Bill Snyder wins Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award

Kansas State Wildcats' head coach Bill Snyder was named the winner of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award on Monday night during the Chick Fil-A Bowl, making him a five-time winner of national coach of the year recognition.

The winner of the award is determined by the votes of former winners of the award and big-name celebrities synonymous with college football. On Tuesday, Kansas State athletics sent out a press release congratulating Snyder for the honor:

"The entire K-State family congratulates Coach Snyder on being named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year," said Athletics Director John Currie. "What makes this award even more special is its focus on character and academic excellence, in addition to a team's success on the field, and Coach Snyder is the epitome of those values."

Snyder, 73, was first named the head coach of the Wildcats in 1989 and held the post until he elected to retire following the 2005 season. After three seasons away from coaching, Snyder returned to coach K-State in 2009 and most recently led the team to a trip to the Fiesta Bowl to face the Oregon Ducks on Thursday.

He has amassed a career 170-84-1 record with the team, more than triple the wins recorded by any other K-State coach.