The Rising Coaches Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rising Coaches
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Bo Gray, Assistant Coach at Tarleton State University. Gray’s coaching journey began at Youngstown State, where he worked his way from manager to head manager before continuing his rise through roles at Illinois State and now Tarleton State. His path is a great example of how consistency and adding value can open doors in the profession. In this episode we discuss how his responsibilities evolved throughout his time at Youngstown State, the key moments and relationships that helped shape his coaching journey, and how he approaches his role as a young assistant working alongside experienced coaches on staff.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jay Kuntz, General Manager at the University of Pittsburgh. Kuntz has built his career from the ground up, beginning as a student manager at West Virginia before rising through roles as a graduate assistant, assistant to the head coach, and Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. He now serves as the GM at Pitt, helping navigate one of the most challenging eras in college basketball. In this episode we discuss how he turned a student manager position into leadership roles within high-major programs, what aspiring coaches should be doing early in their careers if they hope to one day become a GM, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into constructing and managing a roster in today’s ever-changing landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Austin Kidd, former college assistant coach and current Account Executive with Synergy Sports. Kidd built his coaching career with stops at Transylvania, Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, and The Citadel, gaining experience at multiple levels of the game before making the transition out of coaching. Today, he continues to impact the basketball world through his work with Synergy Sports. In this episode we discuss the story behind his first college coaching opportunity in division 3 and how it eventually led him to Kentucky, what drew him to leave the coaching profession after years on the sidelines, and some exciting projects and opportunities Synergy Sports has on the horizon.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Deividas Dulkys, Assistant Coach with the Brooklyn Nets. Dulkys played collegiately at Florida State before building a lengthy professional career across Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Italy, and Spain, giving him a unique perspective on the game from both the American and European sides of basketball. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching with stops at the Memphis Hustle, Sacramento Kings, and now the Brooklyn Nets. In this episode we discuss how his years playing professionally in Spain helped shape his coaching philosophy, the biggest differences he noticed between basketball cultures across Europe and the United States, and the adjustments he had to make when transitioning from professional player to NBA coach
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Preston Murphy, Assistant Coach at the University of Alabama. Coach Murphy’s journey began as a player at Rhode Island before playing professionally in Belgium and Holland, and then transitioning into coaching at the high school level as the head coach at Woonsocket High School. He has since built an extensive Division I résumé with stops at Boston College, Rhode Island, Creighton, Elite EYBL, and now Alabama, where he continues to make an impact at the highest level of college basketball. In this episode we discuss what he learned starting his coaching career in the high school ranks, how he evaluates whether a player truly fits a program during the recruiting process, and an overlooked recruiting mistake young coaches make early in their careers.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brandon Bailey, Assistant Coach at DePaul University. Coach Bailey has built an impressive career with coaching stops at DePaul, the Boston Celtics organization, Ohio State, and now back at DePaul, while also serving as the head coach of the Maine Red Claws in the NBA G League. His experience across both the professional and college levels gives him a unique perspective on leadership, player development, and staff dynamics. In this episode we discuss what it was like transitioning from a G League head coach back into an assistant role at the college level, what lessons he would take back if he had the chance to do his time as a head coach over again, and how assistants can effectively contribute their ideas and have their voice heard while still supporting the vision of the head coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Lance Burbank, Owner of Universal Retirement and a valued partner of Rising Coaches. Lance has spent his career helping individuals and families build strong financial foundations, and he has become a trusted resource for families and coaches looking to navigate the unique financial challenges that come with the profession. In this episode we discuss the financial habits young coaches should begin developing early in their careers, how much emergency savings coaches should realistically have in place and the key financial safeguards every coach should establish to protect themselves and their families in the event of a job change.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, Doug and Alan dive into a conversation around a question every coach eventually has to answer: What matters more, winning championships or changing lives? We answer questions submitted by our listeners and Rising Coaches members, making this one a thoughtful and interactive discussion. In this episode we discuss whether coaches would rather be remembered for the banners they hung or the people they impacted, how our views on winning have evolved throughout our careers, what a true player-first culture actually looks like, and whether we've ever made decisions that benefited a player even when it may have hurt our chances of winning. This is a conversation centered around leadership, perspective, and the lasting impact coaches can have long after the final buzzer.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brett MacConnell, Head Coach at Dartmouth College. Coach MacConnell has built an impressive career through assistant coaching stops at Rutgers, Delaware Valley, Holy Family, St. Peter’s, Princeton, and Stanford before earning the opportunity to lead the Dartmouth program. His experience at both the mid-major and high-major levels have given him a unique perspective on leadership, recruiting, and building successful programs. In this episode we discuss the biggest lessons he learned as an assistant that now shape his approach as a head coach, the challenge of identifying players who truly fit both the program’s culture and academic standards, and the key priorities he focused on during his first 60 days leading an Ivy League program.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Tevon Saddler, Capitol City Go-Go head coach. Coach Saddler’s journey in the game started as a player at UNC Greensboro and South Alabama before moving into coaching roles at South Alabama, Nicholls State, McNeese State, Maryland, and now leading the Nicholls State program. Along the way, he’s gained experience in nearly every role on staff, shaping his approach to leadership and team building. In this episode we discuss the defining humbling moment of his head coaching career, what he learned from stepping into a DOBO role and how it shaped his coaching perspective as a head coach, and the key qualities that separate good assistants from great ones including what he looks for when hiring an assistant coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brent Owen, Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Coach Owen began his career at the University of Southern Indiana before taking a unique path into head coaching with stops at Tell City High School, Eastern New Mexico, and now Lenoir-Rhyne. His journey through different levels of basketball has helped shape his approach to leadership, recruiting, and program building. In this episode we discuss why he chose to leave the college ranks early in his career to become a high school head coach, how he identifies the right personalities and dynamics when building a roster, and creative ways head coaches can grow attendance and build long-term fan support within a program.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dwight Thorne, Assistant Coach at Texas State University. Before getting into coaching, Thorne built an impressive professional playing career with stops in the D-League, Germany, Greece, Croatia, and Reno, Nevada, experiences that helped shape his perspective on leadership, relationships, and player development. He later transitioned into coaching with stops at Georgia Tech, Denver, UT Arlington, and now Texas State. In this episode we discuss the mental adjustment of moving from a professional player to coach, how he learned to build authentic relationships and connections in the industry despite it not coming naturally early on, and the first priorities he focuses on when joining a new program as an assistant coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Darnell Harris, Assistant Coach at Wake Forest University. Coach Harris brings a unique perspective to the game, having played professionally at Middle Tennessee State and overseas in Belgium, China, Greece, and Lebanon before transitioning into coaching. His coaching journey has included stops at Ole Miss and Wake Forest, where he continues to grow within a high-level program and impact player development and recruiting. In this episode we discuss how his professional playing career shaped his coaching identity, how he approaches the recruiting process while building strong relationships with families, and how he developed his voice as a young coach within a competitive staff environment.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jordan McCabe, Assistant Coach at Grand Canyon University. McCabe started his playing career at a young age with early success that carried through his time at West Virginia and UNLV, where he became known for his high-level feel for the game and leadership on the floor. He has since transitioned into coaching, with stops at West Virginia, Green Bay, and now Grand Canyon, where he continues to make a strong impact, particularly in player development. In this episode we discuss how he builds individualized development plans for his players, the key lessons he’s taken from working under different coaching styles throughout his journey, and advice for coaches and players navigating the modern game and social media in today’s basketball landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by John Carroll, Basketball Architect at Newman School and Director of Basketball at Master’s Academy. Coach Carroll has worn many hats throughout his career, including athletic director roles, work as a TV and radio basketball analyst for ESPN, serving as an advanced scout for the LA Sparks, and leading JC Advisors LLC as a “Liberator of Talent.” He also spent time as a head coach at Northfield Mount Hermon, helping build strong programs on and off the court. In this episode we discuss how to build culture as a new head coach while still holding academics to a high standard, ways coaches can help develop leadership within their players, and some offensive and defensive staples he believes every strong program should have.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Steven Harbert, Head Coach at North Marion High School. Coach Harbert has spent years coaching and developing athletes at the high school level, including time as an assistant before taking over the program at North Marion. Along the way, he has also coached multiple sports, helping him gain valuable experience working with different athletes, personalities, and team dynamics. His background has shaped a strong approach to leadership, communication, and program building. In this episode we discuss how to coach and connect with different types of players, the best ways to build and sustain a strong program during the offseason, and the pros and cons of multi-sport athletes in today’s high school sports landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re doing something a little different as my cohost and I sit down to answer questions from our listeners and Rising Coaches members about networking and growing in the coaching industry. We wanted this episode to be a real conversation for young coaches trying to build connections and find their way in the business. In this episode we discuss some of the best ways to connect with coaches, how to network without sounding transactional, and what someone with almost no connections in basketball should start doing right away to build relationships and create opportunities. We also share some personal experiences and lessons we’ve learned throughout our own journeys in coaching. We hope you enjoy this conversation and can take something valuable away from it.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Amorrow Morgan, Assistant Coach at the University of Tennessee. Morgan’s basketball journey began as a player at Idaho State before continuing professionally in Europe, and he has since built an impressive coaching résumé with stops at Illinois Springfield, Our Lady of the Lake, Henderson State, Nicholls State, South Alabama, Loyola Chicago, Cal, and now Tennessee. His experience across multiple levels has helped shape his perspective on recruiting, player development, and program building. In this episode we discuss how starting at lower levels helped him grow long-term as a coach, what he looks for before taking a position on a new staff, what he now evaluates differently as a recruiter compared to earlier in his career, and why Tennessee has sustained success for so many years under Coach Rick Barnes.
With the NBA Finals tipping off tonight between the Knicks and Spurs, we wanted to take a trip back into the archives and revisit one of our favorite basketball conversations. This episode originally aired before Jon Harris had climbed even higher in the coaching ranks, but the insights, stories, and lessons he shared are just as relevant today as they were then. From player development and leadership to the inner workings of one of the most respected organizations in professional sports, Jon dropped an incredible amount of knowledge throughout this conversation. As the Spurs once again find themselves on basketball’s biggest stage, it felt like the perfect time to rewind and revisit this outstanding episode.
