‘Very proud’: Bill Snyder shares his thoughts on new K-State coach Collin Klein
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Klein phoned Snyder to thank him for mentorship, invite him to intro news conference.
- Snyder praised Klein’s values and leadership, saying he will sustain K‑State’s culture.
- Klein progressed from K‑State quarterback to OC and A&M coordinator, earning the job.
Bill Snyder was one of the first people Collin Klein called after Kansas State hired him as its new head football coach this week.
The purpose of the call was twofold.
1. Klein wanted to thank his former coach for setting him on a path that led him to his dream job.
2. Klein wanted to invite Snyder to his introductory news conference.
Not only did Snyder attend in his trademark black suit and yellow tie. He hung on every word as he sat in the second row and then cracked a joke about it being the first time he has ever enjoyed a meet-and-greet with media.
“He’s moving in the right direction, and he’s doing it the right way,” Snyder said in an exclusive interview. “He is going to make Kansas State very proud of him.”
Snyder coached Klein when he played quarterback for the Wildcats. They won a lot of games together.
With Klein as the team’s starter, K-State won 10 games and played in the Cotton Bowl in 2011. A year later, the Wildcats won 11 games and claimed a Big 12 championship. At one point, they were even ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings.
Under Snyder’s guidance, Klein threw for 4,724 yards and 30 touchdowns during his four seasons as a player. He also rushed for 2,485 yards and 56 touchdowns. As a senior, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Snyder began coaching at K-State in 1989 and retired after a legendary run in 2018.
Some, including Klein himself, have said it is “surreal” for a former player to be back in Manhattan as the head coach. But nothing about Klein’s journey has surprised Snyder.
“I don’t know how wild it really is,” Snyder said. “I anticipated every step. It worked out well.”
Klein aims to share Snyder’s values with K-State players now that he is in command of the K-State football team.
“He started it in 1989,” Klein said, “and ever since that day, that has been bred into every single one of us players that have come through this program. That is not going to change. You look at toughness and the mental and intestinal fortitude to play this game of football the way that it needs to be played. That will continue to be bred into every Kansas State Wildcat.”
Snyder grinned ear to ear as he listened to those words.
“He’s that kind of person,” Snyder said of Klein. “He has a wonderful value system, and it will germinate quite well with young people.”
After his college football career came to an end, Klein was unable to make the transition to the NFL.
He earned a tryout with the Houston Texans and tried to make it in the CFL. But he never earned a spot on a professional roster. So he shifted his focus to coaching.
Snyder quickly hired Klein to his K-State staff, and it wasn’t long before he was promoted to QB coach. When Snyder retired and Chris Klieman took over the program, Klein remained on staff and ascended to the role of offensive coordinator.
The Wildcats won another Big 12 championship in 2022 with Klein calling plays for his alma mater.
From there, Klein left to take the same job at Texas A&M. This season, he helped the Aggies win 11 games. They are now preparing for the College Football Playoff.
All that success made him a slam-dunk choice to replace Klieman when he surprisingly decided to retire earlier this week.
This is Klein’s first head-coaching job. But Snyder doesn’t think he needs any advice.
“All he needs to do,” Snyder said, “is fire in his own direction.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 9:45 AM.