RobSnyder

Rob Snyder is in his first season as Kentucky’s assistant defensive line coach, where he works primarily with the Wildcats’ defensive ends.

He comes to the Bluegrass after a six-month stint as the defensive line coach at Illinois State. Before that, Snyder spent two seasons in the same position at Nicholls State. In 2024, the Colonels ranked fourth in the FCS in rushing defense (83.9 yards per game), ninth in passing defense and 17th in turnovers gained while allowing just six rushing touchdowns, the fewest in the subdivision. During the 2025 season, Nicholls ranked 33rd nationally in total defense, ninth in passing defense and 17th in turnovers gained. Under Snyder’s guidance, defensive linemen Zack Bernard and Rasheed Lovelace earned first-team All-Southland Conference honors in 2024, while Alex Villavaso received Phil Steele All-Southland Conference recognition.

Snyder coached the defensive line at South Dakota during the 2023 season, where he developed one of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s premier defensive fronts. His unit featured conference sack leader and AP All-American Brendan Webb, Freshman All-American and current Kentucky Wildcat Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace, and FedEx National Player of the Week Nick Gaes. The Coyotes also led the FCS in pass breakups by defensive linemen, while three of Snyder’s defensive linemen earned All-MVFC honors.

Before returning to the college ranks, Snyder served as defensive coordinator at Holy Cross High School in New Orleans in 2021 before coaching the defensive line and serving as defensive coordinator at Jesuit High School in 2022.

Snyder spent the 2019 season at Missouri as a defensive line graduate assistant, assisting with all aspects of the Tigers’ defensive front, with an emphasis on the defensive ends.

Prior to Missouri, he served as a defensive analyst at LSU from 2016-18, working under legendary defensive line coach Pete Jenkins. During his three seasons with the Tigers, LSU advanced to three consecutive bowl games, defeating Louisville in the 2016 Citrus Bowl, while fielding the nation’s fifth-ranked total defense that season.

A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Snyder was a walk-on tight end and linebacker for the Tigers before starting his coaching career as a student coach. He earned a varsity letter for his play as a senior and graduated from LSU in 2015 with a degree in sports commerce with a minor in business.

Throughout his career, Snyder has coached numerous future NFL players, including first-round picks K’Lavon Chaisson and Darius Robinson, Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter and NFL veterans Jordan Elliott, Rashard Lawrence and Breiden Fehoko.

Snyder and his wife, Evon, have two rescue dogs, Junior and Chip.

Rob Snyder’s Coaching Career