It’s all right. Do a double-take.
If you see Jonathan Beasley around Emporia, it’s OK to look twice.
The former Kansas State star quarterback already is used to it in his short time as Emporia State University’s new quarterbacks coach.
“When I came in for the first interview, a lot of the players walked by the door and looked, then came back,” Beasley said with a smile. “They were like, ‘Man, I used to watch you play,’ all wide-eyed and stuff.”
It’s the star treatment that Beasley has gained after earning his place as one of the greatest quarterbacks in Kansas State football history.
Now, the 28-year-old — after posting a 21-4 record with the Wildcats from 1999-2000 — has a different challenge: teaching all he knows to a new crop of athletes at ESU.
Hornet coach Garin Higgins believes Beasley has the background to do just that after hiring him last month.
“Their new quarterback coach can actually throw an 18-yard comeback,” Higgins said with a laugh. “Their old one, which was me, had trouble throwing that.”
“He’s a little bit older than I am, so he’s probably got a little more wear and tear on his arm,” Beasley said, smiling. “I’m just going to learn from him. He’s been very successful where he’s gone.”
The road to Emporia has spanned not only numerous locations but also two different countries for Beasley.
After ending his career as the highest-rated passer in K-State history, Beasley spent time in the 2001 preseason with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
He played for a year and a half, then joined the Wichita Aviators of the Arena Professional Football League for two seasons.
Afterward, Beasley helped to coach his alma mater, Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz., while holding a short stint as a substitute teacher in Peoria, Ariz.
“That was the easiest job to have,” Beasley said. “If you got called somewhere, you didn’t have to put in a two-week notice. You could just kind of get up and go.”
He did just that when an opportunity later presented itself.
Wichita North coach Steve Clark — a Kansas State graduate who played for the New England Patriots in the NFL — offered him a position on his football staff.
Beasley served as the quarterbacks/running backs coach there last year, but Clark lost his job after a 1-8 season.
“I decided for me the next step,” Beasley said, “would be to get into college coaching.”
Beasley used his resources well. He freshened up his resumé, then made a call to former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, saying he was interested in becoming a graduate assistant for a college program.
After serving on ESU’s coaching search committee that hired Higgins this past fall, Snyder made a personal call to the new coach to see if Beasley might fit into the Hornets’ plans.
It was the first time Snyder and Higgins had spoken, with Snyder giving Beasley his highest endorsement.
“With coach Snyder, that goes a long way with me,” Higgins said. “If he says somebody’s going to do a good job, I’m going to put a lot of stock into that.”
Higgins and Beasley had actually crossed paths once before about a potential graduate assistant opening.
When Higgins was the offensive coordinator at Minnesota-Mankato, he placed a call to Beasley to see if he would be interested in becoming a coach there.
Plans fell through, however, and Beasley lost Higgins’ number and also contact with him.
“It came back around,” Beasley said. “I’m here again, so maybe it worked out for the best.”
Beasley, who will be working on his masters degree while coaching at ESU, said he had already met most of those he would be instructing. Spring practices begin for the Hornets on March 28.
The Kansas State leader in career touchdowns also will help with recruiting, giving ESU a familiar face that will be sure to open even more eyes to the program.
Though he doesn’t know where the future will take him, Beasley said the ultimate goal was to become a better coach — and also to help ESU’s players succeed even more than he did.
“The best way is to have someone you tutor to become better than you,” Beasley said, “and that’s what I strive for with these kids.”
ESU Spring Football Practice Schedule
March 28 3:35 p.m.
March 30 3:35 p.m.
March 31 10 a.m.
April 2 3:20 p.m.
April 3 3:20 p.m.
April 4 3:20 p.m.
April 5 3:35 p.m. (SCRIMMAGE)
April 9 3:35 p.m.
April 11 3:35 p.m.
April 13 3:35 p.m.
April 14 1:15 p.m. (SCRIMMAGE)
April 16 3:35 p.m.
April 18 3:35 p.m.
April 20 3:35 p.m.
April 21 10 a.m. (SPRING GAME)
*-All practices will be held on the ESU practice fields. All scrimmages and games will take place at Welch Stadium.