If I were Snyder, and I want to keep coaching, here's what I'd do in the off-season to increase the level of defensive coaching and recruiting. This assume that Cosh is fired, Joe Bob is pushed into 'exploring other career options', and Latimore retires. I know that the likelihood of these things happening is remote at best, but I'm going to dream.
Also, before anyone starts jumping all over me about Leavitt being the HCIW, I'm going to also assume in my dream world that Del Miller retires in the next year or two, and Snyder goes and finds some young, offensive guy to groom as the replacement. Like this guy after Les Miles eventually gets fired:
http://kansasstate.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Year=2011&Sport=1&Coach=282.
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Jim Leavitt (Also gets the "Assistant Head Coach" tag to justify increase in pay).
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line: Chris Wilson (
http://kansasstate.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Coach=84&Team=57&Sport=1&Year=2011)
Cornerbacks: Wesley McGriff (
http://kansasstate.rivals.com/viewcoach.asp?Year=2011&Sport=1&Coach=108)
Safeties: Keith Burns
Leavitt would bring two things: One, he brings an immense amount of experience to the table. Like him or not, he was actually a very successful coach considering the fact that he basically made a football program from scratch in D1-AA, made the move to D1-A, and guided them into a BCS conference. All with an overall winning record. That deserves and commands respect. The second thing he brings to the table is intensity. When you're working with a group lacking in talent, you need someone to push them every day. Leavitt is that guy. Also, the guy knows Florida like the back of his hand, so he'd have a lot of "ins" with high school coaches there.
Also, as a bonus, if something happens to Snyder, health wise, in the next few years, Leavitt would be a decent guy to bring out of the bullpen to finish off a season.
Chris Wilson is a guy that I've had my eye on for a while. The guy is originally from Texas, went to Oklahoma, and he spent ten years coaching in the Big 12 between Colorado and OU. His recruiting territory was Texas and Louisiana, two of our biggest states at this point. He's been a part of the Mississippi State resurgence, and if we put the right money together, you never know.
Adding McGriff would be awesome. The dude knows Texas and Florida, so we'd have a capable recruiter in those areas. It would also allow us to spread out and give more individual coaching to the defensive secondary, and if this season is any indicator, they need it.
Anyway, that would be the staff I'd assemble. Put Wilson up in the box and give him responsibility. Let Leavitt coach on the field. Get McGriff on the road and let him work his magic.
THAT would be a defensive staff I could be proud of.