Manale making a difference as Jesuit plays for a state title

After winning the Division I state championship in 2014, Jesuit posted an unimpressive record of 31-37 from 2015-2020.

Included in that span was just one winning season, in 2019, when the Blue Jays were 7-5. Jesuit was able to win a playoff game in three of those years but never advanced beyond the quarterfinals.

Enter Ryan Manale.

As an assistant coach at Archbishop Rummel, Manale was part of four teams which reached the state semifinals with one reaching the title game (2009)

As the head coach at De La Salle, Manale was part of three teams that reached state championship games (2017, 2019, 2020).

Taking over a program which went 5-5 in 2020, Manale was determined to make a difference, to change the culture, to infuse some measures he had learned at Rummel and utilized at De La Salle to make a difference.

Consider it done.

The difference in 2021 has been remarkable.

Jesuit (10-0) will play for the Division I state championship Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Yulman Stadium. The game will air live NASH ICON 106.1 FM, nashfm1061.com and the TuneIn app.

The second-seeded Blue Jays had to defeat perennial power John Curtis for a second time this season, winning a 14-13 thriller in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Jesuit avenged a loss on the field to Brother Martin, controlling play throughout in a 28-10 semifinal victory.

Virtually no one saw that coming from the outside.

Virtually everyone saw that coming from the inside.

That is the culture and belief system of players playing to their maximum ability and an outstanding coaching staff preparing, scheming, connecting and getting every ounce of ability out of the players.

Clearly, Manale has made a difference.

“It’s been a great ride here,” Manale said. “It’s not even a full year at Jesuit yet. February was when I was announced. I met my quarterback for the first time then. I really didn’t have my two feet in the ground until May, juggling both De La Salle and Jesuit. Hats off to my coaching staff. They’ve bought in and done a great job. The players have executed all year long and have gotten better and better. I couldn’t be more blessed to be here at Jesuit High School.”

When I spoke to Manale about accepting the job in February, he expressed that it may take time, perhaps a year or two, to get things going. That timeline accelerated quickly.

“I wanted to able to compete in the district,” Manale said. “I never go into a game thinking that we’re stepping on the field to lose. I think the kids took that mindset to another level. You couldn’t be here without the outstanding leadership inside of our locker room. The leadership of the kids is about them buying in and working hard.”

Jesuit had lost eight straight games to John Curtis. The Blue Jays beat the Patriots twice this season.

Jesuit had lost eight straight games to Archbishop Rummel. The Blue Jays beat the Raiders.

Jesuit had lost eight straight games to Brother Martin on the field. The Blue Jays eliminated the favored Crusaders before nearly 19,000 fans at Tad Gormley Stadium last Friday.

“I really didn’t get to look at it until the end,” Manale said. “People sent me pictures. It was just incredible. To coach in front of that crowd is great but to actually see the players and the emotions they were going through will bring a lifetime of memories.”

The task is tall for the Blue Jays against top seed Catholic of Baton Rouge (11-1).

The Bears have won three of the last five Division I state championships on the field, including the last two, though they were stripped of those last two titles due to infractions.

“They have college players all over the place,” Manale said. “This is the most talented team that we’ve played all year. When you look at Catholic and the depth they have and the talent they have, and you see them beating a national power in Maryland and beating Acadiana 20-0, going to West Monroe and winning convincingly. Lafayette Christian, destroying them, beating Warren Easton. It is concerning.

“They are that good. We know we have our hands full. It’s more about us. As long as Jesuit football is playing Jesuit football to the best of our abilities, we are going to accept any outcome. It will take Jesuit being at our best, playing above our heads.”

Manale could not hide his enthusiasm about his new job.

“I’m super excited about Jesuit High School, all in all,” Manale said. “Our administration is great. The faculty and staff, the community, alums, people just supporting Jesuit right now, it’s all great. I’m super excited for our kids to be in this position. We’re in unchartered waters every week. None of our kids had been in a semifinal game.”

While the players have not been this far previously, several coaches, along with Manale have been.

“We’re in unchartered waters again so I have asked them to follow my lead and follow my coaches’ lead,” Manale said. “Our coaches have great game plans every week. If our best is good enough on Saturday night, that’s great. We just hope we’re at our best.”

With fine players, a very fine coaching staff and an outstanding head coach, do not sell the clear underdog Blue Jays short in their quest for a ninth state championship.