photo by: Richard Gwin

The first time Bill Snyder decided to retire as Kansas State football coach, the school didn’t get it right in hiring a replacement.

Ron Prince lasted just three seasons (2006-08). Once Snyder departed, the college-football tide in the state of Kansas turned away from K-State and in favor of Kansas University.

Mark Mangino, who went 1-4 against Snyder (1-3 during Snyder I, 0-1 for Snyder II), his former boss, went 3-0 vs. Prince. Mangino was forced out at Kansas after Snyder’s first season back, and Snyder’s dominance over KU is greater than ever.

In the seven seasons of Snyder’s second stretch at K-State, Kansas has gone 4-57 in the Big 12, the Wildcats 37-24. Snyder has won all seven games against Kansas, winning by an average margin of 38.3 points in the six post-Mangino games.

Oh, well, Snyder, 76, won’t stay at K-State forever. He is seven victories shy of 200 for his career, which started in 1989, an attainable figure in one or two seasons.

I’ve always thought that if K-State botches replacing him again, that’s another opportunity for Kansas to make recruiting strides in the state.

The chances of K-State making a bad hire are about to get slimmer. I’m told by someone in the know that Snyder has arranged for the hiring of former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill, who will serve as something of a liaison between Snyder and athletic director John Currie.

Kill knows two things the way Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson know the bottom of the net. Kill knows football, and he knows Kansas. He not only will make a terrific sounding board for Snyder on football matters, he will be a great source of insight for Currie when the time comes to find a new coach.

Kill retired from coaching seven games into this past season at Minnesota because of multiple seizures. His new job won’t be as stressful, won’t put him at as much risk.

A native of Cheney, Kill, 54, played linebacker for Southwestern College in Winfield and worked at Pittsburg State and Emporia State early in his coaching career. His presence at Kansas State, even though in a non-coaching, non-recruiting role, surely will help Kansas State solidify its stranglehold on in-state football recruits. Kill is well liked and respected by high school coaches throughout the state.

Kill directed quick turnarounds as head coach at Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois and Minnesota. He is about to move behind the scenes. Kansas State’s football future becomes brighter with him coming on board.