SE: Jason Ray, K-State Football Staff Finding New Normal in Return to Office
May 27, 2020 | Football, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Jason Ray is focused on a mindset.
Walking around the Vanier Family Football Complex these days, he's part of a coaching staff that is among the first members of K-State Athletics to return to campus this month.
Ninety percent of the time, Ray is in his office. But, when the K-State wide receivers coach joins an offensive staff meeting, the mask comes on and coaches spread themselves out across the room usually reserved for team meetings.
After his first season in Manhattan, Ray isn't worried about learning everyone's name or helping to install an offense from scratch. Just the challenges that come with helping his receivers navigate offseason prep during a pandemic. That's where the mindset comes in.
"For us, it's the responsibility of the players to understand that the time frame for preparation may look a little different, so they have to be on their mental game," Ray said. "It's about developing the mindset of how you need to conduct yourself when you come back."
The last week has been an opportunity for the K-State coaching staff to return to the office and establish a foundation that will be crucial when student-athletes arrive on campus next month.
Chris Klieman's staff hasn't been together since early March. That's when Zoom calls and group chats replaced team activities during a remote semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
One of the biggest steps in K-State football's return will come on June 15, when student-athletes can begin voluntary on-campus activities in Manhattan.
Being back together in Vanier, even without his players, Ray has been able to work more efficiently alongside the coaching staff that will lead the Wildcats into the 2020 season.
"It's not quite face-to-face, but within the social distancing that we're doing, we can watch recruits in our team meeting room and do some install things," Ray said. "You can communicate without technical issues."
For the second straight summer, the Wildcats will go through an offseason with a deck that seems stacked against them. In 2019, a new coaching staff under Klieman worked overtime to build a relationship with players and bring a new playbook to Manhattan.
The challenge is a different one in 2020, but the driving force remains the same for Ray.
"That's why you're in it. To work with people and be around people. Even just talking with our administrative assistants, it felt so good to be back in the building," Ray said. "It comes with the nature of how we operate: together."
This new normal for K-State football isn't without challenges. Ray said that assistant coaches can't just walk into each other's office to ask a question.
"Those casual conversations and just dropping in another guy's office to talk ball or talk family, those interactions are really limited to almost none," he said. "The first couple of days back, it felt a little bizarre walking around with a face covering on. That's probably been the biggest change."
Leading the wide receivers during his first season in Manhattan, Ray helped develop one of the Wildcats standout position groups in 2019. The numbers on offense speak for themselves: K-State led the nation in red zone percentage (96.2%) and finished 10th in passes intercepted (5).
Before his first season on Coach Klieman's staff at K-State, Ray talked about the importance of his receiver group finding a way to contribute on special teams. Just a few months later, Joshua Youngblood arrived in Manhattan and housed three kick returns for touchdowns in 2019.
"We still have to make sure we're running to the football. These are things we've been talking about already, so that they know what the expectation level is when they get back," Ray said. "You tend to forget things whenever you're away from football, so we've got to make sure we're jogging off the field or sprinting to the ball. Little things like that."
In addition to Youngblood, the Wildcats will return four of their top five leading receivers to a unit that stretched the field last season. Replacing Dalton Schoen – who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in the spring – the Wildcats will have plenty of options in the passing attack.
"It's interesting to see who speaks up in the Zoom meetings. The whole group has been good accountability-wise, but Landry Weber and Malik Knowles have done a great job," he said.
Ray is confident his receivers have a handle on the offense ahead of the 2020 season. His focus now turns to instilling good habits in his players and seeing who steps up in practice.
On that front, Ray is ready to get back on the field with his guys.
"When we come back and we get rolling, whenever that is, there's an expectation in how we practice," Ray said. "For me, it's the mindset of how you need to conduct yourself when we come back and how you need to practice. Just those subtle reminders that this is what we do."
Jason Ray is focused on a mindset.
Walking around the Vanier Family Football Complex these days, he's part of a coaching staff that is among the first members of K-State Athletics to return to campus this month.
Ninety percent of the time, Ray is in his office. But, when the K-State wide receivers coach joins an offensive staff meeting, the mask comes on and coaches spread themselves out across the room usually reserved for team meetings.
