BIG 12 K-State's Snyder to retire

The 66-year-old coach wants to spend more time with his family.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, Bill Snyder retired Tuesday from the Kansas State program he coached from college football's depths to a spot among the nation's elite.
The 66-year-old Snyder, Kansas State's coach since 1989, said health was not a factor.
"As far as I know, my doctor has not complained -- well, he's complained about some of my habits," Snyder said. "But to my knowledge, I'm physically fine."
No timetable for successor
Athletic director Tim Weiser said no timetable had been set for choosing Snyder's successor. Snyder, who signed a six-year contract extension in 2001, will remain under contract as the football coach until his successor is hired.
After that, he will stay on as a special assistant to Weiser, the school said.
With Kansas State failing to qualify for a bowl for a second straight year, Snyder's final game will be Saturday against Missouri. The stadium will be renamed Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the university said.
"Family" was a common theme during Snyder's news conference, with the coach repeatedly fighting back tears almost every time he said that word.
Schedule tough on family
And although Snyder's health might not be at issue, he talked several times about the toll his schedule -- long hours spent at the office, breaking down film and preparing game plans from the predawn dark to late at night -- has taken on his family life.
"I've not been the kind of father that I should have been, and the kind of husband," said Snyder, who has five children and eight grandchildren.
When Snyder took over the Wildcats' program, Kansas State was the only major college team with 500 losses.
He is 135-68-1 in Manhattan, including a run of 11 straight bowl games that began with the 1993 season. But after winning the Big 12 championship in 2003, Kansas State has stumbled to two straight losing seasons.
No bowl game again
Kansas State, (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) has failed to qualify for a bowl game for the second straight year, the first time since 1991 and 1992 that Kansas State missed bowl games in consecutive seasons.
Snyder went 1-10 in his first season, but his team steadily improved. In 1993, the Wildcats appeared in a bowl game for the second time in school history, defeating Wyoming in the Copper Bowl.
By the late 1990s, with Michael Bishop at quarterback, they were a national championship contender.