October 11, 2005
$3.5 million donation to defray Snyder's salary
Do you love your team's head coach enough to give $3.5 million to help pay his salary (assuming you had the dough)? Apparently, Jack Vanier of Brookville, Kansas, and his family love Bill Snyder and Kansas State football enough to do just that.
The Vaniers donated the $3.5 million to establish an endowment that will defray a portion of Snyder's pay, and presumably allow K-State to remain competitive in terms of the skyrocketing coaching salaries around college football today.
According to a statement published in the Kansas City Star, Vanier said:
"The gift was made to begin the process of endowing the head football coach's position and to show our appreciation to Coach Snyder and his staff for all they have done for Kansas State."
Snyder remains a hero among 'Cats fans for raising the program from the dead when he took over 16 years ago, despite the Wildcats' recent tumble down from high national rankings. Many coaches would welcome the kind of "put your money where your mouth is" support that Snyder is receiving, but one cannot help but wonder if the endowment won't ultimately serve to sweeten the pot for his successor (upon Snyder's retirement). If K-State wants a program that can return to a high perch, the next coach probably won't come cheap.
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