Jon Harris is the current Assistant Video Coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. Jon is a young coach with an impressive resume, having a 7 year professional playing career including the G League and in countries such as Argentina, Germany, China and Canada. Following his playing career, Jon worked with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers to help with summer league and youth camps, and started his first coaching gig at Lakewood High School. Making a quick rise to Florida State University as a Graduate Assistant and then the Assistant Video Coordinator with the Spurs. We look forward to learning more about such a prestigious program such as the Spurs.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jackson Johnson, Head Coach at the Newman School. Jackson’s basketball journey started as a player at Tulane before moving into coaching with assistant roles at Tulane and Northfield Mount Hermon prior to taking over at Newman. Since becoming head coach, he has helped sustain success at the national prep level while guiding players through the ever-changing recruiting landscape. In this episode we discuss the value of coaching multi-sport athletes and how to navigate that as a coach, what real player development looks like in prep basketball today, how a coach can help players navigate the college recruiting process in the transfer portal era, and how he’s maintained success within a nationally recognized prep program.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Matt Ambrose, Director of Player Development at Purdue University Fort Wayne. After finishing his playing career at Calvin University, Matt worked his way into the coaching profession and has continued to grow within the Purdue Fort Wayne program. His path reflects the importance of bringing value, building relationships, and finding ways to impact players every day. In this episode we discuss what he did to break into the industry as a young coach after his playing career, how he looked to add value as a new coach early within his program, and we take a deep dive into player development, including how to build an effective development plan for each player.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Kate Popovec-Goss, Head Women’s Coach at Boston College. Coach Popovec-Goss has built her career through assistant roles at La Salle, Northwestern, and Colgate before stepping into head coaching positions at Bradley and now Boston College. Her path reflects steady growth through multiple roles within a program and a strong understanding of how to build and lead a team. In this episode we discuss how she grew in the industry from between roles without prior experience and attacked each opportunity, what people often underestimate about rebuilding a program as a head coach, and the first things she is focused on when taking over as a new head coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Peterson, Head Coach of the Perry Lakes Hawks in Australia. Peterson has built his career across the international and professional levels with assistant roles at the Perth Wildcats, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Otago Nuggets before stepping into his current head coaching position. His background gives him a strong perspective on player development and team building across different levels of the game. In this episode we discuss how young coaches can earn more responsibility early in their careers, a deeper look into player development on the international level, and how veteran players can play a key role in helping lead and stabilize a program.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Cobian, former NBA G League coach and Division I assistant. Cobian has built his career through stops at NYIT, Pace, Hofstra, the Long Island Nets, and Loyola Chicago, gaining experience across both the college and professional levels. His path reflects steady growth and the ability to adapt in different environments. In this episode we discuss his unique journey to landing a role with the Long Island Nets, what working in the NBA taught him about what truly drives player improvement compared to the college game, and effective ways coaches can build trust and respect with their players.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Zisis Sarikopoulos, founder of Adapted Services and a former high-level college and professional player. Zisis played at UAB and Ohio State before continuing his career professionally in Greece, Belarus, and Qatar, gaining experience with different systems and coaching styles around the world. Now, through Adapted Services, he works closely with players as they navigate important decisions in their careers. In this episode we discuss what coaches should understand when recruiting international players, the common traits he’s seen from the best coaches he has played for, and the biggest mistakes players are making today that could impact them long-term.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Barlow, Division I assistant coach and former G League head coach. Barlow’s journey started as a player at Butler before moving into the NBA with the Boston Celtics, where he worked his way up from the video room to the bench and eventually became the head coach of the Maine Celtics. He later returned to the college level at Butler, continuing to grow his coaching career. In this episode we discuss his path through the NBA and G League, including what he learned while rising through the Celtics organization, a breakdown of Boston’s unique offensive rebounding and transition defense concepts, and what he’s doing now as he prepares for his next opportunity.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by John Beilein, Hall of Fame coach and one of the most respected minds in basketball. Coach Beilein’s career has spanned every level of the game, with head coaching stops at Newfane High School, Erie Community College, Nazareth, Le Moyne, Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia, Michigan, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with time as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his offensive innovation, player development, and consistency in building winning programs, he has left a lasting impact on the game. In this episode we discuss the mistakes he made early in his head coaching career that shaped how he builds programs long-term, why shooting and spacing are so critical in today’s game, and how he instilled culture on a daily basis, including navigating tough conversations with players.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Devlin, a 19-year veteran assistant coach most recently at the University of San Diego. Coach Devlin has built his career through stops at Montrose Christian, the College of Southern Idaho, Penn State, Siena, George Washington, and San Diego, along with a short stint as an interim head coach early in his career. His experience across multiple levels has given him a strong perspective on growth and longevity in the profession. In this episode we discuss the habits and skills he developed that helped him grow in the industry, the best ways to build trust within a coaching staff, and what he’s doing now to best position himself for his next opportunity.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ken Pomeroy, Founder and Owner of KenPom and one of the most influential voices in college basketball analytics. Ken has helped reshape how coaches, media, and fans understand the game through advanced metrics and data-driven insights. His work has become a staple across the sport, providing a deeper look into team performance beyond traditional stats. In this episode we discuss the top three most valuable stats for coaches to focus on, how to effectively use plus-minus within your program, and which analytics he has noticed that consistently show up in championship-level teams.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ernie Contreras, Performance Coach and Director of Basketball at the University of San Diego. Coach Contreras has built a strong career in strength and conditioning with stops at Santa Clara, Holy Names, Texas Tech, and experience at the G League and NBA levels before arriving at USD. His background gives him a unique perspective on developing athletes across different levels and environments. In this episode we discuss how to build a strength program when rosters are constantly changing with different body types and backgrounds, advice for coaches working without high-level resources or equipment, and how to develop mental toughness in players during preseason workouts.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jamere Dismukes, Assistant Coach at Long Island University. Coach Dismukes played at Chicago State before building a strong coaching résumé with assistant roles at Rich East, Black Hawk College, Indian Hills, Victory Rock Prep, and now LIU, along with head coaching stops at Rich East, Hyde Park Academy, and Homewood-Flossmoor where he built a state championship program. His experience across high school, JUCO, and Division I levels gives him a unique perspective on player development and leadership. In this episode we discuss the daily non-negotiables that helped build his championship program at Homewood-Flossmoor, how he works to instill confidence in players on a daily basis, and the biggest adjustment he’s faced moving from a head coach in High School to an assistant at the Division I level.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Howard Fisher, longtime head coach at the College of the Canyons. Coach Fisher has built his career across multiple levels with assistant coaching stops at Whittier College and Los Angeles City College before leading programs with Maccabi USA and at College of the Canyons. Over the years, he’s developed a strong reputation for building competitive teams and helping players move on to the next level. In this episode we discuss how his experience coaching with Maccabi USA has shaped his approach as a head coach, one thing he believes coaches should stop doing in the recruiting process, and what he looks for when evaluating JUCO talent that others might overlook.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Riley Conroy, Assistant Coach at the University of South Alabama. Riley’s path in basketball started as a player at Tulane before moving into coaching with stops at Sunrise Christian Academy, Southeastern Louisiana, and now South Alabama. Along the way, he’s built a reputation as a strong recruiter and someone who understands how to add value within a staff. In this episode we discuss the biggest mistake young coaches make when trying to stand out on their staffs, what he would prioritize if he were to step into a head coaching role tomorrow, and advice on how younger coaches can learn to evaluate and recruit players to best fit their head coach’s needs.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike MacDonald, Head Coach at Daemen University. Coach MacDonald has built his career with stops at Canisius and Daemen as an assistant before moving into head coaching roles at Canisius, Medaille, and now Daemen, where he continues to build a strong program. His experience across multiple roles has shaped his approach to leadership, development, and team success. In this episode we discuss how to effectively network on your own campus when you’re new to a program, how coaches like John Beilein and other head coaches he has worked with have helped impact their players and assistants to develop, as well as how Coach MacDonald uses his players’ strengths in games to put them in the best position to succeed.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by LaShonda Cousin, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Coach Cousin began her career in AAU basketball before moving into the college ranks with stops at Jackson State and Charlotte, working her way up through multiple roles on staff. Along the way, she’s earned recognition for her impact as an assistant and her ability to recruit and develop players. In this episode we discuss her transition from GA to assistant and what helped her earn high-level recognition, ways coaching staffs can better engage the community and build fan support, and the toughest challenges of recruiting in today’s landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome back a familiar name, Alan Major, current assistant coach at the University of San Diego. After diving into his background and coaching journey in a previous episode, this conversation takes a different angle, focusing on the often-overlooked time between jobs. Alan opens up about how he approached that downtime, the intentional steps he took to continue growing as a coach, and the mindset required to stay ready when opportunities arise. We also discuss how his new role at USD came together and what the transition back onto a staff has looked like. This episode offers an honest look at resilience, preparation, and trusting the process in this profession.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Joe Meehan, former Division I assistant coach and founder of Optima Vita Consulting, a new partner with Rising Coaches. Joe’s basketball journey takes him from playing division 3 to a career in Switzerland, while also holding various positions at his coaching stops at Randolph-Macon and Bucknell. Today, through Optima Vita Consulting, he works with coaches and professionals on building better habits and healthier lifestyles that support long-term performance. In this episode we discuss what he focused on early in his career at Randolph-Macon to become valuable to the head coach, how young coaches today can stand out in a changing landscape, and the four pillars of Optima Vita Consulting — exercise, stress, sleep, and nutrition.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Gottfried, longtime Division I head coach and founder of the leadership platform Get It Done. Coach Gottfried has spent decades in the game with coaching stops as an assistant at UCLA and with the Dallas Mavericks while holding head coaching stops at Murray State, Alabama, NC State, and Cal State Northridge. Throughout his career he has built winning programs and developed a reputation as a strong leader and program builder. In this episode we discuss the early experiences and mentors that helped shape his leadership style, the most common leadership challenges he now sees when speaking to teams and organizations, and the three core pillars he believes are essential for building a winning culture.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Larry Cordaro, Assistant Coach at Troy University. Coach Cordaro has built a long career in college basketball with stops at LSU, UT Arlington, Southeastern Louisiana, and Troy, along with a nine-year run as the head coach at LSU Alexandria where he helped build a strong and consistent program. His experience across multiple levels of the game gives him a unique perspective on program building and leadership. In this episode we discuss how he established culture when there wasn’t an existing tradition and how he maintained that success over the years as a head coach, what motivated him to return to the Division I level as an assistant after nine seasons leading a program, and what makes Troy head coach Scott Cross such a unique leader.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brett Ledbetter, founder of What Drives Winning and one of the leading voices on leadership, culture, and team performance. Through his work with coaches, teams, and organizations around the world, Brett has helped leaders better understand what truly drives winning environments. His approach focuses on building strong cultures, developing meaningful habits, and aligning teams around a clear purpose. In this episode we discuss how coaches can create a winning team and culture within their program, the habits that championship teams and coaches consistently demonstrate, and some key things to look for when recruiting someone to determine if they will truly fit your culture.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Kyle Church, Assistant Coach and General Manager at the University of Michigan. Coach Church has built his career with stops at Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Chipola College, Florida, Florida Atlantic, and now Michigan. His great experiences have given him a unique perspective on both the coaching and roster-building sides of today’s game. In this episode we discuss how he balances the responsibilities of being both an assistant coach and a GM, how programs evaluate how much to invest in one player versus another based on ability, production, and fit, and what young coaches should start doing right now if they want to stand out in today’s landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Capko, Associate Head Coach at SMU. Coach Capko has built his career through a number of stops across college basketball, including roles at Marshall, Stetson, Georgia Southern, USC, FIU, and a return to USC before eventually following the staff to SMU. Along the way he’s developed a reputation as a strong recruiter, player developer, and someone who has helped programs build and sustain success. In this episode we discuss how to gain trust from your head coach and fellow assistants when you’re new to a program, how coaches can instill confidence into their players, and ways assistant coaches can separate themselves from the majority in the profession.