Bucknell University Athletics
Kevin Snyder Joins Bucknell Staff as Manager of Basketball Operations
7/12/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 12, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Kevin Snyder, a former all-conference guard recruited by Dave Paulsen at Williams College, has joined Paulsen's staff at Bucknell as the manager of basketball operations. Snyder joins the defending Patriot League champion Bison after spending last season as an assistant coach at Brown.
A native of Littleton, Colo., Snyder graduated from Williams in 2009 after double-majoring in psychology and art studio. Not only was he a First Team All-NESCAC selection as a senior, but he was also named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team. Snyder was a three-time recipient of his school's Academic Scholar-Athlete Award. On the floor he was a three-year starter who compiled 1,016 points, 237 assists and 272 rebounds. He averaged 16.8 points per game and also led the team in assists as a senior. During his sophomore year - Paulsen's next-to-last year at Williams -- he helped lead the Ephs to a NESCAC title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Snyder launched his coaching career in 2009-10 as the director of basketball operations at William & Mary. He was part of a staff that led the Tribe to a 22-10 record and an NIT berth. It was William & Mary's most wins since 1949-50 and the third-most in program history.
One year later Snyder returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach under Mike Maker. In 2010-11 Williams finished 29-3 and advanced all the way to the Division III Final Four. After two years at Williams, Snyder last season returned to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Brown. In 2012-13 the Bears finished in fourth place in the Ivy League with a 7-7 record.
"I am thrilled that Kevin will be joining our staff," said Paulsen. "Kevin was an excellent player for me at Williams, and I always knew he had the makings of a terrific coach. He has had the opportunity to work with and learn from three of the best coaches in the business at three programs with extremely high academic standards. Kevin comes to our program with a level of maturity beyond his years. He will fit in great here."
Snyder replaces Nick Leonardelli on Bucknell's staff. Leonardelli recently accepted an assistant coach position at UMass Lowell, which will be moving up to the Division I ranks as a member of the America East Conference in 2013-14. Leonardelli will be working under another Williams alum in Pat Duquette, who was previously an assistant coach for 20 years, primarily at Boston College from 1997-2010 and at Northeastern from 2010-13 before being named head coach at UMass Lowell in May. Duquette also spent the 1994-95 campaign as an assistant to Paulsen at St. Lawrence.
"I am very excited for this professional opportunity for Nick," said Paulsen. "Nick was the consummate professional and worked tirelessly directing all of our team operations. This new position will give him the opportunity to coach and recruit and learn from one of the best in the business. Pat Duquette was the very first assistant I ever hired 20 years ago, and I'm excited that they will be working together."
Bucknell finished 28-6 in 2012-13, setting school and league records for wins in a season. The Bison became the first team in Patriot League history to garner three straight outright regular-season titles, and they went on to defeat Lafayette in the Patriot League championship game. Bucknell earned a No. 11 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, the second-highest seed in school and league history.
