Kansas State's Bill Snyder retired in 2005 at the age of 65. Bill was a coach for the record books, a legend in his time. Amassing over 150 wins during his tenure at Kansas State, Bill had earned honors as the Big 8 Coach of the Year, Big 12 Coach of the Year. He was even named the first AP Coach of the Year. All of this was merited as his Wildcat players were equivalently decorated as national award winners, including Heisman trophy finalists, and first team All-Americans.

Bill was so beloved for his life's work with the Wildcats' football program, the university named the stadium after him.

Despite Bill Snyder's storied past, he left his program on a low note, back-to-back losing seasons. The Wildcats' football program had regressed significantly since their 2003 Fiesta Bowl appearance, a team that won 11 games.

With the aging Bill Synder gone. The Wildcats' football program could move on. Or could they?

The first year without Bill, the Wildcats won seven games. But thereafter, the Wildcats were just a five win team (a losing record) in 2007 and 2008.

Could Bill Snyder, passed the full retirement age for Social Security, have done better?

Rather than just kick the can around on message boards for decades, Kansas State decided to put speculation to rest. Bill Snyder was hired out of retirement.

Returning to coaching in 2009 at the ripe-old-age of 69, Bill Snyder proved that he was back where he belonged. Although his 2009 and 2010 teams managed just six and seven wins respectively, the 2011 team won ten games and finished the season ranked #15 in the AP poll to end the season.

But Bill wasn't done. In 2012, the 72 year old coached his Wildcats' to a 10-0 start, and a #1 overall in-season ranking. That 2012 team would finish 11-2, highlighted with a Fiesta Bowl appearance and a #12 AP ranking.

Bill still coaches today at age 74. Bill's 2013 team won a bowl game. And this year the Wildcats are off to a good 2-0 start,ranked #19 in the country.

When Bill Snyder retired in 2005 he was two years removed a Fiesta Bowl appearance. But he was old, and he was coaching losing teams. Through a series of fortunate events, Bill was able to return out of retirement and coach once again. And here we are today, in the year 2014, almost a decade after Bill's first retirement, and once again (74 year old) Bill Snyder is two years removed from a Fiesta Bowl appearance.

Bill Snyder also built a program off of JUCO's and props

Another fun fact to add to the story:

In 2003 Kansas State won the program's first conference title since 1934. The 69 year drought was the longest span between conference titles in FBS history at the time (I would guess that it still is, even if OHIO nabbed one this year).

Again that conference title was immediately followed by back to back losing seasons and then Bill Snyder's retirement.

K-State was able to win a another conference title in 2012 after Bill Snyder came out of retirement.