Back at it 😸#KStateFB ⚒ pic.twitter.com/VBKklAgsn9
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) May 20, 2020
After his first season in Manhattan, Ray isn't worried about learning everyone's name or helping to install an offense from scratch. Just the challenges that come with helping his receivers navigate offseason prep during a pandemic. That's where the mindset comes in.
"For us, it's the responsibility of the players to understand that the time frame for preparation may look a little different, so they have to be on their mental game," Ray said. "It's about developing the mindset of how you need to conduct yourself when you come back."
The last week has been an opportunity for the K-State coaching staff to return to the office and establish a foundation that will be crucial when student-athletes arrive on campus next month.
Chris Klieman's staff hasn't been together since early March. That's when Zoom calls and group chats replaced team activities during a remote semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
One of the biggest steps in K-State football's return will come on June 15, when student-athletes can begin voluntary on-campus activities in Manhattan.
Being back together in Vanier, even without his players, Ray has been able to work more efficiently alongside the coaching staff that will lead the Wildcats into the 2020 season.
"It's not quite face-to-face, but within the social distancing that we're doing, we can watch recruits in our team meeting room and do some install things," Ray said. "You can communicate without technical issues."
For the second straight summer, the Wildcats will go through an offseason with a deck that seems stacked against them. In 2019, a new coaching staff under Klieman worked overtime to build a relationship with players and bring a new playbook to Manhattan.
K-State responded with the best season in the country from a team with a first-year head coach, behind only Ohio State.Wide receivers coach @CoachJRay takes the mic in spring practice#KStateFB pic.twitter.com/4CfIOBZSuD
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) March 15, 2019
The challenge is a different one in 2020, but the driving force remains the same for Ray.
"That's why you're in it. To work with people and be around people. Even just talking with our administrative assistants, it felt so good to be back in the building," Ray said. "It comes with the nature of how we operate: together."
"Those casual conversations and just dropping in another guy's office to talk ball or talk family, those interactions are really limited to almost none," he said. "The first couple of days back, it felt a little bizarre walking around with a face covering on. That's probably been the biggest change."
Leading the wide receivers during his first season in Manhattan, Ray helped develop one of the Wildcats standout position groups in 2019. The numbers on offense speak for themselves: K-State led the nation in red zone percentage (96.2%) and finished 10th in passes intercepted (5).
Before his first season on Coach Klieman's staff at K-State, Ray talked about the importance of his receiver group finding a way to contribute on special teams. Just a few months later, Joshua Youngblood arrived in Manhattan and housed three kick returns for touchdowns in 2019.
Ray said the receivers have maintained a "virtual locker room" throughout the offseason to maintain contact during a remote semester. Getting his players mentally ready to return to football activities has been something Ray has looked to emphasize in recent weeks.Run it back, @YB060
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) December 4, 2019
Joshua Youngblood ➡️ @Big12Conference Special Teams Player of the Year#KStateFB ⚒ Pound The Stone pic.twitter.com/H6ck1EGEgC
"We still have to make sure we're running to the football. These are things we've been talking about already, so that they know what the expectation level is when they get back," Ray said. "You tend to forget things whenever you're away from football, so we've got to make sure we're jogging off the field or sprinting to the ball. Little things like that."
In addition to Youngblood, the Wildcats will return four of their top five leading receivers to a unit that stretched the field last season. Replacing Dalton Schoen – who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in the spring – the Wildcats will have plenty of options in the passing attack.
"It's interesting to see who speaks up in the Zoom meetings. The whole group has been good accountability-wise, but Landry Weber and Malik Knowles have done a great job," he said.
Ray is confident his receivers have a handle on the offense ahead of the 2020 season. His focus now turns to instilling good habits in his players and seeing who steps up in practice.
On that front, Ray is ready to get back on the field with his guys.
"When we come back and we get rolling, whenever that is, there's an expectation in how we practice," Ray said. "For me, it's the mindset of how you need to conduct yourself when we come back and how you need to practice. Just those subtle reminders that this is what we do."
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