the century.
September 27, 2023
As a K-State student in the early- to mid-90s, I lived through most of the events covered in this book and really enjoyed reliving them through Bill Snyder's perspective. There were many times during Snyder's tenure that I wish I could know the intimate details of the football team and to get his thoughts on some of those things, and this book did just that in a mostly classy way. It is a must read for anyone who lived through the Snyder era(s), and D. Scott Fritchen did a wonderful job of bringing the stories to life as only he can.
October 7, 2022
Coach Bill Snyder's book ...
Maybe it's fitting that I finished this on Coach's birthday! It's a pretty special story.
My daughter asked for this for Christmas and she has the hard copy. Mine is the Kindle version, so I can read it again and again.
If you're a fan of Kansas State University sports, READ THIS BOOK!!
(Oh, and maybe it's a good sign that the new men's basketball coach's birthday is the same day as Coach Snyder Snyder's ...)
Maybe it's fitting that I finished this on Coach's birthday! It's a pretty special story.
My daughter asked for this for Christmas and she has the hard copy. Mine is the Kindle version, so I can read it again and again.
If you're a fan of Kansas State University sports, READ THIS BOOK!!
(Oh, and maybe it's a good sign that the new men's basketball coach's birthday is the same day as Coach Snyder Snyder's ...)
February 2, 2022
Incredible book. I really enjoyed learning the story behind the man that made the greatest football turn around in history. What a humble and genuine human being. K-State was blessed to have Bill Snyder!
April 22, 2022
Great Book about a Great Coach
Very well written about a time I lived. Coach Snyder is the best college coach ever and perhaps an even better person. This brought back so many memories, good, great, disappointing, it's all there. Loved it!
Very well written about a time I lived. Coach Snyder is the best college coach ever and perhaps an even better person. This brought back so many memories, good, great, disappointing, it's all there. Loved it!
September 6, 2023
Pretty standard autobiography, will probably especially enjoy it if you were a Kansas State fan during both of his tenures
October 2, 2023
This is probably one of the best football related books I have ever read and it was a great pleasure to do so. I will read this one again in the future.
January 22, 2024
A lot of recaps of games and seasons, which is okay. I wish he would’ve spent more time on HOW and the philosophy. Those chapters were very short.
February 16, 2024
The last chapter with all the things his family wrote about him was so cutie!! Impactful and transformational leader
November 29, 2023
A captivating and motivating read that goes way beyond just football.
Coach Snyder was relentless in the cataclysmic turnaround of KSU football.
He would regularly stay in his office to two or 3 in the morning.
He was also an avid family man, and stood by to help his daughter, Mother, and Grandfather as they aged, or recovered from devastating accidents.
Just look at the tremendous Coaches he mentored : Bob and Mike Stoops, Jim Leavitt, Mark Mangino,
Brent Venables and more
He also is a throat cancer survivor, and always wrote encouraging notes to others suffering hardships
Constant daily improvement was his Mantra: Just get a little better each day.
The 16 Wildcat Goals for Success were repeated and acted upon relentlessly, until they permeated the program.
effort....effort...effort..determination...determination...determination...determination
The other big takeaway from this book is that the little details matter...Coach Snyder treated everyone he met, no matter what their station in life with exquisite politeness and dignity.
This really was the "Miracle in Manhattan "
Coach Snyder was relentless in the cataclysmic turnaround of KSU football.
He would regularly stay in his office to two or 3 in the morning.
He was also an avid family man, and stood by to help his daughter, Mother, and Grandfather as they aged, or recovered from devastating accidents.
Just look at the tremendous Coaches he mentored : Bob and Mike Stoops, Jim Leavitt, Mark Mangino,
Brent Venables and more
He also is a throat cancer survivor, and always wrote encouraging notes to others suffering hardships
Constant daily improvement was his Mantra: Just get a little better each day.
The 16 Wildcat Goals for Success were repeated and acted upon relentlessly, until they permeated the program.
effort....effort...effort..determination...determination...determination...determination
The other big takeaway from this book is that the little details matter...Coach Snyder treated everyone he met, no matter what their station in life with exquisite politeness and dignity.
This really was the "Miracle in Manhattan "
August 20, 2022
A larger than life story from the greatest to ever coach.
October 11, 2023
Not a huge fan of the writing, but I love all things Bill Snyder and K-State football. It lacked a little structure and bounced back and forth, making it a bit difficult to follow. I imagine it would be even more challenging to follow for someone who is not an avid K-State football fan.
January 1, 2026
Brillant Book to learn life Lessons from one of the greatest people let alone coaches of all time!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews