Sunset Zoo officials in Manhattan have confirmed the zoo will be closed to the public on Monday due to the recent winter weather. The heavy snow combined with icy conditions, make the Zoo’s trails unsafe for guests to navigate. The Zoo’s animal residents, however, are safe and being well-cared for by Zoo staff.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Wednesday in Douglas County.

The Kansas Turnpike Authoritiy reported a 2010 Honda Odyssey driven by James A. Beck, 79, Topeka was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Kansas 10 exit.

The Honda collided with a Riley County ambulance driven by Scott Ten Eyck, 33, Wamego, causing it to spin and hit the barrier wall and then strike the ambulance again.

The collision forced the ambulance across all lanes of traffic and into the ditch.

Beck and a passenger Carol Beck, 78, Topeka, were transported to Stormont Vail.  Eyck was not injured.

The ambulance was returning after transporting a patient to Kansas City, according to Joshua Gering with Riley County EMS.

Eyck and the occupants of the Honda were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges. Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, police arrested George McGrew, 19, of Manhattan in the 2200 block of Green Ave. in Manhattan on November 27, 2018 at approximately 5:05 PM, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

He was being held on a $30,000 Bond for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute within 1000′ of a school (x2) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

McGrew was released after paying bond.

Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills

Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills will celebrate their 5 Year Anniversary at the 5K event on December 1, 2018 at the KSU World War I Memorial Stadium. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in 3^rd to 8^th grade. During the ten-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5K event.

Participation in the 5K event on December 1st is open to the public and all proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills. This season girls, families and community runners will complete a two loop course through Kansas State University with a celebration at the KSU Memorial Stadium.  Last season’s 5K event brought together nearly 1,000 participants including program participants, their family and friends, volunteers and community members. Registration cost is $30 in advance and includes an event shirt and commemorative 5 year anniversary medal.

Packet pick up will be on Thursday, November 29^th and Friday, November 30^th at Academy Sports + Outdoors.  Event festivities will begin 9 am on December 1^st at KSU Memorial Stadium early arrival is suggested. For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gotrflinthills.org/5k.

GEARY COUNTY—Milford Lake will be a Cabela’s King Kat Championship Qualifier lake in 2019, according to an announcement from The Junction City/Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We are excited to have a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament at Milford Lake. This event will highlight the fishing at Milford Lake, provide positive exposure for our area and increase the economics of Geary County,” said Michele Stimatze, Director of the CVB.

The tournament is set for March 30, 2019 and is a two-person team event. The competition will provide the opportunity for a team to win a spot at the national championship. The tournament will be headquartered at Acorns Resort.

WASHINGTON COUNTY— Authorities are looking for a deer poacher who illegally hunted a deer, taking the head and leaving the meat to waste on Thanksgiving morning.

According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens, the deer was poached in Washington County, between the towns of Hanover and Hollenberg. Thhe poacher likely showed the antlers to others and might take the taxidermist for a European mount.

Game wardens previously said two other deer were illegally killed by poachers on Thanksgiving morning.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

NATHANIEL BUSBY has a previous conviction for making false writing, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

NATHANIEL AVERY BUSBY, 24, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $2500

TERI LYN WURTZ, 37, Failure to Appear; Bond $476.14

AUTUMN ANN CARROL GAUL, 25, Manhattan, POSS OPIATES,OPIUM,NARCOTIC OR CERTAIN STI, DOMESTIC BATTERY;RUDE PHYSICAL CONTACT USE/POSS PARA;INTO HUMAN BODY; Bond $5000

FREDERICK ALONZO PEOPLES, 51, Manhattan, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE;OPERATE W/O; Bond $1000

ANTHONY JULES NYGRAHAM, 21, Manhattan, CRIMINAL THREAT(2X) Exceptionally Cleared

CITATION REPORT

ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ, 32,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT S 4TH ST & POYNTZ AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR DRIVE CANC/SUSP/REV LICENSE (19-194) AND FOR ADULT SEAT BELT (17-182.1) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:16 PM.

MOLLY MADDY, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT S 15TH ST & YUMA ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:24 PM.

JIMMIE LEONARD, 37, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2900 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:40 AM.

CADEN STRAWDER, 18,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2200 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY (8-47) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 6 PM.

DOMINIQUE SAUNDERS, 42,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK POYNTZ AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1 PM.

ROSENDO CHAVEZ ARANO, 45, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 2124 PATRICIA PL IN MANHATTAN FOR BATTERY (22-17) ON NOVEMBER 20, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:06 PM.

JOSHUA JOHNSON, 29, WAMEGO, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 430 FORT RILEY BLVD # EAST END; SHELL IN MANHATTAN FOR BATTERY (22-17) ON NOVEMBER 19, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:14 AM.

LAUREN GAY, 22,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT S 4TH ST & HOUSTON ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON NOVEMBER 21, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY10:45 AM.

American Pest Management 

Manhattan, Kan.  – This holiday season, American Pest Management Inc. will donate pest control services to local families who need it most. They are asking for your help to determine recipients for
their “Not a Creature Was Stirring” holiday giveaway. If you know of someone who needs to get rid of unwanted pests but cannot afford to treat it, you can submit their name and situation online at AmericanPestManagement.com/holidaygiveaway. Five households will be selected to receive a one-time treatment paired with two follow-ups to make sure the pests have subsided.

“Every year we do some type of donation, whether it be a can drive, community service, or monetary donation. This year we wanted to try something a bit different by donating our pest control services to those who are living in an unhealthy pest-infested situation and cannot afford to have it professionally taken care of,” said American Pest Management Vice President Travis Aggson. “The communities we serve are like family to us, and we want to make sure we’re helping out where we can.”

The giveaway is open to anyone in Manhattan, Wamego, Junction City, Wichita, and surrounding communities. All recipients of services will remain anonymous as well as the person who submits the household.

The donated pest control services will not include termite, mole, or bat treatments due to the complexity and duration of service needed. If you are unsure if a certain situation will qualify for the “Not a Creature Was Stirring” holiday giveaway, please submit it for review.

Submit a deserving household at AmericanPestOnline.com/holidaygiveaway. Giveaway ends December 31, 2018.

Green Apple Bikes

MANHATTAN —Green Apple Bikes, Manhattan’s free bike share program, needs the public’s help.

Courtesy photo

Freezing temperatures causes the  bikes to breakdown; so if you see a bike or have one in your backyard or garage, please text the phone number on the frame – 785-380-5968.

This will let Green’s Apple’s  volunteers know that they can come retrieve it and take it back to their workshop for winter repair and storage.

Community driven and community supported, it truly takes a village to make possible program possible, please consider helping us today. For more information visit – www.greenapplebikes.com.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Darion Rain Hinton -photo Shawnee Co.

ALEXIS LANEE MITCHELL, 22, Manhattan, VIO PROTECTION ORDER; PRETRIAL ORDERS CRIMINAL TRESPASS;DEFIANCE RESTRAIN ORD; Held without Bond AND DOMESTIC BATTERY;KNOWING/RECKLESS BODILY; Bond $1000

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified Manhattan City officials that $18,494,400 will be awarded to fund improvements to Manhattan’s levee system in fiscal year 2019. The total cost of the project will be nearly $26 million, and City officials have several options to cover the remaining $7.5 million.

“We would especially like to thank Senator Moran’s office for working with us to achieve this funding award. The Manhattan community will be stronger and more protected  because of this effort,” said City Manager Ron Fehr.

The Manhattan levee system provides fortification to 1,600 acres of land, 7,600 residents and protects a total economic impact estimated at $1.2 billion.

The intent of the project is to raise the levee along the Big Blue River from the intersection of Casement Road and Hayes Drive, south to the confluence of the Kansas River and Big Blue River, and wrap around upstream to just west of the Wastewater Treatment Plant facility.

When completed, the levee project will increase the level of protection from flooding events along both the Blue and Kansas rivers, as well as replace several structures and equipment along the levee that were installed with the original project in the early 1960’s.

Construction of the project could begin as soon as 2020 and is estimated to be completed by 2025. Linear Trail will remain on top of the levee and access to certain portions of the trail will be restricted during the construction phase.

“The USACE project will increase the reliability of the levee system to protect our only water and wastewater treatment plant facilities. Those facilities service not only the City of Manhattan but many other customers in Riley and Pottawatomie Counties. Updating and replacing gate well structures, increasing levee height, adding new relief wells and reinforcement berms only adds to the level of protection for future events that would threaten Manhattan,” says Manhattan Public Works Director Robert Ott.

A study conducted by USACE in 2014 confirmed the need for improvements to the levee system in order to provide protection for a 100-year flood event.

MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run accident and asking the public for help with information.

Just after 5p.m. Friday, the Riley County Police Department responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident near the intersection of Hunting and Denison. according to a media release.

The pedestrian was seriously injured and the vehicle involved left the scene.

The vehicle is described as a small white 4-door car.

We need anyone with information to contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Dayton Clay -photo courtesy Shawnee Co.

JOSEPH LESTER FOUNTAIN, 49, Manhattan, AGG BATTERY;KNOWINGLY CAUSE GREAT BODILY, CRIM DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000 DEFRAUD CRIMINAL DEPRIVATION PROP;NOT VEH/GUN; Bond $7000

Little Apple Post has partnered with Flipp to offer interactive online circulars! Check this week’s bargains out here! Don’t see the circular you want in the preview? Click on an ad to pull up a search menu for retailers like Dillons, Walmart, JCPenney and so much more!

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Manhattan firefighters responded to the Hilton Garden Inn at 410 South 3rd Street in Manhattan at 6:39 a.m. on Saturday for the report of a structure fire.

The Manhattan Fire Department reported that upon arrival crews found a fire in the laundry room of the Hilton Garden Inn. Crews determined the sprinkler system to the building had contained the fire to a  commercial dryer unit and quickly extinguished the remaining fire. A total of 16 firefighters responded on six fire trucks with the last units clearing the scene at about 8 a.m.

The loss was estimated at $40,000 to the contents and $10,000 to the structure. The fire cause was determined to be accidental.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sylvester Calvert has a previous drug conviction in Riley County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

CIARRA ANN VALADEZ, 23, Manhattan, DUI; 1ST CONVICTION; BLOOD/BREATH .08 OR>; Bond $750

SYLVESTER CALVERT JR, 30, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $481

JAMISON ALAN YOXALL, 20, Manhattan, DUI; 1ST CONVICTION; BLOOD/BREATH .08 OR>; Bond $750

ERICK AUGUST CARRITHERS, 36, Manhattan, CRIMINAL DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000; Bond $1000

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are discussing raising the state’s gas tax and implementing new fees as a way to help fund future highway improvements.

Transportation Task Force discussing on Thursday how to consistently fund T-works completion and concurrently start addressing new needs. Funding calculator being used to run scenarios-photo courtesy KDOT

A state task force finalized recommendations Thursday for a long-term transportation plan as Kansas prepares to transition out T-WORKS, the 10-year, $8 billion transportation program that began in 2010. The recommendations call for transportation funding through sales taxes, a fee on electric vehicles and raising the gas tax.

State lawmakers and the Kansas Department of Transportation will consider the recommendations as they develop a new transportation program in the coming year.

The recommendations didn’t specify how much the gas tax should be increased. But Democratic Sen. Tom Hawk has voiced support for raising the gas tax by 5 cents, which could produce about $90 million a year.

By BRIAN GRIMMETT

Water covers a road in Kansas City, Mo., after a storm led to flooding in July 2017. A new climate report suggests more intense storms in the future will lead to severe flooding.
BRIAN GRIMMETT

Kansans can expect rising temperatures and more extreme flooding in the future, according to the latest National Climate Assessment.

Kansas has always experienced severe weather events. But as average temperatures rise, due in part to heat-trapping pollution released from fossil fuels, these severe weather events are predicted to become more extreme.

That means periods of drought will be more severe, while storms will be more intense and lead to greater flooding.

This cycle of long periods of drought followed by intense rainstorms will also create a greater risk of wildfire on Kansas rangeland.

So even though wildfire is a natural and regular occurence, the conditions in the future will mean it’s more likely these fires will burn faster and hotter and cover more territory.

While past droughts have been driven by climate variability, or natural changes that fall within observed ranges, climate change is likely to make the problem worse.

The report also predicts that by the end of the century, average temperatures in Kansas will rise as much as 4 degrees and the number of days above 100 degrees will increase by 20 to 30.

The impact of those changes will create winners and losers, both in ecosystems and among cities and states.

“Some plants will do great, some crops will do great in a warmer environment,” said Kevin Kloesel, lead author of the report’s chapter on Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. “And then some won’t.

“So the question is, who will be the folks that will transition economically to those things that will do better first?”

The report predicts that if people do not adapt to or mitigate the risks associated with climate change, agricultural production will decrease, commodity prices will rise and human health, especially among the elderly, will suffer.

While Kansans are already adapting to some of the changes brought on by climate change, Kloesen said it’s mostly reactionary.

“It’s very hard to be proactive, sort of looking into the crystal ball, because there’s always that seed of doubt,” he said. “ ‘OK, is that really going to happen? And did I do that needlessly?’ ”

To have a greater impact, the report suggests individuals and communities need to make decisions based on possible future scenarios and do what they can now to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Brian Grimmett is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Bill Snyder already was considered the architect of the greatest turnaround in college football history before he decided to return from a three-year retirement to resurrect Kansas State again.

Now, the 79-year-old coach is heading back into retirement.

Snyder decided to step away Sunday after 27 seasons on the sideline, ending a Hall of Fame tenure in Manhattan that began in the Big Eight and weathered seismic shifts in college football. Along the way he overcame throat cancer, sent dozens of players to the NFL and gave countless more an opportunity to succeed not only on the field but also in life.

“Coach Snyder has had an immeasurable impact on our football program, Kansas State University, the Manhattan community and the entire state of Kansas,” Wildcats athletic director Gene Taylor said. “He and his family have touched the lives of so many people, from student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans, and he is truly one of the greatest coaches and leaders in college football history.

“His impact on college football is unmatched and legacy is one that will last a lifetime.”

The Wildcats fell apart during a season-ending loss to Iowa State, leaving them 5-7 and at home for the bowl season. Snyder finishes with a resume featuring a record of 215-117-1, trips to 19 bowl games, two Big 12 championships and a legacy that will endure long into the future.

The highway leading into town already has been renamed in his honor, leading fans from Interstate 70 to the stadium that bears the name of his family. A large bronze statue of Snyder stands outside.

Taylor said the search for a new coach will begin immediately with help from Ventura Partners, and a clause in Snyder’s contract indicates he will have input in the decision. Taylor also said Snyder will exercise a clause that allows him to become a special ambassador to the university at a yearly salary of $250,000 for “as long as he is physically and mentally able.”

“This university, this community and this state are deeply indebted to Coach Bill Snyder,” Kansas State president Gen. Richard Myers said. “He came here, and stayed here, because of the people. He made us a family — a proud purple family who travel in record numbers to watch him lead the Wildcats to victories, bowls and rankings never achieved before.”

Snyder arrived at Kansas State in the fall of 1988, a nondescript offensive coordinator from Iowa who once coached high school swimming before learning under legendary Hawkeyes coach Hayden Fry.

The Wildcats had just four winning seasons the previous 44 years, and they were in the midst of a 27-game winless streak. Dozens of confidants implored Snyder not to take over what “Sports Illustrated” famously called “Futility U,” certain that it was a coaching dead end.

Snyder was still mulling his decision when he walked the campus one cold morning. He was smitten by the friendliness of the people, their earnestness and work ethic, and he accepted the job.

“I think the opportunity for the greatest turnaround in college football exists here today,” he would say at his introductory news conference, “and it’s not one to be taken lightly.”

That news conference occurred 30 years ago Friday, beginning a turnaround of not only the long-languishing football program but a university in need of a boost.

Snyder introduced a new logo to distance the Wildcats from their losing past, and he began to heavily recruit junior colleges. He steadily improved the roster, beat North Texas that first year to end the long winless streak and slowly won over skeptical fans.

He did it with hard work, pure and simple. He was famous for eating once a day, lest he waste any time dining. He once consulted a sleep expert to divine a way to get by on four hours’ a night. He demanded the same rigorous schedule of his assistants, a group that would include future head coaches Bob Stoops, Bret Bielema, Dan McCarney and Jim Leavitt.

The wins began to pile up: The Wildcats went 5-6 in Year 2, won seven games the next season and went 9-2-1 to earn their first bowl berth in 1993. It began a streak of 11 consecutive postseason trips, highlighted by three Holiday Bowl appearances, two Cotton Bowls and a pair of trips to the Fiesta Bowl.

Kansas State started to slip in 2004 and ’05, though, a pair of winless seasons that appeared to take their toll on Snyder. And he surprised many by announcing his retirement, telling a packed room inside the old football complex that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He said he wanted a break. It didn’t last very long.

After watching the program slide under Ron Prince, the silver fox was lured out of retirement to rebuild the program once more. Two seasons later, the Wildcats were back in a bowl game; a season after that, they rose to No. 1 in the nation before playing in the Cotton Bowl, and a year after that, they won Snyder his second Big 12 championship and landed in the Fiesta Bowl.

Five more bowl games followed, even though the Wildcats never reached the same heights. It was a period marked by sustained success, if not the excellence of Snyder’s earlier years.

The biggest scare of his career came two years ago, when Snyder was diagnosed with throat cancer. He went through grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation while rarely missing a spring practice, and he was back last season to lead the Wildcats to the Cactus Bowl.

But with a depleted roster and a young, rebuilt coaching staff, this past season never got on track. The Wildcats barely beat South Dakota, were routed by Mississippi State and struggled to live up to expectations as they barreled toward their worst season in more than a decade.

Along the way, the cracks began to show: There was the rare outburst at a reporter during a news conference and the even rarer sight of Snyder calling out individual players for poor play.

By the time Kansas State struggled to beat Kansas, it appeared Snyder had made up his mind.

The famously secretive Snyder kept the decision to himself, though, and the Wildcats handily beat Texas Tech to keep their bowl hopes alive. But when they blew a big fourth-quarter lead against Iowa State to end their season, Snyder looked both exhausted and defeated.

He looked as if he was ready for another break.

___

___

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Bill Snyder, architect of the greatest turnaround in the history of college football and arguably one of the best college football coaches of all time, announced his retirement today as the head football coach at Kansas State.

Thank you, Coach Snyder.

Warm regards,
Family#ThanksCoachSnyder pic.twitter.com/IasCWTVDVP

— K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) December 2, 2018

The winningest coach in the history of K-State football with a 215-117-1 record, Snyder will transition to a special ambassador role for the University as stated in his current employment agreement.

He will leave as the 20th winningest coach in FBS history and currently ranks second among active FBS coaches in wins. Under Snyder, K-State is the third-winningest program in the Big 12 with 104 total league wins since the league was formed in 1996.

In all, Snyder led K-State to 19 of the school’s 21 all-time bowl appearances, won two conference titles, achieved two No. 1 national rankings, coached players who received a total of 214 All-America honors, 13 Academic All-Americans, was a five-time national coach of the year and seven-time conference coach of the year and also became just the fourth active coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2015).

“Coach Snyder has had an immeasurable impact on our football program, Kansas State University, the Manhattan community and the entire state of Kansas, and it has been an honor and a privilege to get to know and work with him the past two years,” said Athletics Director Gene Taylor. “He and his family have touched the lives of so many people, from student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans, and he is truly one of the greatest coaches and leaders in college football history. His impact on college football is unmatched and legacy is one that will last a lifetime.”

Snyder’s impact at K-State reached far beyond the football field. In addition to rekindling an overwhelming sense of pride in K-State alumni and supporters from coast to coast, the winning culture he ushered in helped spark a University and community-wide revitalization as K-State’s enrollment blossomed from 18,120 when he was hired to a record of more than 24,000.

