It’s the second go-around for ISU gymnastics coach Jay Ronayne and his coaching staff.

Ronayne’s team advanced to the NCAA Central Regional in his first year as a head coach and looks to continue the recent winning tradition of the ISU gymnastics program.

Coaching a Big 12 team brought a lot of unexpected challenges to the rookie coach.

“I was an assistant coach for many years – 17 years before this. The role of a head coach is far different – it’s more of a manager,” Ronayne said.

Ronayne came to Iowa State after spending four seasons as Auburn’s top assistant and recruiting coordinator.

“I coached less last year than I ever have in my career, because there were so many things to delegate. That was an adjustment for me,” Ronayne said.

Ronayne said one of his main focuses this year is to get back to more hands-on coaching.

“I’m able to coach a little more. It’s kind of fun again. There was a lot of stuff that just wasn’t as fun to do professionally,” Ronayne said.

It wouldn’t have been a bad idea for the gymnastics team to wear name tags last year, because not only was the coaching staff brand new in the city of Ames, but Ronayne welcomed seven freshmen into his inaugural recruiting class. It took some time for Ronayne to become acquainted with the team.

“Last year he came in and was really quiet and led us by being quiet and by showing us the way he wanted us to do things, and this year he’s really stepped up and tells us what he wants from us. It’s a good change, and he knows where we are and where we need to be. Last year was a learning experience for both him and us. Now he knows us all and we’re really working hard this year,” said sophomore Nikki Dilbert.

Sophomore Jody McKellar also believed that being around the coaching staff for a full year has helped out the team chemistry, and she believes the coaching staff is a lot more positive this year. Junior Jennifer Salfen said she can see the difference from year one to year two.

“Things are a lot more comfortable this year. He knows us now and knows the team a lot better, and I think last year he came in expecting a different thing. I think the team camaraderie surprised him a lot,” said Salfen.

Ronayne said there was a change in gymnastics philosophy between his coaching staff and the prior coach, and it took a lot of time to change the team’s mentality. He said there was an identity crisis last year with some of the seniors not wanting to adapt to the new system.

In Ronayne’s first year, he had the pleasure of coaching All-American Janet Anson, and this year she joins him on the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. The coaching staff is rounded out by second-year assistants TeShawne Jackson and Jay Santos. Mary Ronayne, the coach’s wife, is the director of gymnastics operations.

Ronayne said that, in five years, he would like to see the program in the same sentence as the Georgias, Alabamas and Utahs of the gymnastics world. He would also like to see standing room only at Hilton Coliseum for home meets.

“Where we’re consistently at the National Championship contending – that’s where we should be,” Ronayne said.