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike Kosich, Assistant Coach and Chief of Staff at UC Davis. Coach Kosich has built his career through a variety of roles across the college basketball landscape, with coaching stops at La Salle, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, South Alabama, San Diego State, and now UC Davis. Throughout that journey he’s gained experience in everything from operations and program management to on-court coaching and staff leadership. In this episode we discuss how coaching has changed his perspective from the beginning of his career to now, ways young coaches can gain trust and respect from a staff while working in manager or operations roles, and what the “Chief of Staff” position entails and how that role helps impact team success.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Debbie Antonelli, a longtime sports analyst with decades of experience around elite programs and championship-level coaches. A former player at NC State, Debbie moved into coaching and administrative roles with stops at Elon, Ohio University, Kentucky, and Ohio State before building an outstanding career in broadcasting. She brings amazing insight into what truly separates the best in the business. In this episode we discuss what differentiates elite coaches from good ones after years of observing them up close, how meaningful the beginning of a shootaround or practice really is and how to make it more effective, and advice she would give young coaches on communicating clearly and confidently in film sessions and practices.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Amanda Butler, former High Major head coach and current assistant at the University of Louisville. Coach Butler is a former standout player at Florida and has built an accomplished coaching career with stops at Florida, Austin Peay, Charlotte, and Louisville, along with head coaching tenures at Charlotte, Florida, and Clemson. She’s led major program turnarounds, including taking over a last-place team and guiding it to a 20-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance. In this episode we discuss how she rebuilt a struggling program into a winner, how she learned to coach and develop her assistants during her time as a head coach, and how those experiences now allow her to add value in new ways as an assistant.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Matt Santoro, Director of Video and Strategy at the University of Kentucky. Coach Santoro has built his career through a variety of roles at Pittsburgh, Gwynedd Mercy, BYU, and now Kentucky, gaining experience in film, scouting, and game preparation along the way. His path reflects steady growth behind the scenes in high-level programs. In this episode we discuss what’s first on his checklist when breaking down a new opponent, how he tailors film differently for assistants versus players, and advice he would give to managers—or those hoping to become one—who want to use that role to launch their careers.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome back a familiar name, Alan Major, current assistant coach at the University of San Diego. After diving into his background and coaching journey in a previous episode, this conversation takes a different angle, focusing on the often-overlooked time between jobs. Alan opens up about how he approached that downtime, the intentional steps he took to continue growing as a coach, and the mindset required to stay ready when opportunities arise. We also discuss how his new role at USD came together and what the transition back onto a staff has looked like. This episode offers an honest look at resilience, preparation, and trusting the process in this profession.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Richardson, the Head Coach at Wheeling University. Chris has worked his way through the profession with stops including an internship with the Memphis Grizzlies to coaching roles at Arkansas Tech, the University of Charleston, Fairmont State, Delta State, and the University of Central Missouri before taking over at Wheeling. In this episode we discuss how young coaches can find their voice and purpose while working on experienced staffs, what the very first responsibilities were once he accepted the head coaching role at Wheeling, and some key habits every young coach should build early to set themselves up for long-term success.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike Rejniak, the GM and Head Coach of the “WE ARE D3” Team in the TBT. Mike’s journey through the Collegiate ranks includes various roles at Springfield College, College of New Jersey, Plymouth State, Amherst College, and Vassar College. He later stepped into head coaching at SUNY New Paltz and now leads WE ARE D3, showcasing Division III talent on the larger stage. In this episode we discuss what he implemented to help his teams’ academic success spike, how building and preparing a TBT roster of D3 All-Americans and pro players differs from building a college roster, and the challenges he faced stepping into his first head coaching role.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Tristan Spurlock, assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Tristan began his basketball journey as a player at Virginia before finishing his career at UCF, experiences that still influence his approach to the game. He transitioned into coaching with stops at the University of Iowa and now Penn, learning within strong and established programs. In this episode we discuss the coaching styles that resonated most with him as a player, how young assistants can find their voice on a veteran staff, and the traits that make Coach Fran McCaffery such an impactful leader.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jesse Bopp, the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Florida International University. Coach Bopp has built a wide-ranging career holding various assistant roles at Florida, VCU, Chattanooga, New Mexico State, IMG Academy and time as a head coach at Vermont Academy. Now being at FIU, these experiences have given him a unique perspective across multiple levels of the game. In this episode we discuss what advice he would give young coaches trying to break into recruiting roles, how he evaluates upside versus immediate impact when recruiting and what his early years as a head coach taught him that he couldn’t fully understand at the time.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re welcoming back Glenn Farello, the Head Coach at Paul VI High School. We had such a great conversation the first time around that we had to split it into two parts. In Part Two, we continue diving into Coach Farello’s experiences, insights, and lessons from building one of the most consistent programs in the country.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Glenn Farello, the Head Coach at Paul VI High School and one of the most respected high school coaches in the country. Coach Farello spent seven seasons as an assistant at Eleanor Roosevelt High School before becoming a head coach and later leading the program at Paul VI. He’s been named Coach of the Year 17 times, ranked in the national top 25 for 18 seasons, and has helped develop over 90 college players and five NBA players. In this episode we discuss how to help quieter players communicate better on the floor, creative ways to establish culture as a first-year head coach, and how he vets players to ensure they’re the right fit for his program. Please note, this episode was cut into two parts.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Alexis Gholston, athletic trainer at the University of San Diego. Alexis has worked across both the collegiate and professional levels, with previous stops at Sacramento State, Kansas, Eastern Washington, Missouri, and the Indiana Pacers. In her current role at USD, she plays a key part in helping athletes stay healthy, available, and performing at a high level throughout the season. In this episode we discuss common misconceptions coaches have about load management, how sleep, nutrition, and stress show up physically in players, and how she would structure practice lengths during the early, middle, and late parts of the season.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Colton Houston, Co-Founder of HD Intelligence. Colton spent nine years on staff at Alabama in various roles, gaining valuable experience inside a high-level program before transitioning into the analytics space. Today, he works with teams through HD Intelligence to help coaches better understand the game using data. In this episode we discuss which analytics Colton believes matter most for teams, common mistakes programs make when trying to use data, and how analytics can help coaches design more efficient practices. It’s a practical conversation with real takeaways for coaches at every level.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jack Schoemann, Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Rice University. Jack worked his way up through roles at Cal State Bakersfield, SMU, and Rice, gaining valuable experience behind the scenes at each stop. Now at Rice, he plays an important role supporting the staff and helping keep the program running day to day. In this episode we discuss the responsibilities he handled as a GA, what the Special Assistant to the Head Coach role really looks like on a daily basis, and what young coaches should be doing now if they want to follow a similar path and rise in the ranks.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Sid Crist, the Director of Basketball Operations at Winthrop University. Sid has worked his way up through the college basketball ranks with stops at Fairmont State, the University of Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan, the University of Pikeville, and now Winthrop. Along the way, he’s gained experience in multiple assistant and operations roles, learning what it takes to add value wherever you are. In this episode we discuss how young assistants can create more opportunities early in their careers, how building and maintaining a strong network helps you grow in this business, and the key skills that allow someone to excel in the Director of Basketball Operations role.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Luke Toth, Director of Luke Toth Basketball. Luke is the former Head of the Cleveland Cavaliers Academy program and the founder of LTB, which he built from the ground up into a youth and AAU program serving over 600 athletes. His work has focused on player development, teaching the game the right way, and building trust with families. In this episode we discuss how he grew a basketball program from zero to hundreds of athletes, the drills and games he’s found most engaging for kids during summer camps, and the feedback systems he uses to help athletes and parents clearly see progress over a camp session.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Blake Cochran, head coach at Clarendon College. Coach Cochran worked his way up through assistant roles at McMurry University, Southwestern Assemblies of God, Fort Scott Community College, and Northwestern State before earning head coaching opportunities at Fort Scott and now Clarendon. His path reflects steady growth, added responsibility, and preparation at every stop. In this episode we discuss how he earned more responsibility as a young assistant, what he did to prepare for his first head coaching role, and a defensive takeaway built around three different levels of paint touches. Please welcome to the podcast, Blake Cochran.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Patrick Gallagher, the Video Coordinator at the University of San Diego. Patrick’s journey is a great example of steady growth within one program, working his way up from student manager to staff assistant, graduate assistant, and now into his current role as the VC. He’s gained a strong understanding of the day-to-day details that keep a Division I program running smoothly. In this episode we discuss how he initially landed the student manager role at San Diego and advice for breaking in at your own school, what separated the student managers who earned more responsibility from those who stayed in the background, and how he tailors film breakdown differently for players versus coaches.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Eric Fawcett, a respected Team Strategy Consultant known for his deep work in offensive analysis and game planning. Eric currently serves as an assistant with the Edmonton Stingers while also contributing to the basketball community through Slapping Glass and his consulting work with numerous programs at the Division 1 level. His background in film study and offensive concepts has made him a trusted resource for coaches looking to better understand modern basketball strategy. In this episode we discuss how he approaches breaking down a team’s offensive identity on film, where he starts, and which patterns matter most, the play styles that are trending in today’s game, and the biggest differences between European basketball and American basketball.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Kielsmeier, the current head coach of the Cleveland State women’s basketball program. Coach Kielsmeier’s path into the profession started as a student intern at Iowa State before earning his first assistant coaching role at Howard Payne. After one season as an assistant, he was promoted to head coach at Howard Payne, where he built the foundation of his coaching philosophy. He then made the jump to the Division II level at Wayne State College, continuing his growth as a head coach before taking over at Cleveland State. In this episode we discuss what he felt prepared for—and what he didn’t—when moving from DIII to DII, the first priorities he focuses on when taking over a new program, and a common mistake he sees young coaches make that he wishes they would avoid.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Norman Roberts, a coach with 37 years in the profession, a former Division 1 Head Coach and a member of the Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame. His journey began as a player at Queens before moving into coaching at Archbishop Molloy High School and assistant stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois, Kansas, and Florida. He served as a head coach at Queens and St. John’s, gaining valuable experience leading programs at the Division I level. In this episode we discuss his definition of a great assistant coach, how young coaches can leverage the Final Four and summer leagues to build relationships, and the biggest challenges he faced running a program and what he would do differently today.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Isaac Wodajo, the Director of Recruiting and Scouting for the Wisconsin Badgers. He began his coaching career as a GA at Texas before moving to Wabash Valley College, eventually returning there as head coach. Wodajo then stepped into the Division I world as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Northern Kentucky before joining Wisconsin, where he now plays a major role in roster building, scouting, and navigating the fast-changing landscape of college basketball. In this episode we discuss how he stays organized and focused despite the chaos of roster turnover and the portal, how he balances “need vs. best available talent,” and what his time as a head coach taught him in his current role.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Pool, a young coach whose path has taken him from high school to the college ranks. He started his journey training players with Driven Basketball before jumping into the AAU world with Pro Skills, then moving on to Strawberry Crest High School. He later stepped into college basketball as a manager at Miami University, gaining experience on the operations and video side before landing his current role as Video Coordinator at Arizona Christian University. In this episode we discuss a deep dive into the Video Coordinator role and everything it entails beyond just breaking down film, what a structured and effective film session actually looks like, and the biggest “learning on the job” moment when he realized how different the college level is compared to high school.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Dakich, a former Big Ten guard whose playing career at Michigan and Ohio State helped shape his path into coaching. After transitioning from the court to the sidelines, Dakich took on support staff and assistant roles at Ohio State, Elon, and now Illinois State, where he’s continued to grow within the profession and build a reputation as a young coach with a sharp basketball mind. In this episode we discuss how young players and coaches can find their voice on a team, the unique coaching tendencies he learned from Coach Beilein and Coach Holtmann, and the biggest misconceptions about being in a support-staff role—along with how he describes the position himself.