“This university, this community and this state are deeply indebted to Coach Bill Snyder. Since arriving on campus in 1989, coach has delivered on all his promises — and more. He brought Kansas State University football to the national stage and built a program on the bedrock of integrity, honor and his famed 16 goals for success,” said Richard Myers, Kansas State University president.

“He came here, and stayed here, because of the people. He made us a family — a proud purple family who travel in record numbers to watch him lead the Wildcats to victories, bowls and rankings never achieved before. Coach Snyder has always taken the time and care to turn his players into college graduates, community leaders, successful businessmen and leaders of strong families. Bill Snyder is a legend and his legacy is one that K-Staters for generations will value and cherish,” Myers said.

Following a three-year retirement from 2006-2008, Snyder returned to the sidelines in 2009 with hopes of revitalizing a program that he once built, piece by piece, into a national force. And, after nine seasons back in charge, he did just that – and then some.

Over the past 10 years under Snyder, K-State has totaled 79 victories, advanced to eight bowl games, won a conference championship in 2012 and finished third or better in the ultra-competitive Big 12 Conference in four of the last seven seasons.

Act Two of his renowned career started in 2009 when the Wildcats played for a berth in the Big 12 Championship on the last week of the season and went 6-6 prior to a 7-5 campaign in 2010 and a berth in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl.

K-State’s climb back into the nation picture continued in 2011 as the Cats went 10-3, finished No. 8 in the BCS standings and earned their first Cotton Bowl invitation in 10 years

The bar was raised again in 2012 as Snyder led the Cats to their third conference championship in school history and first since 2003. Kansas State, which won its first 10 games of the season and finished the regular season at 11-1 with an 8-1 mark in Big 12 play, tied the school record for overall wins and conference victories while also ascending to No. 1 in the BCS rankings following its 10-0 start.

Snyder went on to win the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award as well as top Big 12 coach honors for the second straight season following the Cats’ memorable 2012 season that culminated with a berth in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and quarterback Collin Klein being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

From 2013-2018, K-State won an average of almost eight games a year and included a 2014 season that saw the Cats ranked once again in the Top 10 and compete for a Big 12 Championship in the final week of the season.

When Snyder was named the Wildcats’ head football coach in 1988, he inherited a team that had just suffered through its second-consecutive winless season and was on a current 0-26-1 stretch. It was a program that had been through 14 different head coaches and won just 24 percent of its games – going 137-455-18 – between Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf’s 1934 Big Six championship team and his hiring.

But it did not take long for Snyder to change the entire culture of the program. In just his third year, he guided the 1991 Wildcats to a 7-4 record to give K-State just its second winning season since 1970. For his efforts, Snyder was named ESPN’s National Coach of the Year.

Just two seasons later, Snyder would guide Kansas State to a 9-2-1 record and a berth in the 1993 Copper Bowl, marking just the second bowl appearance ever by the Wildcats.

The trip to Tucson was the first of 11-straight postseason appearances for Snyder’s Wildcats, who quickly became a fixture on the Big 8/12 bowl circuit.

Along the way, Kansas State would become just the second team in the history of college football to win 11 games in six of seven seasons from 1997 and 2003.

The 11-win campaign in 2003 brought more firsts for Kansas State as Snyder guided the Wildcats to an unforgettable upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship game that not only gave the Wildcats their first Big 12 title and BCS bowl berth, but captivated the imagination of the nation’s college football fans.

In his first tenure, Snyder guided Kansas State to 11 winning seasons, four Big 12 North Division titles and three Big 12 Championship games as the Wildcats recorded the eighth-most wins in Division I-A from 1993-2004.

In addition to the team accomplishments, Snyder’s players were also some of the most decorated in the country. In his first 16 years, he produced three national award winners, 45 All-America selections and 68 first team all-conference honorees.

The rebuilding effort and subsequent success engineered at Kansas State by Snyder clearly stands as one of the most amazing in all of college football.

A national search is underway to identify K-State’s next football coach. The department will utilize Ventura Partners to assist with the search.