Bob Lutz: Sean Snyder reflects on his father’s Hall of Fame career

We all wonder why Bill Snyder continues to coach football at Kansas State deep into his golden years when the answer might be simple.

At the end of a 25-minute interview last week with Snyder’s son and K-State special teams coach Sean, I asked if there was anything else he wanted to say about his dad as the latter’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame beckoned.

Sean Snyder thought for a moment before hitting on what he thinks the reason for his dad continued passion for coaching.

“I think it’s because of the interaction with the players,” Snyder said. “With all of the young people in the program and the recruits that come in. He still has a wonderful way about connecting and communicating and gaining respect from young people.”

There’s no generation gap here, even though the 76-year-old Snyder is nearly old enough to be a great grandfather to his players.

“Everybody asks the question all the time: ‘Is the age gap a problem?’ ” Sean Snyder said. “To be honest with you, it’s not. It’s really unique to see the interaction he has with our players and it’s special. It’s really special.”

And that’s the best explanation I’ve heard yet for why Snyder continues to coach.

It’s not for the wins. It’s not for the championships. It’s not for the bowl games.

It’s for the players. It’s for a connection to youth and vitality. And it’s because coaching is fun because players are fun.

Sean, a former All-America punter at K-State, is in his fifth season as special-teams coach and associate head coach. He’s been a part of the the Wildcats’ football program nearly as long as his father. And he’s one of 24 family members who are in New York for Tuesday night’s ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria.

“This is such a well-deserved honor and extremely humbling for all of us,” he said. “The way I look at this and see it for him, it’s for all he’s done and put into the program to help the student-athletes. There’s been no selfish direction in any of it.”

Nobody knows when Bill Snyder will finally retire from coaching for good. He tried it after the 2005 season, after a couple of difficult years. But when his replacement, Ron Prince, struggled, Snyder was asked to return in 2009 and he willingly obliged.

“I wasn’t sure he really felt that he was done coaching,” Sean Snyder said. “I think for any of us that spends so much time at their career and their job, it becomes not really a job but something we love to do. And when you step away from it, it’s difficult to adjust to a new lifestyle. I also think he still had a hunger and a desire to finish things out.”

When that hunger and desire is permanently quenched is anybody’s guess. It wouldn’t be shocking if Bill Snyder announces his retirement soon after Kansas State’s game against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 in Memphis, Tenn. Nor would anyone blink an eye if he coaches three to five more years.

“He never drops his guard on that stuff,” Sean said. “It’s about the program, about K-State, about the games ahead of us and about the student-athletes we have here. That’s what everything is geared toward and I never expect it to change.”

Bill Snyder has made it no secret that he would like for Sean to be his replacement when he retires.

“I get asked about that a lot,” Sean said. “I’m humbled and honored that he would feel that I would be in a position to do that. But do I sit and plan every day on what’s going to happen in four, five, six months? Or longer than that? No, I focus on the things we’ve got to do. When the time comes and things have to happen, things are going to happen. They’re out of my control because I’m not going to be the one making those decisions.”

Sean said he and his dad are a lot alike, but with differences.

Sean likes to take his kids skiing, fishing and boating when he has a chance. Bill rarely has time for much outside of football.

“We both have a good attention to detail and a focus on the program,” Sean said. “Being a special-teams coordinator, I deal with every player on the team when it comes to that. I think the global perspective for the program is something he and I share an awful lot.”

There are long hours with no corners to cut. Bill Snyder is a demanding coach — to his players, his staff and his assistant coaches.

“But also very fair,” Sean said. “He has the kind of expectations any head coach would have. Everybody talks about how hard the work is, but it’s really not. There’s a lot of stuff to do and a lot of details to manage and if you don’t put the time in to get those things done you’re going to miss something. And if you miss something it’ll cost you somewhere.

“That’s a big part of what I’ve learned from him as a coach. We get along. We have our moments where we agree and where we disagree, but they’re healthy.”

Tuesday, though, will be a time to celebrate. And to take everything in — all the years, the hours, the hard work, the rewards.

“Special, special for our whole family,” Sean Snyder said. “This is the pinnacle of all honors and it’ll be an emotional time for all of us.”

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Bob Lutz: Sean Snyder reflects on his father’s Hall of Fame career."