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Plank, a coach whose path has taken him from grassroots basketball to the Division I level. He started in the AAU circuit before moving into college coaching with stops at Willamette, Casper College, Portland State, CCSF, Washington State, and now where he stands as an assistant coach, the University of San Francisco. At USF, Plank plays a key role in recruiting and development, especially through his strong West Coast connections. In this episode we discuss: what the AAU world taught him early in his career, the three qualities he would look for when building a staff as a head coach and how he uses his background and network to bring in the right players to USF.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Christina Bernal. Coach Bernal has built her strength and conditioning career through impactful stops at some of the top athletic programs in the country. She competed as an athlete at the University of Maryland before moving into coaching roles at Florida State, Appalachian State, Texas State, Monmouth University, and now where she stands, the University of Pennsylvania. Her experience has allowed her to work with a wide range of athletes while developing a strong and adaptable training philosophy. Christina brings insight into athlete development, team culture, and building smart systems that support long-term success. In this episode we discuss what a typical pre, post, and in-season workout looks like, the recovery process for athletes after a workout, and unique training ideas coaches can use when designing their own team programs.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Nate Dixon, a coach with 26 years of experience and one of the most well-traveled assistants in college basketball. After his playing career, he jumped right into coaching with early stops at Belmont Abbey and Queens University of Charlotte, before building a career that has taken him through programs such as Stetson, Florida, Louisiana-Monroe, New Orleans, Louisiana-Lafayette, Wyoming, UNC Charlotte, Lenoir-Rhyne, UMBC, Utah State, and Nevada. In this episode, we talk about how to decide if a school or staff is the right fit, the lessons he picked up working under great coaches, and what he’s doing now between jobs to stay sharp and be ready for that next opportunity. Please welcome to the podcast, Nate Dixon.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Katie Benzan, the current Manager of Pro Scout for the Utah Jazz and The General Manager for the Salt Lake Cities Stars. Katie was one of the most efficient shooters of the modern college game. She began her career at Harvard as a three-time All-Ivy selection before transferring to Maryland and later playing with the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. After her playing career, she moved into basketball operations and development, with stops at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School and now with the Salt Lake City Stars and Utah Jazz. In this episode, we discuss her growth as a shooter, the best feedback she has received in her career, and her current responsibilities in the GM role.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Kian Boroujerdi, Assistant Coach at Canisius University. Kian’s path into college basketball is one built on persistence, humility, and a deep love for the game. He got his start as a practice player for the University of Texas Women’s Basketball team before moving into a managerial role at UNLV, where he began learning the inner workings of a college program. From there, he gained valuable hands-on experience at Pitt Bradford and later took on the Director of Basketball Operations role at the University at Albany. Now at Canisius, Coach Boroujerdi continues to climb the ranks, bringing energy, organization, and a player-first approach to the program. His story is a great example of how dedication and relationships can create opportunities in this business. On this episode we talk about how his practice player position came about and led into his first college coaching position, what starting his career in a D3 program has taught him, a breakdown of the operations side of coaching at the D1 level, and finding your coaching voice as a young coach in the industry first getting started.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Kreider, Associate Head Coach at Rice University. A Pennsylvania native, Coach Kreider’s basketball journey started as a player at Mansfield University, Grove City College, and Lebanon Valley College before jumping into the coaching world. His early career included time at the University of Great Falls, where he served as both an assistant and later head coach for the men’s and women’s programs. From there, he made stops at South Carolina Aiken, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, George Mason, VMI, Georgia State, and SMU before returning to Rice, where he continues to make a major impact. Known for his ability to connect with players, recruit high-level talent, and develop programs, Coach Kreider has built an impressive résumé across multiple conferences. His experience at both mid-major and high-major levels has given him a unique perspective on leadership and team culture. In this episode we cover advice for coaches and players navigating the transfer portal, how his first Division I coaching position came about, and the additional responsibilities that come with being an Associate Head Coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jabari Trotter, the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Dartmouth College. A Dartmouth alum, Trotter first made his mark as a standout player for the Big Green before taking his talents overseas to play professionally in Dublin, Ireland. During his time abroad, he also coached the U17 Girls Basketball team and led the Lady Haroldites of the Ireland Division 2 Women’s League. Upon returning to the U.S., he joined Phillips Exeter Academy, where he served in admissions and as an assistant coach, helping young athletes reach their academic and athletic potential. Trotter went on to hold key assistant coaching roles at Lehigh University and the University of Hawaii before returning to his alma mater at Dartmouth. Known for his leadership, energy, and commitment to player development, he continues to make a lasting impact within the Ivy League. In this episode we talk about how he grew in the ranks to land his first D1 coaching job, some duties assistant coaches can do to help their head coach on the bench in game and Coach Trotter’s approach to networking as a coach in today’s basketball landscape.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Gary Redus, Assistant Coach for the LSU Women’s Basketball team. A former standout player at the University of South Alabama, Redus went on to play professionally across China, South America, and the Middle East before transitioning into coaching. His coaching journey began at West Georgia, followed by successful stints at Delta State, Vanderbilt, and SMU before joining the powerhouse staff at LSU under Coach Kim Mulkey. Known for his energy, relationship-building, and player development skills, Redus has made a strong impact at every level of the game. His diverse background gives him a unique perspective on the global nature of basketball and the importance of adapting to each program’s culture. At LSU, he’s helped the Tigers continue their rise as one of the nation’s elite programs. In this episode we talk about recruiting to D2, low major and high major programs, a breakdown of the recruiting process for a high major team and a breakdown of what helps Coach Mulkey and the LSU program operate at such a high level.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Rob Blose, the Assistant Director of Video and Recruiting for the University of Pittsburgh. Blose has been an integral part of Pitt’s rise in the ACC, contributing to both the recruiting process and the behind-the-scenes video work that helps prepare the Panthers for success. Before joining Pitt, he built his foundation through various support and operational roles in college basketball, developing a reputation for his attention to detail and passion for the game. His work in film study, scouting, and player development has made him a key piece in helping shape team strategy and player growth. Blose has seen firsthand the evolving landscape of college basketball, particularly in recruiting and roster management. His experience offers valuable insight into what it takes to thrive at the high-major level. On this episode we discuss the biggest lessons he learned growing in a high major program, the pros and cons of roster construction and NIL as well as the challenges and rewards of working with video and film breakdown.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by John Richardson, the Head Coach at Elizabeth City State University. A former player at Elizabeth City State, Richardson’s journey through basketball has come full circle, returning to lead the very program where his playing career began. His coaching path includes impactful stops at Woodside High School and T.C. Williams High School before moving into the college ranks as an assistant at Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech. Richardson later became a head coach at both Woodside High and now Elizabeth City State, where he’s known for his strong player development and culture-driven leadership. Over the years, he has built a reputation for creating disciplined, competitive programs and mentoring coaches and players alike. His experiences across high school, mid-major, and Division II levels give him a well-rounded perspective on the game. In this episode we talk about what makes an assistant coach so impactful to a program, some of the biggest differences between mid-major, high-major and D2 programs as well as mistakes he did and learned from when he was a first year head coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Fred Quartlebaum, a longtime and well-respected Division I assistant coach. Coach Quartlebaum’s coaching career spans over three decades, featuring stops at some of the nation’s top programs including Kansas, St. John’s, North Carolina, Iowa State, and Navy. Known for his infectious energy and ability to build relationships, he played a key role in developing winning cultures and mentoring countless student-athletes throughout his journey. At Kansas, Quartlebaum helped the Jayhawks capture multiple Big 12 titles and compete on college basketball’s biggest stages including being on staff when Kansas won the National Championship in 2022. His experience and leadership have left a lasting impact on every program he’s been a part of. A motivator, connector, and lifelong learner, Quartlebaum continues to inspire coaches across all levels of the game. In this episode we talk about his first struggles as a young coach trying to break into the industry, what he learned from his time coaching at the Naval Academy, as well as some unique things Bill Self and the Kansas staff do to prepare their teams for the season ahead.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Dwaine Osborne, Associate Head Coach at Youngstown State University. Osborne brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Penguins’ program, having spent 19 years as a head coach and 29 years of coaching, across multiple levels of college basketball. His career includes successful stops at Glenville State, University of Charleston, and Texas–Permian Basin, where he consistently built competitive, high-character programs. Known for his player development expertise and commitment to culture, Osborne has guided numerous teams to conference championships and postseason appearances. His impact goes far beyond wins and losses—he’s been instrumental in mentoring young coaches and student-athletes alike. Now at Youngstown State, he continues to bring his passion for teaching, learning, and team building to the sidelines. In this episode we talk about the biggest lessons he learned in his 19 years of head coaching experience, while also talking about what he would have done differently in today’s coaching landscape and the biggest adjustment from being a head coach to stepping into an assistant role on someone else's staff.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Marsha Frese, Assistant Coach for the Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball team. Frese has built an impressive career in coaching with stops at some of the nation’s top programs. She began her coaching journey at Ball State before moving on to Northern Illinois and then Minnesota, where she helped the Golden Gophers reach new heights. From there, she continued to make her mark with successful stints at Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland, contributing to championship-caliber teams and NCAA Tournament runs. Frese also earned the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach at UMKC, where she guided the program with her leadership and vision. Along the way, she has become known for her recruiting expertise, player development skills, and ability to build strong team cultures. Currently at Georgia Tech, Frese continues to bring energy, experience, and mentorship to the Yellow Jackets program in the highly competitive ACC. Her journey is one of perseverance, growth, and impact at every level of women’s basketball. In this episode we discuss what to look for when considering if your next position is a good fit, the toughest career transition she faced and how she dealt with it and the biggest lessons the transition from head coach to assistant taught her on top of how to be the best assistant for your head coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Janard Estell, the Director of Player Management and NIL at George Mason University. Estell has carved out an impressive career in college basketball, beginning his journey as a team manager before steadily working his way up through the ranks. Along the way, he gained valuable experience at multiple stops, including his time at Spring Hill College where he also suited up as a player. His ability to build relationships, connect with student-athletes, and understand the business side of basketball has allowed him to thrive in both operations and development roles. At George Mason, he plays a key part in guiding student-athletes through the ever-changing landscape of NIL while ensuring they have the resources to succeed both on and off the court. His unique career path is a testament to persistence, versatility, and a deep passion for the game. Estell’s journey highlights how non-traditional roles in basketball can lead to major opportunities in the industry. In this episode we discuss the skill sets you should look to have when working in the NIL and fundraising side of basketball, growing in the industry from a team manager to Director of Player Management in the industry and some more education on the NIL landscape in college athletics.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Dahntay Jones, assistant coach with the LA Clippers and a former NBA veteran. Jones played college basketball at Rutgers before transferring to Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to a Final Four. He was selected 20th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 seasons in the league with teams including the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Pacers, Mavericks, Hawks, Cavaliers, and others. Known for his toughness and defensive mindset, he was part of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. After retiring, Jones transitioned into coaching and joined the Clippers’ staff under Tyronn Lue. His career has been defined by professionalism, preparation, and the ability to connect with players. In this episode we talk about his "NBA moment" which also helped out his coaching career, what a championship locker room consists of and one of the misunderstood parts of coaching at the NBA level.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Lloyd Pierce, Assistant Coach for the Indiana Pacers. Pierce brings a wealth of experience from nearly two decades in the NBA coaching ranks. He began his professional coaching journey with Santa Clara and then the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Golden State Warriors as a player development coach. He later spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he helped lay the foundation for their rise into one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders. Pierce then earned the head coaching position with the Atlanta Hawks, where he guided a young roster and gained valuable leadership experience. After Atlanta, he joined the Indiana Pacers staff, bringing his experience and steady presence to Rick Carlisle’s bench. Known for his player development work and ability to connect with athletes, Pierce has had a hand in shaping the careers of multiple NBA stars. His impact extends beyond the court as he has been a strong voice on issues of leadership and community engagement throughout his career. In this episode we discuss what lessons he learned from his first head coaching experience in the NBA, how going from a head coach to an assistant changed his perspective as a coach and a breakdown of game planning for that next opponent.