Former Arizona State coach Snyder passes away

Sports Network | April 13, 2009

Tempe, AZ (Sports Network) - Former Arizona State football coach Bruce Snyder passed away on Monday at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer.

The university released a statement saying that Snyder died at his Phoenix home. He was diagnosed with cancer last June.

Snyder coached the Sun Devils from 1992-2000, which included an 11-0 season in 1996 that was spoiled by a last-minute 20-17 loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. He was rewarded with Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as national coach of the year for the season.

His 58 wins with Arizona State rank second all-time, behind only Frank Kush, with the school.

Also, he was a coach at Utah State from 1976-82 and California from 1987-91. His overall record in college was 126-106-5.

Snyder was also an assistant coach for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams from 1983-86.

The 1996 team, which defeated two-time defending champion and then-No. 1 Nebraska 19-0, had Jake Plummer at quarterback and Pat Tillman at linebacker.

Plummer went on to quarterback the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. Tillman also played for the Cardinals, but quit the sport to join the Army Rangers. He was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan in 2004.

Snyder is survived by his wife, three daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, four sisters and two brothers.