Kansas State University Athletics
Hughes Adds Connolly to Baseball Staff, Retains Conlon, Greaser
Jul 12, 2018 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State head baseball coach Pete Hughes announced Thursday that he has completed his staff with the hiring of Ryan Connolly as director of baseball operations while retaining Shane Conlon as volunteer assistant coach and naming Colin Greaser as director of player and program development.
The trio join assistant coaches Buck Taylor and Austin Wates, who were hired in June.
As the director of baseball operations, Connolly will spearhead the baseball program's recruiting efforts as well as manage the team's travel and summer camps.
"Ryan Connolly is a tremendous addition to our program," Hughes said. "Programs are built with great people and great recruiters. We absolutely have both with Ryan. He will bring Kansas State baseball to the highest levels with the standards he has set organizationally in recruiting and work ethic. More importantly, the type of integrity and loyalty he personifies will be a great example to all of our players on a daily basis."
Connolly comes to K-State after serving as the director of centralized recruiting for Virginia Tech Athletics for the 2017-18 season, where he spent the previous two seasons as an assistant baseball coach under former Hokies head coach Patrick Mason.
Connolly spent two seasons with Hughes at Oklahoma as the volunteer assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, leading the Sooners to the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the Big 12 in 2015. Prior to his time at OU, he was an assistant at Radford and was the volunteer assistant for two seasons with Hughes at Virginia Tech.
A native of Binghamton, New York, Connolly was a four-year monogram winner at Notre Dame, where he served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. The infielder/outfielder hit .324 with four homers in his final season with the Fighting Irish.
Conlon, one of the most decorated players in K-State history, has served as the volunteer assistant and first base coach the past two seasons for K-State. The former Wildcat standout has primarily worked with the team's infielders while also coordinating K-State baseball youth camps.
"Retaining Shane as a volunteer assistant coach was the easiest decision I'll make as head coach of K-State," said Hughes. "He played in the finest era of our program and his name is all over the record books here. What an asset he is to be around our players and teach them what it's like to be a true Wildcat and how to win at the highest levels of college baseball."
Conlon was a part of K-State's 2013 Big 12 championship team that reached the Corvallis Super Regional. That season, he was a unanimous all-Big 12 first team selection after hitting .341 with a .430 on-base percentage. Conlon was tied for the team lead with seven homers and finished third in the Big 12 with 125 total bases, starting all but one of the Cats' 64 games in 2013 at first base.
Following K-State's historic 2013 season, Conlon was taken in the 21st round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals but elected to return to K-State. After his senior season in 2015 and graduating with a degree in social sciences, he was taken by the Oakland A's in the 34th round and played one season in the organization, hitting .327 with 18 runs batted in with the Arizona League Athletics.
Greaser, who served as K-State director of baseball operations the last two years, is taking on a revised role with his responsibilities including managing the team's equipment, budget, student-athlete services as well as the Wildcats' home, Tointon Family Stadium.
"Colin is a vital part of K-State baseball," Hughes said. "His dedication to the program and hark work make him a tremendous asset. Colin knows this program and community and has earned the trust of the players, coaches and staff. The foundation is set and the future of K-State baseball is bright."
Prior to his appointment with K-State baseball in 2016, Greaser spent two years as assistant equipment manager for the K-State football program.
A native of Troy, Kansas, Greaser is a 2014 graduate of Kansas State, receiving a degree in social sciences. Before attending K-State, he played baseball at Highland Community College for two years as a pitcher.
THE RYAN CONNOLLY FILE
Born: May 3, 1987 in Binghamton, N.Y.
High School: Binghamton High School, Binghamton, N.Y.
College: Notre Dame, Bachelor's degree in psychology and pre-professional studies, 2009
Family: Wife: Ally
Playing Career
Notre Dame, 2006-09
Coaching Career
Virginia Tech, Volunteer Assistant Coach, 2010-12
Radford, Assistant Coach, 2012-13
Oklahoma, Volunteer Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator, 2013-15
Virginia Tech, Assistant Coach, 2015-17
Virginia Tech, Director of Centralized Recruiting, 2017-18
THE SHANE CONLON FILE
Born: February 27, 1992 in Downers Grove, Ill.
High School: Naperville Central High School, Naperville, Ill.
College: Kansas State, Bachelor's degree in social sciences, 2014
Kansas State, Master's degree in student development, 2018
Family: Wife: Kim
Playing Career
K-State, 2011-15
AZL Athletics, 2015
Coaching Career
K-State, Volunteer Assistant Coach, 2015-pres.
THE COLIN GREASER FILE
Born: April 7, 1991 in Atchison, Kan.
High School: Troy High School, Troy, Kan.