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Ashleigh Lopez, Director of Player Development and Recruiting Operations for the Women’s Basketball program at Arizona State University. Lopez started her collegiate coaching career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she built her foundation in player development and recruiting. She then moved on to Grand Canyon University, continuing to grow her skill set and reputation as a rising coach in Division I women’s basketball. From there, she joined Arizona State as a graduate assistant and quickly earned more responsibility, eventually rising into an assistant role. At ASU, she played a part in the program’s historic 32-win, record-breaking season, contributing to both the culture and on-court success. Her coaching path has blended experience at multiple programs with a consistent focus on developing players and holding them to high standards. Now, in her role at ASU, she oversees player development and recruiting operations while continuing to impact the program daily. On this episode we discuss how she rose from a GA role to an assistant position at the same school, being a part of a 32-win record-breaking season and what some key components were to help this, and her personal non-negotiable standard she brings into every player development workout.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Corey McCrae, Assistant Coach for Boston College Men’s Basketball. McCrae has built a strong reputation as a relentless recruiter and developer of talent, with deep ties to the grassroots basketball community. Before joining Boston College, he spent several years as an assistant coach at Delaware, where he helped elevate the program through his recruiting connections and player development. Prior to Delaware, His coaching career began in the grassroots ranks with powerhouse Dematha Catholic High School, where he coached and mentored some of the nation’s top players and gained valuable experience in building relationships with athletes and families. Known for his energy, passion, and ability to connect with players, McCrae has quickly risen through the coaching world. His unique background gives him a strong perspective on both grassroots and Division I coaching. On this episode we discuss some daily and cultural habits his staff look to instill to help grow a team, his growth and transition from the grassroots level to the college ranks and similarities coaching between the grassroots level and Division I ranks.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Marcy Lanoue, Vice President of CSA Search and Consulting. Marcy brings a wealth of experience in both athletics and leadership development, making her one of the most respected voices in the search and consulting space. She previously served in athletic administration roles at the University of San Diego, where she helped grow the athletics brand and oversaw several key areas of external relations. Her career also includes significant experience in fundraising, branding, and program building that have directly impacted the success of the institutions she has served. Now with CSA, Marcy works closely with athletic departments and universities nationwide to identify and hire coaches and administrators that align with their vision and values. Her insight into the hiring process has helped countless coaches understand what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. In this episode we discuss some deal breakers that may hurt a potential coaching candidate for a position, how to position yourself to be a head coach in 3 years and skill sets that coaches should be looking to add in this new landscape of basketball.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Ashley Prim, Assistant Coach for St. Joseph’s Women’s Basketball team. Ashley was a standout player at St. Joseph’s, where she had an impressive collegiate career before continuing to play professionally overseas in Puerto Rico, Bulgaria, Ireland, Mongolia and Dubai. After her playing days, she began her college coaching career at the Sacred Heart University, where she made an immediate impact developing guards and managing recruiting efforts. Prim then moved on to La Salle as an assistant coach, further strengthening her reputation for player development and program building. Her experience in multiple roles, including scouting, recruiting, and player mentorship, has shaped her coaching philosophy into one built on relationships, accountability, and competitiveness. Currently at St. Joseph’s, she continues to elevate the program and inspire young athletes through her experience and leadership. In this episode she talks on how her professional overseas playing career has shaped her as a coach, how her various roles in the coaching industry have shaped her coaching mentality and the growth of women's basketball today.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Sheila Boykin, Assistant Coach for USF Women’s Basketball. Sheila starred as a player at LSU, where she was a key contributor in the SEC before continuing her career overseas professionally. After retiring from playing, she began her coaching journey at San Diego State University and later moved into an assistant coaching role at California State University Northridge, where she developed talent and strengthened recruiting efforts. She also made a stop at Loyola University of Chicago and now at the University of South Florida. Coach Boykin has become an integral part of a successful AAC program, known for her ability to connect with players and bring out their best. Her experience as both a high-level player and coach has shaped her approach, emphasizing fundamentals, development, and building confidence. Sheila has played a key role in fostering a winning culture while preparing athletes for success on and off the court. In this episode we talk about challenges she has faced early in her coaching career, the recruiting trail as a D1 assistant coach in the AAC and a unique way to grow as a coach after each practice.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Ryan Pedon, Head Coach of Illinois State. Pedon began his career as a graduate assistant at Miami (OH) before moving into full-time roles at Kent State and Toledo. He then spent time at Illinois as Director of Basketball Operations, gaining valuable Big Ten experience. Pedon later served as an assistant at Butler, helping guide the Bulldogs to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. From there, he joined Chris Holtmann’s staff at Ohio State, where he helped recruit nationally ranked classes and compete at the highest level. In 2022, Pedon was named head coach at Illinois State, taking on the challenge of rebuilding the program. In his first three seasons, he has focused on culture, player development, and implementing an up-tempo offensive system. His leadership has sparked excitement within the program and positioned Illinois State for future success. In this episode we discuss how his early coaching struggles shaped him, how he has changed the program in three years, and the core values he instills in his team.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Nolan Wilson, Assistant Coach for TCU Women’s Basketball. Wilson began his career as a graduate assistant at Prairie View A&M while earning his MBA. He then moved to Rice University, serving as Recruiting Director and later Assistant Coach, helping the program to titles and a WNIT championship. From there, he worked with the Dallas Mavericks as a Player Development Assistant, training NBA talent and utilizing analytics. Wilson later joined Washington as Director of Analytics and Scouting before being promoted to Assistant Coach. At Washington, he contributed to top recruiting classes and key wins over ranked teams. In 2024, he brought his experience across the NBA, WNBA, and Division I levels to TCU. He’s known for expertise in scouting, analytics, and player development. In this episode we discuss his prep process before big games, ways to keep practices competitive, and what he has noticed in terms of personal growth as a young coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Jacey Brooks, the Head Women’s Basketball Coach of Northern Illinois University. Coach Brooks has built an impressive coaching résumé, starting as an assistant at St. Bonaventure, where she helped guide the program to multiple postseason appearances, including an NCAA Sweet 16 run. She later served as an assistant coach at Canisius College, Bowling Green, University of Buffalo before taking the helm as head coach at NIU. Before NIU she did have prior head coaching experience at State University of New York College at Cortland. Coach Brooks is known for her ability to develop players and build strong team culture, Brooks has created a reputation as a program builder and leader who emphasizes growth on and off the court. In this episode, we discuss the first 90 days stepping into a Division I head coaching role, how to instill confidence in your players as a head coach, and unique preseason team-building exercises to help strengthen team camaraderie.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Da’Sean Butler, Assistant Coach with the Boston Celtics and one of the most accomplished players to come out of West Virginia University. A 2010 All-American and the winningest player in WVU history, Butler led the Mountaineers to a Big East Championship and a Final Four appearance under Head Coach Bob Huggins. Butler was drafted by the Miami Heat and spent time learning from Erik Spoelstra and the famed Heat culture before going on to a successful professional career overseas in France, Germany, Jerusalem, Latvia, Belgium, and Israel. Following his playing days, Butler transitioned into coaching with stops at Wheeling University, College Park Skyhawks, West Virginia University and the New York Knicks before joining the Celtics staff. Known for his resilience, leadership, and ability to connect with players at every level, Butler has brought his championship experience and player development expertise to Boston’s bench. In this episode we discuss how his coaches helped him navigate a major injury in his playing career, a snippet of the Miami Heat culture book from his playing days with Erik Spoelstra, and how the Celtics staff approached keeping everyone focused the next season after winning the NBA Championship.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Desma Thomas-Bateast, Assistant Coach at Florida State University and one of the most respected voices in women’s basketball. A standout at the University of Miami, she finished her career as one of the program’s all-time greats before playing professionally overseas in Italy, Sweden, Turkey and with the Birmingham Power. After her playing career had ended, she moved to the collegiate level with stops at Dillard University, Rhode Island, New York Liberty, Florida International, St Thomas, University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic, Cleveland State and Florida State. Along the way, she has helped guide teams to conference championships, NCAA Tournament runs, and player development success stories. Known for her recruiting expertise and ability to build winning cultures, coach Thomas-Bateast has become a leader both on and off the court. Her diverse experience gives her a rare perspective on what it takes to succeed in the game long-term. In this episode we discuss what she learned after her collegiate and professional playing career that helped her pursue coaching, certain patterns she has noticed in programs that succeed long term versus those that struggle, and advice for coaches and players on preparing for life beyond playing basketball.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Joe David, the highly respected Head Coach at Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Coach David has built one of the premier high school basketball programs in Pennsylvania, leading his teams to numerous playoff appearances, deep postseason runs, and a reputation for discipline and excellence. His coaching journey has included developing countless players who have gone on to succeed at the collegiate level. Known for his ability to adapt and innovate, Coach David has sustained success in an ever-changing basketball landscape. Beyond the high school sidelines, he’s recently expanded his impact internationally, becoming the owner of an Italian professional basketball team. His unique blend of high school leadership and global basketball perspective makes his story one of a kind. In this episode we discuss growing and sustaining success at the high school level as a head coach, different tactics he has developed to help his teams grow after each practice and what the first two weeks looked like as the owner of an Italian professional basketball team.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Vance Catlin, Senior Vice President of Pro Scouting with the Indiana Pacers. Coach Catlin’s career in basketball spans decades, starting with the Pacers before making the transition into college with the Michigan State Women’s program. He would then take a video coordinator role back with the Pacers and working his way up the program serving in multiple scouting and front office roles while also holding a stint with the Indiana Fever. Over the years, he has built a reputation for his sharp eye for talent, his ability to identify players who fit a system, and his commitment to long-term development. Catlin has been a key part of assembling competitive rosters, evaluating both domestic and international talent, and collaborating with coaches and executives to build winning teams. His experience covers every facet of scouting, from early identification to final roster decisions, giving him rare insight into what it takes to succeed at the highest level. In this episode we discuss best practices for growing in an NBA program over the years, a breakdown of the process once talent is identified in an NBA organization and how to separate box score stats from knowing if a player will be good in your system.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Patty Medina, former coach and current Associate Athletic Director at American University. Medina’s career in athletics began on the court, where she coached at multiple levels, including successful stints in both high school and collegiate basketball. She later transitioned into athletic administration, bringing her coaching perspective to leadership roles that have impacted student-athletes and programs across the board. At American University, Medina has been instrumental in overseeing key areas of operations, compliance, and program development. Her unique blend of coaching experience and administrative expertise allows her to bridge the gap between what happens on the floor and what drives success behind the scenes. She has developed a reputation for building strong cultures, guiding coaches, and fostering environments where athletes can thrive. In this episode we talk about the top things an athletic department might be looking for in the hiring process of a potential head coaching candidate, a full breakdown of how a hiring process works at the collegiate level and some great questions to ask in an interview including proper ways to follow up with the department post-interview.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Uzoh, Pro Personnel Scout for the Toronto Raptors. Uzoh enjoyed an impressive playing career, starring at the University of Tulsa where he finished as one of the program’s all-time leaders in points, assists, and steals. He went on to play in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors, including recording a triple-double in his final NBA game. His professional journey also took him overseas, competing in top leagues in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as representing Nigeria in the Olympics. After transitioning from player to evaluator, Uzoh brought his deep understanding of the game to the Raptors’ front office, where he now focuses on pro personnel scouting and player evaluation. His experience spans both the court and the boardroom, giving him a unique perspective on talent identification and development. In this episode we discuss the coaches from his past who have made a lasting impact on his career, the different scouting roles in the NBA and what each entails, some green and red flags to watch for when scouting a player as well as how to incorporate data and analytics into your scouting process.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Mazarei, the Associate Head Coach at the University of California. Coach Mazarei’s coaching journey began with Impact Basketball which would lead him into Moorpark College, where he served as an assistant before making the leap to the NBA as a player development coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. During his time in Memphis, he worked with and helped develop some of the league’s top talent. Coach Maz then transitioned back to the college ranks, serving as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt University before joining Cal’s staff. Known for his expertise in skill development, recruiting, and program building, Mazarei has built a reputation as a detail-oriented coach who connects deeply with his players. His diverse experience across the NBA, Division I, and junior college levels has shaped his unique perspective on the game. In this episode we discuss what the key moments or relationships that helped open those doors for him to jump from the community college to NBA level, how pivotal fundraising is for a program in today’s era of basketball, and the most underrated skill young coaches should develop early in their careers.
