Over the years, Ron Slaymaker has been known simply as Coach Slay. But now, he has a new title before his name: movie star.
Coach Slay began his playing career in Peabody and was recruited to play at the collegiate level; however, his original destination was not Emporia State. Slaymaker had originally signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas State for Coach Tex Winter; however, fate would intervene, and Coach Slay would ultimately change his mind.
After his playing career from 1954 to 1960, where he earned several honors, Coach Slay would plan to become a graduate assistant for ESU, but once again, fate had other ideas.
Slaymaker would officially take over the reins of the program in 1970 and remain in that role until 1998, when the team managed just six victories- a team that Coach Slaymaker referred to as his best, why you may ask? In Slaymaker’s opinion, because it was a team that embodied “Overachievement.”
Coach Slay’s career will be highlighted during a free screening of a new feature-length documentary titled Coach Slay: Beyond the Scoreboard, which will also document the coach’s career at the national level, as he also served as coach of the first NAIA All-American team and an assistant coach in 1986 for the US Olympic Festival. Speaking specifically to the film, Coach Slay admitted he was a bit nervous about the film itself, but said he looks forward to seeing it, noting it will not only pay tribute to him, but to the school and community he loves.
The screening will take place at the Emporia Granada Theatre starting at 6 pm Wednesday and is completely free to attend.
