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Building a Strong Future - An Interview with Coach Jason Mansfield

Writer's picture: Jeremiah Belin Jeremiah Belin

Updated: Jan 28



Coach Mansfield holds up the wildcat hand sign with Jeremiah and Luke.
Coach Mansfield holds up the wildcat hand sign with Jeremiah and Luke.

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Coach Jason Mansfield interview withJeremiah Belin & Luke Brown

This past season has seen the K-State volleyball team faced with a blend of challenges and opportunities for growth. The hosts of the Dialed In Podcast, Jeremiah Belin and Luke Brown sat down with head coach Jason Mansfield, to get some insights on the team’s journey, his coaching philosophy, and how his family influences his approach to coaching.


Commitment to K-State and the Team


Mansfield’s focus for the upcoming season is on retaining and developing the players who are committed to K-State and its volleyball program. "We are not going to the transfer portal," Mansfield stated firmly. "We have 11 players coming back, and all 11 of them want to be here at K-State. I think that’s really special and speaks a lot to their commitment to K-State and to each other."


The core group of returning players is a strong foundation for Mansfield to build on. "I'm excited about the 5 seniors that we have coming back," Mansfield said. "We talked about us being an old team last year, and with 5 seniors coming back that have had a lot of playing time in their careers, plus 6 freshmen coming in, we'll have a good blend of experience and youth. Kids like Simone Symone Sims, Reagan Fox, and Makinsey Jones—some kids who are in between classes—also have experience and will be key for us."


One player Mansfield is particularly excited about is Tatum Tindall. The freshman didn’t get much playing time last year, but Mansfield sees huge upside in her. "We want to bring some more veteran roles for some of the younger players, like Tatum," Mansfield said. "She didn’t get much playing time this year, but I see a lot of potential in her. This offseason is key for her growth, and I’m excited to see where she goes."


Building Through High School Recruits


Mansfield’s philosophy centers around developing talent from within the program, focusing on elite high school recruits who are fully committed to the university and its values. "I want to build this program with players that want to be here for the right reasons," Mansfield explained.


"I want to focus on recruiting elite high school kids who have a passion for K-State. That’s the foundation I want to build upon."

The transfer portal may be a route many programs are taking, but Mansfield is determined to resist that temptation. "It’s crazy because there are over a thousand kids in the portal right now, and some of the best players in the country—All-Americans—are transferring," Mansfield said. "I love all the transfers we have, and the ones we’ve brought in have helped make us better for sure, but our focus will be on building with players who are committed to K-State for the long term."


Family and Personal Influence


Off the court, Mansfield’s close relationship with his younger brother, who is the head coach at Oklahoma, plays a significant role in his life and coaching journey. Despite being six years younger, his brother has been a big influence on Mansfield’s career. "He’s someone I’ve always looked up to, even though he’s younger than me," Mansfield shared. "We talk at least once a week about coaching and bounce ideas off each other. It’s been amazing to see us both be hired at our respective schools at the same time and to be so close to each other."

As for the prospect of coaching against his brother, Mansfield said, "It’s happened a couple of times, but I don’t love it. I’d rather cheer for him from afar. I don’t need that pressure of trying to beat my little brother or have him beat me."


Memorable Moments and the Team Culture


Mansfield was quick to highlight the strong bond and team culture at K-State, especially when it comes to players like Meg Brown. "Meg needs to be a yoga instructor," Mansfield joked. "Before practice, especially on the road, she would take over and lead yoga sessions. The girls didn’t know how to take it at first because she was so serious, but she was really into it. They weren’t very flexible, and they were kind of angry at her, but she kept doing it. She’s got the right attitude, and she’s so positive. I think she’s got a future in it."


Mansfield also reflected fondly on the camaraderie within the team, including moments of light-hearted competition. "Before every home match, the team would have a ping pong tournament in the locker room. They got so competitive, and it would get intense. They’d be sweating, and we’d come in to talk to the team before warm-ups, and they’d be at 21 all. I’m like, ‘Oh god, someone’s going to be upset after this.’ It was a lot of fun, though."


Looking Ahead


As the offseason progresses, Mansfield’s goals are clear: continue building a program based on strong values, develop young players, and recruit committed athletes. He’s excited about the potential for next season and believes that the blend of experience and fresh talent will help K-State volleyball continue to grow and thrive.


"I’m excited about where this program is going, and I think next year will be a great year," Mansfield concluded. "We’re focused on building something special, and with the players we have coming back and the new talent joining us, we have a lot to look forward to."

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