She is a former NCAA head basketball coach and two-sport college athlete who has worked extensively with elite performers. Her work spans the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, and NCAA Final Four programs. She blends mental performance training, energy healing, and intuition to help players perform at their best. Her methods focus on regulating the nervous system and accessing flow states.She bridges science and soul in her player development approach. She has guided countless athletes through challenges like injuries, slumps, and high-pressure moments. On this episode we go over daily habits to help players stay grounded, advice for those struggling with playing time or injuries, and how to train confidence in your players every day.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Eric Flannery, the long time head coach at St. Edwards High School in Cleveland Ohio. A 1990 St. Ed’s graduate, he returned to take the program over as a young head coach in 1996 and has since led the program to multiple state championships and making St. Edwards a national powerhouse. His teams are known for their toughness, discipline, and consistency year after year. Flannery has also been heavily involved with USA Basketball, contributing to youth national teams and development camps. His coaching experience extends beyond the high school level, and his leadership has impacted players and coaches across the country. Flannery is respected for his ability to develop both talent and character in his program while also maintaining a strong culture over the years. In this episode we talk about the standards he learned in his experiences with USA Basketball, his process for finding a new assistant and his advice to young coaches on how to be the best coach you can be.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Michael McDuffie, head men’s basketball coach at Greensboro College. A Greensboro alum and four-year starter, he ranks top five in assists and games started in program history. He began his coaching career at Western Guilford High School, spending six years there before taking over at Caldwell Academy. At Caldwell, he led the team to a 19–7 record and a conference title. He then coached at High Point Christian, guiding them to multiple playoff runs. In 2022, McDuffie returned to Greensboro as an assistant and became interim head coach in 2024. His team found late-season momentum and made the conference tournament. His path through high school and grassroots basketball built a foundation of player development and leadership. In this episode we talk about his first "welcome to coaching" moment, his first 24 hours as interim head coach and how coaching at the high school and grassroots levels helped him be ready for a head college position.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Jason Smith, the Director of Basketball Operations for the Australian Boomers. A former professional player, Smith had a decorated career in the NBL, winning championships with the Sydney Kings and earning league MVP honors in 2005. He represented Australia in multiple Olympic Games and FIBA World Championships, serving as captain and a key leader for the national team. Following his playing career, Smith transitioned into basketball operations, where he now helps guide the strategic and developmental vision of the Boomers. His background includes international playing experience in Italy and Croatia, which shaped his understanding of global basketball cultures. Smith brings a high-level perspective on what it takes to succeed on and off the court. In this episode we talk about the coaching styles he experienced internationally that brought the best out of him as a player, his perspective being on the operational side of the game rather than playing and how Australia works nationally to build their programs and athletes up for success.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach James Kane, assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Dayton. Kane began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida under Head Coach Billy Donovan before joining the Charlotte Bobcats as an intern and then VCU as the video coordinator under Anthony Grant. He followed Grant to Alabama, serving as the director of operations, and later joined Steve Prohm’s staff at Murray State, where he helped recruit and develop Ja Morant. Kane then followed Prohm to Iowa State, playing a key role in multiple NCAA Tournament runs. He rejoined Anthony Grant at Dayton in 2021, continuing his long-standing coaching relationships at one of the top mid-major programs in the country. Known for his energy, scouting precision, and player development, Kane has built a strong reputation in the college basketball world. On this episode we cover what he has learned in his career working alongside two great head coaches in Anthony Grant and Steve Prohm, unique stories working with Tyrese Haliburton and Ja Morant in college and best practices to building a scout to prepare for your next game.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Danny Peters, a former Division I assistant coach with experience across several high-level programs. He began his coaching career at Arizona, where he served under Sean Miller as a graduate manager and assistant director of basketball operations. Peters then spent four seasons as an assistant at Ball State, helping lead the program through a successful rebuild. He returned to Arizona as a full-time assistant coach before joining Xavier for the 2021–22 season, where he was part of a staff that won the NIT Championship. Most recently, he served as an assistant at Georgia State under Jonas Hayes. A former player at Ohio State, Danny brings a strong basketball pedigree and deep understanding of program building. In this episode we talk about what he learned from growing up in a basketball household, advice when looking to rebuild a program over the first few years and what he has learned and some advice for coaches being in between jobs.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Brian Adams, assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama. Coach Adams brings a wealth of experience across the NBA, G League, and college levels. He began his coaching career with the Boston Celtics which then led him to Harvard as the Director of Basketball Operations before moving to Marist as an assistant coach. He then joined the LA Clippers organization, where he served as a player development coach and later became the head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers in the G League. Adams also spent time as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and most recently held a position with the Detroit Pistons. In 2024, he joined Nate Oats’ staff at Alabama, bringing NBA-caliber development and defensive insight to the program. In this episode we talk about what he has learned from some of the best head coaches he has worked with in his career, his advice for navigating career moves and his defensive philosophy.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Connor McCaffery, assistant men’s basketball coach at Butler University. A former standout guard at the University of Iowa, Connor played under his father, Coach Fran McCaffery, while also earning his degree and playing baseball for the Hawkeyes. After his playing career, he joined the Indiana Pacers as a team assistant under head coach Rick Carlisle, gaining valuable NBA experience. In 2023, he was hired by Thad Matta to join the Butler coaching staff, bringing a strong foundation of basketball IQ, leadership, and communication skills. Known for his poise and competitive edge, Connor has quickly earned respect as a rising coach in the college ranks. His experience learning from elite basketball minds has shaped his coaching philosophy early on. On this episode we talk about how to balance listening and learning while also trying to grow your own coaching voice as a young coach, 3 things that would be in Coach McCaffery's "Starter Pack" as a young coach and the skills he has learned working with legendary coaches in Rick Carlisle, Fran McCaffery and Thad Matta.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Marty Richter, the head men’s basketball coach at USC Upstate. Coach Richter began his coaching journey at Simpson College before moving on to South Dakota and then Bowling Green under Dan Dakich. He gained junior college experience at Chipola College and international coaching experience with Budivelnyk in Ukraine. After a return stint at Chipola, he was then later a part of the historic “Dunk City” run at FGCU. He then served as the head coach at Florida SouthWestern, compiling a 56–10 record in two seasons. From there, he joined Drake University as an assistant, helping lead the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2024, he was named the head coach at USC Upstate. In this episode we talk about what made the FGCU "Dunk City" team so special, how to know if you are ready for a head coaching position as an assistant and what he learned as a first year head coach at a JUCO position.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Desaree Festa, the team psychologist for the Buffalo Bills. She earned her PhD in Sport and Counseling Psychology from Florida State and began her career working with athletes at William & Mary during her internship. Dr. Festa then led a private practice in Charlotte, consulting with UNC-Charlotte, Appalachian State, the Charlotte Hornets, and NASCAR teams. In 2020, she joined the Bills full-time, becoming one of the few embedded psychologists in the NFL. Dr. Festa plays a vital role in player development, rookie success programs, and in-game mental performance. She’s also heavily involved in coach support and the team’s draft evaluation process. Her experience bridges the gap between clinical care and performance enhancement. In this episode we talk about her definition of mental toughness, the psychological impact of how coaches talk to their players and a couple simple mental training techniques coaches can integrate into practice.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Tevin Brown, assistant coach with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. Tevin’s coaching journey started as a 7th-grade girls head coach and high school girls assistant at All Saints Episcopal in Tyler, TX. He then worked as Director of Player Development and Special Assistant at UT Tyler for a year. Following that, he spent a season as a pro skills trainer with Tyler Relph Basketball in Dallas. In 2022, he joined the Texas Legends as Video Coordinator and Player Development Coach. He’s since added the title of assistant coach, now entering his third season with the Legends . Tevin brings a unique perspective shaped by mentorship, skills training, and video breakdown experience. Known for his energy, attention to detail, and relational approach, he’s quickly become a rising voice in player development. In this episode we talk about his growth from being a 7th grade girls coach to being in the NBA, the mindset to have as a young coach looking to grow in the industry and how to adapt as a coach with an always changing roster.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Patrick Crarey, the head men’s basketball coach at Grambling State University. Crarey was hired in 2024 after a successful 11-year tenure as head coach and athletic director at St. Thomas University in Florida. At St. Thomas, he led the program to multiple national tournament appearances and was known for his ability to build and sustain success at the NAIA level. Before that, he served as an assistant at his alma mater, Marymount University, and spent time coaching at the high school and grassroots levels. Crarey is respected for his leadership, culture-building, and adaptability across all levels of basketball. At Grambling, he’s focused on taking the program to new heights within the SWAC. In this episode we talk about what he looks for when hiring an assistant from an athletic director and head coach’s standpoint, things to consider when looking to take that next coaching position at a new school and how to alter your offense and defense around a roster when stepping into a new program
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Jarvis Hayes, assistant men’s basketball coach at Georgia State University. A former NBA player and standout at the University of Georgia, Hayes was selected 10th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He enjoyed a seven-year NBA career followed by several seasons overseas. After retiring from playing, Hayes began his coaching career as an assistant at Morehouse College. He later joined Georgia State, where he brings a wealth of professional experience and on-court insight to the program. Known for his player development skills and calm demeanor, Coach Hayes has quickly made an impact on the collegiate level. In this episode we talk about what his playing career has taught him about coaching, some of the strongest tendencies to take away as a coach and what mindset more coaches should focus on in the profession.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Herman Mandole, the head basketball coach at Manchester Basketball. Originally from Argentina, Mandole began his coaching career as an assistant with Club Atlético San Lorenzo and Club Atlético Olímpico. He then served with Argentina’s national team before moving to Japan’s men’s national program, holding both assistant and head coaching roles. In 2022, he took a position in Italy as an assistant and was later promoted to head coach. In 2025, he took over at Manchester and has quickly revitalized the program. His international experience brings a unique perspective to player development and team culture. Manchester made a major leap under his leadership, rising from the bottom of the standings to a top-four finish. In this episode we talk about the first steps he incorporated once taking over as head coach, the building blocks that led to Manchester's turnaround in their program and major differences from international basketball to basketball in the USA.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Caputo, head men’s basketball coach at George Washington University. Coach Caputo began his coaching career as a student assistant at Westfield State before joining Jim Larrañaga’s staff at George Mason. He was part of the legendary 2006 George Mason Final Four run and followed Larrañaga to the University of Miami, where he spent over a decade, eventually becoming associate head coach. In 2022, Caputo was named the head coach at GW, bringing with him a reputation for player development, recruiting, and defensive intensity. He’s helped develop multiple NBA players and led Miami to several NCAA Tournament appearances. At GW, he’s focused on building a competitive, connected culture in the A-10. In this episode we talk about how his first coaching stops came about through connections, what he looks for as a head coach in the hiring of an assistant and mistakes he sees young coaches make when trying to network and grow in the industry.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt McCall, former head coach at UMass and Chattanooga, and current game analyst with NBC. Coach McCall began his coaching career as a student manager and later graduate assistant under Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. He went on to serve as an assistant at Florida Atlantic and then returned to Florida as an assistant coach during two Final Four runs. In 2015, McCall was named head coach at Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs to a 29-6 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season. He later took over the UMass program, guiding them through five seasons of transition and growth. Now a respected voice in the media, McCall brings coaching insight to his analyst role with NBC. In this episode we speak on his mindset in his early years of his coaching career, experiences in his 7 years as a head coach and what he has taken away now from the analyst side of the game.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Steve Ridder, the legendary head men’s basketball coach at Embry-Riddle University. Ridder took over the program in 1989 and has since built it from the ground up into a nationally recognized powerhouse. Before arriving at Embry-Riddle, he was an assistant coach at Berea Community High School in Kentucky. Under his leadership, Embry-Riddle won the NAIA National Championship in 2000 and made multiple deep national tournament runs. Ridder has earned over 700 career wins and countless Coach of the Year honors. He also led the transition of the program into NCAA Division II, continuing its tradition of excellence. In this episode we talk about changing a program from a losing program to a winning program, what he looks to instill in his players and coaches and staying loyal to a program for 36+ years.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Kelvin Lewis, assistant men’s basketball coach at Troy University. A former standout at the University of Houston, Lewis helped lead the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years. After college, he enjoyed an impressive 11-year professional playing career across Europe, including stops in Finland, Germany, Greece, Romania, and Iceland. He began his coaching career at Troy University as the Director of Player Development and was later appointed the assistant position. Lewis brings a global perspective and a player-first mindset to his coaching. In this episode we talk about what he has learned during his extensive professional playing career across the world, how his playing experiences have shaped his coaching tendencies and a deep dive into the player development side of basketball.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Jareem Dowling, assistant men's basketball coach at Kansas State University. Dowling began his coaching career at Cecil College in Maryland, where he contributed to a 97–6 record and a 2006 NJCAA Division II National Championship. He then served as an assistant at Slippery Rock University, Morehead State, and Southern Miss, gaining valuable experience at various collegiate levels. Dowling joined Grant McCasland's staff at Arkansas State and later at North Texas, where he was part of the 2021 NCAA Tournament team. In 2022, he became the first assistant hired by Jerome Tang at Kansas State. Since then, he has helped the Wildcats achieve a 45–25 record, including a 2023 Elite Eight appearance. Dowling has also contributed to the development of All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson. In this episode, we discuss his coaching journey, lessons learned from mentors, and advice for aspiring head coaches.