Bielema fond of coaching icon

Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, right, stands with his team during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)FAYETTEVILLE — Bret Bielema fought back tears when he spoke of one of his coaching mentors Sunday night.

Bill Snyder offered Bielema a job at Kansas State following the 2001 season. Bielema was then an assistant coach at Iowa, where Snyder had been an assistant coach prior to leading the Wildcats out of futility in the 1980s.

Both came from the same coaching tree, having played for or coached under longtime Hawkeyes head coach Hayden Fry. Bielema said he was encouraged to take the…