Snitz Snider
Euil "Snitz" Snider (born December 9, 1905 in Adger; died February 8, 1978) was an Olympic athlete, a successful football coach at Bessemer High School, and director of the Bessemer Technical Institute.
Snider graduated from Oak Grove High School and lettered in football, basketball and track at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn between 1924 and 1928. He set a national record in the 400-meter race at 48 seconds and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. In the Olympics, he failed to get through the second round heats. U.S. teammate Ray Barbuti won gold with a run of 47.8 seconds.
Snider was hired to coach the Dora High School football team in 1929, but stayed only one season. He returned to coaching in 1933 at Bessemer High School and spent 31 years there between 1933 and 1963, compiling a record of 162-70-12 with presumed pre-playoff state championships in 1933, 1952, 1953 and 1954; and three AHSAA playoff championships in 1961, 1962 and 1963. He was a hard-nosed coach who insisted on toughness and physical conditioning in his players, believing that outlasting opponents was the surest path to victory.
Snider also served as director of physical education for Howard College and head coach of the Howard Bulldogs football team in 1943.
Snider served as official starter for 25 Southeastern Conference track meets and 20 Florida Relays. He also coached the U.S. Navy's B-12 football team. From 1971 to 1972 he was director of the Bessemer Technical Institute.
Snider was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Alabama High School Athletics Association hall of fame in 1991. Bessemer's Snitz Snider Stadium was named in his honor in 1972.
| Preceded by: - |
Dora High School head football coach 1929 |
Succeeded by: - |
| Preceded by: - |
Bessemer High School head football coach 1933–1963 |
Succeeded by: - |
| Preceded by: William White |
Howard Bulldogs director of athletics 1943 |
Succeeded by: vacant |
| Preceded by: vacant |
Howard Bulldogs head football coach 1943 |
Succeeded by: Bub Walker |
| Preceded by: S. C. Porch |
Bessemer Tech director 1971–1972 |
Succeeded by: Charles Payne |
References
- "Snitz Snider dies." (February 10, 1978) Montgomery Advertiser
- Ingram, Ron & Rubin E. Grant (2006) Tales from Alabama Prep Football. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1596700599