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we sit down with the Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Coach Bryan Bailey. Coach Bailey carved out an impressive 13-year professional career in Europe after a standout run at Bucknell. He competed at the highest levels across Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Bosnia, Cyprus and Italy. His experience playing in multiple countries gave him a unique perspective on different playing styles and cultures, helping shape his approach to the game. Now, he’s bringing that knowledge to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he’s making an impact with player development and game strategy. Today, we’ll dive into his journey from playing overseas to coaching at the highest level, how to get a player to be a star in their role in the NBA and a typical day in the life as an assistant coach in the NBA.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach T.C. Swirsky, head coach of the Memphis Hustle, the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. Swirsky's coaching journey includes roles as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers and as head video coordinator for the Memphis Grizzlies for 2 years. He joined the Hustle as lead assistant in 2023 and was promoted to head coach ahead of the 24–25 season . In his first season at the helm, Swirsky secured his first career win as a head coach with a 90–85 victory over the Texas Legends and showing to be a great young head coach in the making. In this episode, we talk about being adaptable with an always changing roster, doing your job without expecting any credit, and he gives us an inside look into a day in the life of a G League head coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt Wise, the head women’s basketball coach at Samford University. Coach Wise brings a wide range of experience from across the collegiate landscape. He started his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida before moving on to roles at Wyoming and East Tennessee State, where he served as an assistant coach. He also spent time at Little Rock and later joined the University of Alabama as the Director of Video and Creative Content for the women’s program. Known for his energy, creativity, and relationship-building, Wise has built a reputation as a coach who connects deeply with his players. His journey through multiple programs has shaped his philosophy and prepared him for this head coaching opportunity. On this episode we talk about his biggest adjustment stepping into a new head coaching position after a long time assistant, talking about his offensive and defensive makeup for next season and his definition of toughness.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Mike Morrell, head coach of UNC Asheville. Morrell began his coaching career at King University, then served as a graduate assistant and director of basketball operations at Clemson under Oliver Purnell. He had a stint at Charleston Southern before joining Shaka Smart's staff at VCU, where he contributed to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Morrell followed Smart to Texas, serving in various roles including director of program development and assistant coach. In 2018, he was appointed head coach at UNC Asheville. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs achieved a school-record 27 wins in the 2022–23 season, securing both the Big South regular season and tournament championships, and earning an NCAA Tournament berth. In this episode, we discuss takeaways from working with Coach Shaka Smart, the initial changes he implemented upon becoming a head coach, and strategies for maximizing player performance on the court.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Jones, assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. A former standout guard at the University of Pittsburgh, Jones began his coaching career at Pitt University and transitioned into a graduate assistant at TCU, then joined the Jazz in 2019 as a video assistant and player development coach. He was promoted to assistant coach in 2023 under head coach Will Hardy. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from being a player into a first-year coach, building an NBA workout plan before, during, and after a workout, and identifying what players’ development needs are leading into how to implement those workouts.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Nate Bollinger, assistant coach at American University. His coaching path started at D3 York College before moving on to High Point as Director of Player Development. He then served as associate head coach at Saint Vincent College, earning NABC 30-Under-30 honors. Bollinger made the jump to Division I with William & Mary, where he helped the team reach historic win totals. Now at American, he plays a key role as the offensive and recruiting coordinator. In this episode, we talk about his rise from the D3 ranks to D1. We dive into how he builds an offense tailored to his team’s strengths. He shares insights on player development and creating efficient offensive systems. We also highlight the recent success of American's basketball program. It’s a great look into the grind and growth of a rising coach.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Russell White, the head coach at California Lutheran University. A Cal Lutheran graduate, White returned to his alma mater in 2019 after a distinguished high school coaching career. He began his coaching journey at Chaminade High School, then led Calabasas High School to two League titles. At Crespi Carmelite High School , he transformed the program, securing two CIF Southern Section titles and two CIF state championships, while also earning California State Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016 . Since taking over at Cal Lutheran, White has revitalized the program, leading them to consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including a 23–5 season in 2024–25 . In this episode, we talk about challenges he has faced at the D3 level, the offensive and defensive identity of his program, and his rebuilding of a program at California Lutheran University.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast we’re joined with the former longtime head coach at John Carroll University, Coach Mike Moran. Coach Moran, a legendary figure in Ohio basketball, built a remarkable career over four decades at both the high school and collegiate levels. After beginning his coaching journey at Elder High School, he led Villa Angela-St. Joseph to two state championships and nine district titles over 11 seasons. In 1992, he became head coach at John Carroll University, where he compiled a 460-230 record, capturing 10 OAC titles, and making 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2004. Known for his signature platoon system and emphasis on team-first basketball, Moran cultivated a culture of selflessness and relentless effort. He also coached John Carroll’s golf team for 32 years, guiding them to six NCAA appearances. His impact on generations of athletes has earned him induction into the John Carroll and Ohio Basketball Halls of Fame. In this episode we dive more into recruiting tactics, the story of some unique tendencies from Coach Moran and growing a program as a Head Coach over the years.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast we’re joined with Coach Fran Dunphy, the former La Salle Head Coach and one of the all-time winningest coaches in Philadelphia history.Coach Fran Dunphy has spent over 30 years on the sidelines, leading two of Philadelphia’s most storied programs: the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. During his 17 seasons at Penn, he guided the Quakers to 10 Ivy League championships and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, establishing a standard of excellence within the conference. In 2006, he became the head coach at Temple, where he continued his success with eight NCAA Tournament berths and multiple Atlantic 10 titles over a 13-year span. With a remarkable 580 career wins, Coach Dunphy is widely respected not only for his coaching acumen but also for his leadership, humility, and unwavering commitment to student-athletes. In this episode, we dive into how starting his career coaching at Army had helped his career, how to help your assistants and players grow to be head coaches and how to get the most out of your players and assistants as a Head Coach.
Today on the Rising Coaches podcast, we get the opportunity to speak with the current assistant coach at Georgia State University, Coach Sean Flannery. Sean is a Cleveland, Ohio native and graduate from John Carroll University where he led all Divisions (1,2 and 3) in Assist to turnover ratio. Sean Served internships with the NBA Summer league and team USA basketball over the years, which ended up helping him grow into his GA role at Xavier. He currently is an assistant and pivotal part at Georgia State and is also a Rising Coaches Member.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast we’re joined by Lindsay Langford, a registered dietitian and the head nutritionist at Butler University. With years of experience working with athletes across multiple sports, Lindsay has developed a deep understanding of the vital role nutrition plays in performance and recovery. Her expertise spans from developing personalized nutrition plans to educating athletes on the importance of fueling their bodies correctly. In today’s episode, we'll dive into three key topics: what an ideal pre-game or pre-practice meal looks like, her take on the supplement industry—what's safe and what’s not—and how an athlete's nutritional needs differ during in-season versus off-season training. Lindsay’s insights will provide you with practical tools to optimize your nutrition for peak performance.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are excited to talk with Dave Richardson, the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Arkansas Basketball programs. Coach Richardson has been instrumental in helping the Razorbacks develop into one of the most physically dominant teams in the country. His expertise in player development, injury prevention, and performance optimization ensures that his athletes are prepared to compete at the highest level. We’re going to dive into his training philosophy, how he approaches in-season vs. off-season development, and what it takes to build a winning culture in the weight room. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or just someone interested in the science behind peak performance this is your episode.
On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by a Philly hoops legend and the current Director of Player Development at Temple University — Khalif Wyatt. A standout at Temple University, Coach Wyatt went on to enjoy a nine-year professional career overseas in countries like China, Israel, France, Romania, and the Philippines earning multiple All-League honors along the way. Since jumping into coaching, he has served as an assistant at West Chester University, leading Team Big 5 in The Basketball Tournament, and returning home to Temple as the Director of Player Development. Coach Wyatt brings a rare mix of on-court experience, global perspective, and a deep understanding of how to connect with today’s players. In this episode, we dive into what it means to truly develop players — including: what are some common mistakes young coaches and trainers make, how playing internationally changed his perspective on the game, and how he structures individual workouts during the season vs. the offseason.
Mark Bialkoski is the Director of Basketball Operations at George Mason University. With over 15 years of experience in college basketball, Coach Bialkoski has played a crucial role in managing the behind-the-scenes operations that keep teams running at the highest level. From his previous roles at Georgia Southern, Charlotte, Maryland and East Tennessee State to his current role at George Mason, he’s been an essential part of successful programs, handling everything from logistics and scheduling to team culture and program development. Today, we’ll dive into his journey into basketball operations, the key skills needed to excel in the role, and his advice for young coaches and professionals looking to break into the industry of coaching.
Jeff Santarsiero is a true veteran of the game and longtime head coach at Geneva College. With nearly three decades leading the Golden Tornadoes, Coach Santarsiero has built a program centered on consistency, player development, and a strong culture of excellence. His coaching journey began at Nyack College, where he served as head coach before joining Geneva as an assistant in 1988. Since taking over Geneva as head coach in 1996, he has led the Golden Tornadoes to multiple successful seasons, including an NCCAA National Championship in 2001. Beyond wins and losses, Coach Santarsiero has dedicated his career to shaping young men on and off the court. This episode we dive into his insights on sustaining a successful program, coaching longevity, and the evolving landscape of college basketball.
Bill Cartwright is a true basketball legend. Coach Cartwright is a five-time NBA champion, a former All-Star, and a key figure in the Bulls’ first three-peat championship reign and helping one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Coach Cartwright played for the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Seattle Supersonics in his career. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant of the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns and head coaching roles with the Chicago Bulls, Osaka Evessa and the Mexican national team. In this episode we talk about what he learned playing under legend Phil Jackson, some advice working with post players and some knowledge he has taken away during his NBA coaching/playing career.
Ryan Murray is the assistant coach for the Ohio State Women’s Basketball team, Coach Ryan Murray. With a deep understanding of the game and a strong background in player development, recruiting, and game strategy, Coach Murray has held various coaching roles at Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin. A young coach, Murray has great experiences spanning multiple levels of basketball, and his ability to connect with players and build a winning culture sets him apart. In this episode we talk about how Coach Murray worked his way up the chain from being a practice player to an assistant coach at Ohio State, the importance of networking as a young coach and how to continue to grow as a coach during the offseason.
Chris Oliver is a basketball coach, educator, and the mastermind behind Basketball Immersion. With a wealth of experience in coaching at all levels, including an assistant position at McMaster University and Head Coaching titles at Queen's University and the University of Windsor prior to Basketball Immersion. Chris has worked with players and teams around the world, helping them elevate their basketball IQ and skills. Known for his innovative approach to coaching, Chris has a deep understanding of the game’s intricacies, from player development to creating high-level team systems. In this episode we dive into what Coach Oliver feels is the most important aspect of developing players on and off the court, advice to young coaches trying to implement game-based learning in their workouts and some of the biggest mistakes a coach can make when teaching their players.
Mike Brey is one of the most respected minds in college basketball and current Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Coach Mike Brey. With over two decades leading Notre Dame, Coach Brey built a program known for its toughness, efficiency, and player-driven culture. Before that, he cut his teeth as an assistant at Duke under Coach K and as the head coach at Delaware, shaping a coaching journey filled with valuable lessons, big wins, and unforgettable moments. In this episode, we dive deep into his rise from the high school ranks to the NBA, his philosophy on developing assistants into future head coaches, and how to maintain the successes of a team as a head coach over a long period of time.
Toure Murry is a former NBA Player and current Player Development Coach with the Philadelphia 76ers, Coach Toure Murry. Coach Murry joins us having an extensive playing career starting at Wichita State and leading to the New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and numerous countries such as Turkey, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Kuwait, Ukraine and Mexico. Following his playing career, Coach Murry started his coaching career in the G league with the 76ers and grew into his current role as the Player Development Coach. In this episode, we talk about his playing career and what coaching styles resonated with him most, aligning player development goals with the long term team goals and some key traits to look for when evaluating a players long term potential.
Steve Clifford is a former NBA Head Coach and current Advisor in the front office of the Charlotte Hornets, Coach Steve Clifford. Coach Clifford jumped right into coaching following his graduation and starting in a position with Woodland High School. From there he would rise in the ranks extending to places at Saint Anselm, Fairfield, Boston University, Siena, East Carolina, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers all in various assistant positions. He also held head coaching stints with Adelphi, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic and then finished his career with the Charlotte Hornets as the Hornets franchises winningest coach. In this episode we talk about his defensive minded approach to helping the Hornets being a top 5 defensive team in the NBA, some tendencies they would look to do to help with their teams defense and some things he learned as a first year head coach in the NBA.
