MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State coach Ron Prince will not return for the 2009 season, stepping aside after failing to rebuild the Wildcats into a Big 12 contender.

Athletic director Bob Krause announced Prince's resignation Wednesday.

Prince is 16-18 in 2 1/2 seasons in Manhattan after taking over for Bill Snyder in his first head coaching job. Kansas State was 7-6 and went to a bowl game in Prince's first season, but has regressed since, going 5-7 last season and 4-5 this year.

The Wildcats have lost three straight headed into Saturday's game against Missouri, including a 56-21 setback to Kansas last weekend that dropped Prince to 0-3 against Kansas State's in-state rival.