Kansas City Royals manager Tony Pena once likened coaching to being a disc jockey.

For NIU volleyball coach Ray Gooden, the analogy couldn’t be any more accurate.

An animated Huskie coach by day, Gooden becomes a music-loving, crowd-pleasing DJ by night.

“I love playing music,” Gooden said. “I love seeing how a crowd can be affected by the music you play.”

As a student at Evanston Township High School, Gooden began spinning records with a group of friends in their free time. While in school, the group bought about $2,500 worth of equipment.

“Back in high school, I used to dabble around a little bit with some friends,” Gooden said. “House parties were the thing back then, so we did some house parties. We did some DJing at Northwestern at some fraternities and sororities.”

Once in college at Ohio State University, Gooden sold his portion of the equipment. After graduation, Gooden came back home and got back into spinning, mainly with the use of CDs because he felt it was a lot easier, more convenient and cheaper.

“It’s an evolving hobby that’s starting to pick up again, where I do parties or DJ at a bar or two during the week in the city,” Gooden said. “I’m trying to get a chance to play in clubs more and more.”

Gooden DJs mainly on Thursday nights. He wouldn’t reveal the exact locations where he spins, but said most of them are in the Wicker Park area.

Despite the long nights, DJing acts a stress reliever for “DJ Ray Ray,” as the team calls him. When asked if he had an actual DJ name, Gooden said no and jokingly called himself “DJ Try Not To Screw Up.”

Gooden, who has been asked to DJ in DeKalb, said he would probably stay away from a gig at an NIU fraternity or sorority.”

No one on the team has asked Gooden to DJ yet, but senior Amanda Newlin said she would if the place was right.

“I wouldn’t ask him to do it if it was on campus, just because he’s a coach here,” Newlin said. “Maybe if it was a party off-campus, I’d talk to him about it. He’s a fun person to be around and I think he’d be a good DJ.”

Many of Gooden’s old friends still DJ at different clubs and bars. Although it’s just a hobby for Gooden, he said he thinks it’s something he’d definitely think of pursuing if he wasn’t involved with athletics.

“I’d probably try to do it full-time if I wasn’t a coach,” Gooden said. “I’d want to get in the radio industry and be a radio DJ.”