College: Kansas State, Bachelor's degree in social sciences, 2014
Playing Career
Highland Community College, 2011-12
The trio join assistant coaches Buck Taylor and Austin Wates, who were hired in June.
As the director of baseball operations, Connolly will spearhead the baseball program's recruiting efforts as well as manage the team's travel and summer camps.
"Ryan Connolly is a tremendous addition to our program," Hughes said. "Programs are built with great people and great recruiters. We absolutely have both with Ryan. He will bring Kansas State baseball to the highest levels with the standards he has set organizationally in recruiting and work ethic. More importantly, the type of integrity and loyalty he personifies will be a great example to all of our players on a daily basis."
Connolly comes to K-State after serving as the director of centralized recruiting for Virginia Tech Athletics for the 2017-18 season, where he spent the previous two seasons as an assistant baseball coach under former Hokies head coach Patrick Mason.
Connolly spent two seasons with Hughes at Oklahoma as the volunteer assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, leading the Sooners to the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the Big 12 in 2015. Prior to his time at OU, he was an assistant at Radford and was the volunteer assistant for two seasons with Hughes at Virginia Tech.
A native of Binghamton, New York, Connolly was a four-year monogram winner at Notre Dame, where he served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. The infielder/outfielder hit .324 with four homers in his final season with the Fighting Irish.
Conlon, one of the most decorated players in K-State history, has served as the volunteer assistant and first base coach the past two seasons for K-State. The former Wildcat standout has primarily worked with the team's infielders while also coordinating K-State baseball youth camps.
"Retaining Shane as a volunteer assistant coach was the easiest decision I'll make as head coach of K-State," said Hughes. "He played in the finest era of our program and his name is all over the record books here. What an asset he is to be around our players and teach them what it's like to be a true Wildcat and how to win at the highest levels of college baseball."
Conlon was a part of K-State's 2013 Big 12 championship team that reached the Corvallis Super Regional. That season, he was a unanimous all-Big 12 first team selection after hitting .341 with a .430 on-base percentage. Conlon was tied for the team lead with seven homers and finished third in the Big 12 with 125 total bases, starting all but one of the Cats' 64 games in 2013 at first base.
Following K-State's historic 2013 season, Conlon was taken in the 21st round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals but elected to return to K-State. After his senior season in 2015 and graduating with a degree in social sciences, he was taken by the Oakland A's in the 34th round and played one season in the organization, hitting .327 with 18 runs batted in with the Arizona League Athletics.
Greaser, who served as K-State director of baseball operations the last two years, is taking on a revised role with his responsibilities including managing the team's equipment, budget, student-athlete services as well as the Wildcats' home, Tointon Family Stadium.
"Colin is a vital part of K-State baseball," Hughes said. "His dedication to the program and hark work make him a tremendous asset. Colin knows this program and community and has earned the trust of the players, coaches and staff. The foundation is set and the future of K-State baseball is bright."
Prior to his appointment with K-State baseball in 2016, Greaser spent two years as assistant equipment manager for the K-State football program.
A native of Troy, Kansas, Greaser is a 2014 graduate of Kansas State, receiving a degree in social sciences. Before attending K-State, he played baseball at Highland Community College for two years as a pitcher.
THE RYAN CONNOLLY FILE
Born: May 3, 1987 in Binghamton, N.Y.
High School: Binghamton High School, Binghamton, N.Y.
College: Notre Dame, Bachelor's degree in psychology and pre-professional studies, 2009
Family: Wife: Ally
Playing Career
Notre Dame, 2006-09
Coaching Career
Virginia Tech, Volunteer Assistant Coach, 2010-12
Radford, Assistant Coach, 2012-13
Oklahoma, Volunteer Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator, 2013-15
Virginia Tech, Assistant Coach, 2015-17
Virginia Tech, Director of Centralized Recruiting, 2017-18
THE SHANE CONLON FILE
Born: February 27, 1992 in Downers Grove, Ill.
High School: Naperville Central High School, Naperville, Ill.
College: Kansas State, Bachelor's degree in social sciences, 2014
Kansas State, Master's degree in student development, 2018
Family: Wife: Kim
Playing Career
K-State, 2011-15
AZL Athletics, 2015
Coaching Career
K-State, Volunteer Assistant Coach, 2015-pres.
THE COLIN GREASER FILE
Born: April 7, 1991 in Atchison, Kan.
High School: Troy High School, Troy, Kan.
College: Kansas State, Bachelor's degree in social sciences, 2014
Playing Career
Highland Community College, 2011-12
Professional Career
Missouri State football, head equipment manager, 2014-15
K-State football, assistant equipment manager, 2015-16
K-State baseball, director of baseball operations, 2016-18
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