By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - For Ware Elementary physical education teacher Scott Thomason, the path to the classroom has looked a little different after spending 20 plus years working in college athletics.Now in his second year in the district and at Ware, Thomason is enjoying each and every day having the opportunity to turn his lifelong passion for sports and coaching into a career in the classroom.“The culture and energy that principal Veronica Wait has here at Ware is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before,” said Thomason.
Although teaching is a new chapter in his storied career, working with students and athletes has been a part of his life for years. Thomason was born and raised in Manhattan. He graduated from Manhattan High School in 1996 before beginning a budding baseball career at Cloud County Community College.
Following his time as a student-athlete, Thomason transitioned into coaching at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., where he helped the Mules capture the 2003 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship as an assistant coach before moving on to Kansas State University from 2003 through the 2007 season. While at Kansas State, Thomason served as the director of baseball operations, overseeing responsibilities that included budgeting, team travel, recruiting and the day-to-day operations of the Wildcats baseball program.
Following the 2007 campaign, he returned to the University of Central Missouri to complete his master’s degree and went on to spend over 15 years working in college athletics as an Assistant Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director for Facilities from 2009 to 2023.
In 2024, Thomason and his family moved back to Manhattan where he began working in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine as the Director of Alumni and Events, but his passion for coaching and teaching never went away, which ultimately brought him to USD 475 and Ware Elementary.“Coaching and teaching has always been a passion of mine and I am so excited that I’ve finally received the opportunity to do so here at Ware Elementary,” said Thomason.
Fast forward to 2026 and that passion is already making an impact at Ware where Thomason enjoys watching students grow from one year to the next. His love for teaching has also extended past the final bell of the school day as Thomason began teaching Ware’s 21st Century after-school program this fall.
Whether introducing them to new sports or challenging them to develop skills they haven't tried before in PE, Thomason wants students to discover new interests and build confidence along the way.“I feel like I have been able to connect with kids based on their love of sports or knowing what their favorite team is,” said Thomason, who has two brothers, Gary and Rich, who are also teachers in Wichita Heights and Keller, Texas, respectively.
With years of experience in college athletics and a renewed passion for working with young people, Thomason is bringing a team-first mindset to Ware Elementary. For him, the goal is more than learning a new sport or being able to improve their athletic skills. It’s about helping students grow, discover new things and feel connected.