Robert “Bob” Pyle Snyder (“Coach”) died on Monday, February 14, 2022. He was 74.
Coach was born on March 12, 1947, to Elmer Clinton and Elizabeth Jane (Pyle) Snyder. He is survived by his only sibling and brother, James Clinton Snyder and sister-in-law, Maryann Snyder. He was the beloved and devoted uncle to niece Elizabeth Marie Snyder (New Orleans, LA) and nephew Second Lieutenant Benjamin James Snyder (US Army). His family will miss Uncle Bob’s daily text messages of encouragement with updates of local sports scores, weather and a line of numerous corresponding emojis.
Bob grew up in Patronville, and attended grade school at South Central School. He was a member of the last graduating class of Rockport High School (RHS) in 1965. He played for the RHS Zebras on the football, basketball and baseball teams. Bob also played for Rockport American Legion Post 254, then under Hall of Fame coach Bill Evans and the Rockport Jaycee’s team while in high school.
Following high school, Bob attended Indiana State University and graduated in 1970. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. While at ISU, Bob became interested in intramural athletics administration and followed his passion to coach and teach. Bob returned to Rockport after graduation and taught and coached two years at Harris Junior High in Richland.
In 1971, Bob returned to Indiana State, became Assistant Intramural Director and earned his master’s degree in physical education in 1974. Bob also became scorekeeper for the Men’s Basketball team which included the 1978-79 season when Larry Bird led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game against Magic Johnson and the Michigan State Spartans. Coach liked to tell stories of his traveling with the team that year.
In 1979, Coach took the post as Head Baseball Coach of Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel, IL. He led WVC to a third-place finish in the 1989 NJCAA World Series, with the team posting a 75-29 record. The team posted a 565-404 career record through the 1992 season. During his tenure, WVC won three Great Rivers Athletic Conference titles, four sectionals and one Region 24 championship. Four players from Coach’s WVC teams reached the major leagues with at least another 16 playing professionally. Over 200 of his WVC players went on to four-year schools.
Bob then took a teaching and coaching position at Grayville High School in southern Illinois. From 1994 to 2002, Coach led the Bison girls’ softball team to some of their most successful seasons, including a school record for wins in 1995 and conference Championships in 1995 and 1996. He was also an assistant basketball coach including the 2001-2002 team that posted a 28-2 record. Outside of coaching, Bob’s favorite experience each year was chaperoning the Senior trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls.
Upon his retirement from full time teaching, Bob became a fixture as a substitute teacher in the Warrick and Spencer County school systems and as a long-time driver’s education instructor. He also was an assistant coach for the Indiana Yankees, a fall U18 Select Baseball Club. Bob also became an associate scout for the Seattle Mariners and the Atlanta Braves. He was a devoted and popular volunteer for Indiana Sports Corporation events, including the World Basketball, Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
Despite all his individual coaching successes, Bob’s true passion was coaching third base for Rockport American Legion Post 254. In 1967 Bob began his transition to “Coach” when he joined Jim Haaff as third base coach for Post 254. The partnership withstood the test of time, as they coached side-by-side for 54 of the next 55 summers with the only exception being 1970 when Haaff earned his master’s degree and Snyder shared the dugout with his former coach Bill Evans. The long-time partnership culminated with another Indiana State Championship in 2021.
During this 54-year run, Post 254 compiled a record of 1,201-665-3. The pair led Rockport to 40 sectional championships, 22 regionals, nine state titles and four Great Lakes Regional championships. The 1974, 1984, 2007 and 2016 teams advanced to the American Legion World Series, finishing third in the nation in 2016. In honor of their 50 years of coaching partnership, Coach and Haaff were named Grand Marshals of the 2016 Rockport Christmas Parade. They were again honored in the 2021 parade in recognition of their team’s state championship that season.
Over the course of his career, Coach stayed connected to Indiana State as a long-time member of the Sycamore’s I-Club. He was honored for his work on the housing corporation of the Indiana State Delta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon with the Career Achievement Award in 2014. In 2001, Coach was the recipient of the Arlie Skelton Memorial Award for his contribution to the Indiana Department of the American Legion Baseball Program.
Coach was elected to the National Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014, the Greater Evansville Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2016, and the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday, February 26, at Boultinghouse Funeral Home in Rockport, with Pastor Jason Toler officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Visitation is 4 until 7 p.m., Friday, February 25, and from 9 until 10 a.m. Saturday morning at the funeral home.
Coach will be remembered by thousands of young people whom he positively impacted during his career as a coach and teacher. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his honor be made to the Spencer County Historical Society, c/o Spencer County Public Library, 210 Walnut Street, Rockport IN 47635.
Friends unable to attend may leave a condolence for the family at www.BoultinghouseFuneralHome.com.
