Kansas State University Athletics
Mission Statement
The primary mission of the Kansas State Football Strength and Conditioning Department is to provide athletes with a structured training design to improve mental and physical performance while decreasing the risk of injury through resiliency. Our goal is to provide our football student-athletes with a holistic training environment that produces the highest results in athletic development and human performance.
Our program is designed in accordance with the specified needs of each athlete pertaining to their specific needs at their position. Methods used in order to achieve the highest physical adaptation possible include speed, strength, power, anaerobic, aerobic, plyometric, and mobility training.
The Kansas State Football Strength and Conditioning Department pursues excellence in giving our student-athletes the tools and guidance in developing the aspects of work ethic, integrity, attention to detail, and leadership through our core values: Discipline, Commitment, Toughness, and Selflessness.
Through neurological and physiological methods and considerations, the Kansas State Football Strength and Conditioning Department aims to develop our athletes into high-performance athletes that win in competition and in life.
“Our goal is to help our athletes accomplish their dreams and their goals.” EMAW
Staff
Under the guidance of Director of Strength and Conditioning Ray Thomas and his assistants, the K-State strength and conditioning program is committed to maximizing the on-field performance of every student-athlete.
The program combines weight training, plyometrics, stretching and flexibility exercises, running and proper nutrition to enhance each student-athlete's ability to compete. Thomas became a certified strength and conditioning specialist in May 2018 and earned his USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coaching Certification three months prior.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ray Thomas | Elijah Blackman | Ashton Farmer | Seth Porter |
| Director of Strength and Conditioning | Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Garrett Williams | Lance Yancy | Scott Trausch | |
| Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach | Director of Sports Science | Director of Sports Diet and Nutrition |
Proper Nutrition
Maximizing on-field potential is more than just lifting weights and running; it’s also ensuring that each student-athlete is benefiting from a nutritional and dietary program specific to their needs. Under the direction of K-State’s first full-time sports nutritionist, Scott Trausch, K-State football players receive performance fueling strategies, team and individual nutrition education, hydration and body composition testing. Trausch works with the staff at the new Ahearn Fund Student-Athlete Performance Table in the West Stadium Center to coordinate nutritious meals for all K-State student-athletes.
Click here to get an inside look at Performance Table
Sports Science
Optimizing athletes’ performance requires coaches and athletes to know when to push harder, and when to pull back. Under the direction K-State’s first full time sports scientist, Lance Yancy, we can clo¬sely monitor team, positional, and individual workloads through various modalities, and provide insight to their performance in the weight room and on the field. This ensures athletes are properly progressing throughout the year while mitigating injury risk.
Some of the sports technology utilized at K-State includes 120 Catapult GPS devices to monitor workload on the field, EliteForm for velocity-based training in the weight room, and VALD Nordbord for individual athlete assessments.
Facilities
The massive new Strength & Conditioning Center at the Vanier Family Football Complex is more than double the footprint of the previous building and features multi-level height ceilings, natural lighting and a built-in plyometric ramp.
K-State is blessed to have the type of first-rate facilities that allow student-athletes to develop to their fullest potential and become champions.
Click here to view the virtual facilities tour
Vanier Football Complex
Shamrock Indoor Practice Facility
5
A young and energetic coach who has worked at spent the last four seasons at K-State, Ray Thomas was promoted to Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Wildcat football program in May 2025. Thomas, who arrived at K-State in March 2021 to serve as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, was promoted to associate director prior to the 2023 season.