USC Football to hire Kansas State’s Sean Snyder as special teams coordinator

USC has underwent quite a few coaching changes during the offseason. They now make another change to address a vacant spot on their coaching staff.

The Trojans are set to hire long time Kansas State assistant Season Snyder as special teams coordinator per multiple reports Thursday evening. The news of the hiring was first reported by Ryan Black of Mercury News and followed by Bruce Feldman of the Athletic.

Snyder, the son of legendary Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, has been with the football program for 26 years and served under many different roles. Following an All-American career as a punter at Kansas State, Snyder’s first role with the program was director of football operations. In 2011 he began his coaching career as special teams coordinator and associate head coach under his father. He spent eight seasons in that position. Following the 2018 season Chris Kileman replaced Bill Snyder as the new Kansas State head coach following his retirement. Kileman opted not to retain Sean Snyder as the special teams coordinator. Instead he was kept on the staff as senior special teams analyst.

Snyder will replace former USC special teams coordinator John Baxter, who was fired following the team’s defeat against Iowa in the Holiday Bowl. The Trojans special teams have under performed in numerous areas the last three seasons. Last season they ranked dead last in college football in kickoff coverage. They also ranked in the bottom half of the Pac-12 in average punt return yardage per game and kick return. Punt team also ranked in the bottom half of the conference.

The hire is a much needed and strong one. Snyder is viewed as one of the top special teams coordinators in the country and for good reason. In 2015 he was named special teams coordinator of the year by FootballScoop. That year Kansas State special teams was ranked among the best in College football in multiple categories such as kickoff returns and blocked kicks. He also had two All-Big 12 kickers and a Big 12 special teams player of the year in Morgan Burns. From 2014 to 2018 Kansas State ranked in the top 30 in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ratings under Snyder.

Last season Kansas State was ranked No. 1 in the nation in kickoff returns, four of them returned for a touchdown and ranked No. 29 in net punting.

With the hire USC now has two vacancies to fill on their coaching staff. The team announced the hires of safeties coach Craig Navair and tight ends coach John David Baker on Monday. The Trojans still on the search for a cornerback coach and defensive line coach following the firing of Greg Burns and Chad Kuaha’aha’a.