Oklahoma State Hires Sean Snyder to Coach Kickers and Punters

(Oklahoma State Athletics media relations contributed to this article)

STILLWATER – Mike Gundy has added another former Kansas State coach to the staff. On Wednesday, the OSU Athletic Department announced the hiring of Sean Snyder to coach kickers and punters.

Snyder is the son of legendary Kansas State coach, Bill Snyder.

“Sean brings years of experience with kickers and punters and special teams concepts,” Gundy said in the release from Oklahoma State. “We’re really excited about what he brings to our coaching staff.”

Snyder spent this past season in Lawrence, KS, and KU as a special assistant to Lance Leipold, also serving as a special teams coach. Prior to the 2023 season, Snyder was on staff at Illinois as the special teams coordinator and specialists coach. He was in the same role at USC the two seasons before that.

According to the release from Oklahoma State, “Snyder was at Kansas State for a total of nearly 30 years before moving to USC for the 2020 season, playing the role of punter from 1990-92, part-time assistant coach in 1994 and 1995, director of football operations from 1996-98, assistant athletic director for football operations in 1999 and 2000, associate athletic director in 2001 and senior associate athletic director from 2002 to 2010. He then moved into his role working with K-State's special teams as the special teams coordinator and associate head coach from 2011-18 and as a special teams analyst in 2019.

During his time in Manhattan, Kansas State was in the Top 15 of the ESPN Special Teams Efficiency rating five times, including first in 2017, second in 2015 and third in 2012. The Wildcats were also in the top 25 of the Football Outsiders Special Teams Rating six times, including first in 2017, third in 2014 and 2019 and sixth in 2012. Snyder was named the national Special Teams Coordinator of the Year in 2015 by FootballScoop and Phil Steele and in 2017 by Phil Steele.

Under Snyder, Kansas State's special teams units set or tied eight team records and 20 individual marks. He coached four Big 12 Special Teams Players of the Year, including three consecutive (returners Tyler Lockett in 2013 and 2014, Morgan Burns in 2015 and Joshua Youngblood in 2019). Lockett was an All-American first team kickoff returner in 2011 and punt returner in 2014. Burns earned All-American first team honors in 2015 as a kick returner when he led the country in kickoff return touchdowns (4). Youngblood was a Freshman All-American first teamer in 2019 when he ran back 3 kickoffs for TDs and helped Kansas State top the nation in kickoff return average (29.5).”

Oklahoma State kicks the 2024 season off on August 31 in Stillwater against South Dakota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.