Anthony Johnson is the current assistant coach at Youngstown State University, Coach Anthony Johnson. Coach Johnson joins us having started his coaching career at Texas Tech where they made a run into the National Championship under Head Coach Chris Beard. This would lead Coach Johnson into positions with the College of Charleston, USC Upstate, Georgia Southern, Ole Miss and now Youngstown State University. Coach Johnson talks to us about the amazing run they had at Texas Tech and what made that team so successful, some tips of recruiting as well as an in depth look at the process from meeting a recruit to eventually making them an offer.
Joe Abunassar is the Founder and Ceo of Impact Basketball, Coach Joe Abunassar. Coach Abunassar has trained nearly 307+ NBA Players in his 27 years in the business including Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Haliburton, Chauncy Billups, Jaylen Brown and Kevin Garnett just to name a few. Coach Abunassar has always been a strong player development coach but before he started this, he was a student manager under coach Bob Knight at Indiana and secured a coaching position at Wyoming for four years which led him into the development side. In this episode we talk about how athletes can get the proper recovery needed to excel, some key concepts of his training plans and some advice for coaches looking to be a player development coach.
Travis Branham is the Recruiting Analyst for 247Sports, Travis Branham. Travis joins us with a heavy scouting and recruiting background, starting his career with Drew Hanlen and Pure Sweat basketball, being a student manager at the University of Kentucky and starting his scouting career after college with nearly 20 years of experience and almost 5 years as a recruiting analyst. Travis gives us a deep dive into the biggest mistakes coaches make in the recruiting process, how important relationship building is in the recruiting process and some red flags to be aware of when recruiting an athlete.
Ben Newman is an Entrepreneur, Investor, 2x Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Philanthropist, and the Nation’s Top Continual Peak Performance Coach, Ben Newman. Coach Newman has coached and worked with some of the highest performing teams in the NFL, NBA, PGA, MLB, UFC and NCAA. He has worked with players from the last 6 Super Bowl Champions, worked on the staff of the 18x National Champions in the Alabama Crimson Tide Football team for 5 years as the Mental Conditioning Coach and also served as the Performance coach for Michigan State as well as Kansas State football and Basketball programs. On this episode we talk about how to implement a culture at a new program, his definition of “Mentally Tough” and some of the biggest mistakes young coaches make when trying to inspire their athletes.
Rex Walters is a former NBA player and former NBA and College Assistant, Coach Rex Walters. Coach Walters joins having an extensive playing career with Kansas, Brooklyn Nets, 76ers, Heat and a stint in Spain. Following his playing career he took assistant coaching positions at Valparaiso, Detroit Pistons, Nevada, Wake Forest, New Orleans Pelicans and most recently the Charlotte Hornets in assistant roles. He also held head coaching titles at Florida Atlantic, the University of San Francisco and Grand Rapids Drive. In this episode we dive more into some unique things Coach Walters learned from his playing days in Spain, best ways to approach game preparation and scouting reports at the NBA level as well as some underrated coaching concepts young coaches should be studying more.
Scoonie Penn is a former NBA assistant, Coach Scoonie Penn. Coach Penn joins us with an extensive playing career having played at Ohio State University and professionally in numerous countries including, Italy, Turkey, Croatia, Greece and Serbia. Following his playing career he stepped back into a role at Ohio State as a player development coach and previously an NBA assistant coach with the Grizzlies. In this episode, Coach Penn talks about what he has learned to help him be a coach from his international playing days, some important things young coaches should develop early in their careers as well as some key tips to help develop players skills and basketball IQs.
Darris Nichols is the chance to talk with the newly appointed Head Coach at La Salle University, Coach Darris Nichols. Coach Nichols joins us as a player coach and formerly the head coach of Radford University where he was when we initially recorded this. He had a great playing career at West Virginia University which led him into a professional stint in Hungary. Following his playing career, he took various positions at West Virginia University, Northern Kentucky, Wofford College, Louisiana Tech, University of Florida, four seasons as the Head Coach at Radford University and now being the new Head Coach at La Salle University. In this episode we dive more into how he has developed his head coaching philosophy while working for some coaching greats in the industry, how he and his staff reinforce their offensive and defensive philosophies each day, as well as some advice for coaches trying to develop their own coaching identities.
DJ Irving is the current Assistant Coach at the University of Miami, Coach DJ Irving. Coach Irving is a young coach in the industry but has grown at a rapid pace following his playing career at Boston University and a Professional Stint in Spain. Following his playing career he has had opportunities to work at Penn State, Boston University, Roman Catholic Prep and the University of Miami. In this episode, coach Irving dives into a deeper look at how his first position came about, Miami’s system and what makes their successes so unique and how a coach can develop their own coaching voice as a young assistant.
James Fraschilla is the Assistant Coach at Capital City Go-Go, Coach James Fraschilla. Coach Fraschilla’s coaching career started with the Maine Red Claws as a Head Video Coordinator and Player Development coach and would later take him to places including Indiana University, USA Basketball National Team, Salt Lake City Stars, Orlando Magic, Grand Rapids Gold, Washington Wizards as well as getting the opportunity to coach the 3x3 mens Olympic games. In this episode, we dive into what Coach Fraschilla has learned as a G league assistant, some key things he looks for during film breakdown and an in depth look at the USA 3v3 Olympics play styles.
Tyler Thorton is the Assistant Coach and Player Development Coach at Howard University, Coach Tyler Thornton. Coach Thornton is a young coach in the industry, following his stellar playing career at Duke University, he would play a few years in the CBA as well as time in Nova Scotia and Finland professionally. His coaching career would start at Marquette where he would be a graduate assistant and would lead him into where he is now at Howard University. In this episode we learn about some of the unique things he has taken away while playing for Coach K at Duke, some common duties as a Player Development coach at Howard as well as some best practices to help develop the modern day bigs.
Brian Baudinet Is the assistant coach at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Coach Brian Baudinet. Following Coach Baudinet’s playing career at Rochester, he shortly became a coach starting in a role at Trinity College and moving to American International College, the Tulsa 66ers, Duquesne University, and now UMBC. Before UMBC he held a head coaching title at Canterbury School where he held an overall record of 87-19 and won back to back NEPSAC Coach of the year awards. On this episode, Coach Baudinet talks with us about some of the ways he has grown from the High School ranks to be a D1 assistant coach, how he and his staff would plan in game strategies and match ups as well as some daily practice plans they would follow during his stint in the G League.
Dr. Richard Sander is the Athletic Director at Eastern Tennessee State University and the man behind the TopConnect Symposium, Dr Richard Sander. Dr Sander is a very active individual in the community while formally being the Athletic Director at VCU and having brought numerous NCAA Championships to the Richmond area. In this episode we talk about what Dr. Sander looks for in a coach when looking to hire for that next head coaching position, what all the Top Connect Symposium includes for assistant coaches as well as how someone such as yourself can get invited to meet and learn from more athletic directors and coaches in the industry at this event.
KT Harrell is the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Michigan, Coach KT Harrell. Coach Harrell starts his coaching career following a stellar playing career at Auburn and a stint internationally. Following his playing career, he started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Auburn which would lead him to be the Director of Basketball Operations at Florida Atlantic and then the University of Michigan. Coach Harrell is a young coach in the industry continuously on the rise but has learned from some of the best basketball minds in the industry so far. He shares what he has learned from coaches such as Bruce Pearl, Dusty May and Tony Bennett, what all his current role as a DOBO includes as well as some challenges he has faced along his journey so far.
Kyle Getter is the Associate Head Coach at the University of Notre Dame, Coach Kyle Getter. Coach Getter started his coaching career following his playing career at Centre College and got his first coaching position at Hanover College. Following Hanover he has grown to places such as Marshall, Wright State, Dayton, Walsh University, VCU, Radford, Liberty, Virginia and now Notre Dame. While in his time at Virginia he even helped the Cavaliers win the National Championship in 2019. On this episode we talk about how a coach can practice their coaching philosophy, some major takeaways he has learned from legendary coaches he has worked for along the ride as well as an in depth look on how their staff have prepared for special situations throughout the season.
Brad Kanis the Founder and CEO of EuroProBasket, Brad Kanis. Brad joins us with a ton of basketball and international experience following his playing career at Grand Canyon University and even having a stint with Houston Rockets NBA Summer League and later would bring him all around the world including, South America, Syria, Taiwan, Dubai, Japan, Uruguay, China, Africa and Europe. He now helps place athletes with international teams based on their skills and abilities. In this episode we talk about the different play styles that he has encountered while traveling to different countries, common themes agencies and coaches are looking for in a player and he even shares some details about events they run that could benefit coaches in the industry.
Katy Young Staudt is the Vice President of TurnkeyZRG. Katy joins us with heavy experience in recruiting and placement of coaches in various collegiate positions as she has worked as a director of recruiting and holding nearly 20 years of experience working in search firms. She has helped support 150+ searches for division 1 Head Coaches at places such as Yale, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Cal and Texas A&M, just to name a few. In this episode we talk about what led her into the placement side of coaching, what a coach should be expecting if working with a placement agency and what most agencies or athletic directors are looking for when hiring for their next position.
Drew Hanlen is a NBA Skills Coach and Consultant, CEO of Pure Sweat Basketball and a published Author. Coach Hanlen built his business from the ground up and now is one of the most well known NBA trainers in the game. Working with players such as Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal and Zach Lavine, just to name a few. In this episode we talk about the journey Hanlen has had growing his business portfolio over the years from the ground up, what a typical layout of his workouts would consist of as well as some major takeaways he looks for in players when preparing for an upcoming workout through film breakdown. Please welcome to the podcast, Coach Drew Hanlen.
Matt Brase is the Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Coach Brase’s playing career allowed him to play at Arizona as well as helped propel his career on the other side of the ball. Following Arizona he took positions at Grand Canyon, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston Rockets and 76ers, all as an assistant. Coach Brase also held head coaching stints with Rio Grande Valley and a stint in the professional leagues in Italy. In this episode we talk about some great things he has learned from a Legendary Coach in Lute Olson, some differences coaching in the college ranks compared to the NBA and some common themes he has learned amongst successful teams he has worked with.
Ganon Baker is an experienced Skills Development trainer, KeyNote Speaker, Life Development coach, Consultant and Author. Coach Baker has been in the industry helping athletes from all levels including the youth all the way to the NBA. Baker currently works alongside numerous clients in the NBA, NCAA and WNBA as well as numerous other countries as well. Baker has worked with many players, a few including Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Maya Moore just to name a few. In this episode we learn about what goes into Coach Baker’s workout plans, how he prepares for them in advance to make sure his clients get the best out of their workouts and also some different ways you can best use your communication skills to be the best leader possible.
RJ Allen is the Head Coach at Newman University. Coach Allen has grown himself in the industry, following his playing career at Hutchinson Community College, he started in a Graduate Assistant position at Concordia University. He grew in his role and ended up taking an assistant coach at Woodbury High School before being appointed the Associate Head Coach at Newman University and ultimately being appointed Head Coach, where he has been for 8 seasons. In this episode we talk about some bumps in the road as a first year head coach, how his coaching philosophy has evolved and on their growth so far this season.
Ryan Pannone is the Assistant Coach at the University of Alabama, Coach Ryan Pannone. Coach Pannone has worked his way up the coaching ranks holding positions in 5 countries including China, Slovakia, Israeli, Germany and South Korea as well as positions including Wallace State Community College, Erie Bayhawks, New Orleans Pelicans and currently the University of Alabama. Pannone has a strong coaching background and a wealth of knowledge for the game overall as you will come to learn. Pannone speaks on common threads amongst the different countries he has coached in, some of his favorite offensive actions as well as how to build a strong team culture in a program.
Rob Lanier is the first year Head Coach of Rice University, Coach Rob Lanier. Coach Lanier joins us with a current 141-135 Head Coaching record holding head stints at Siena, Georgia State, SMU and now Rice University. Coach Lanier started his coaching journey at Niagara University as an assistant and held various other assistant positions at St. Bonaventure, Rutgers, Texas, Virginia, Florida and Tennessee.On this episode, we talk about some takeaways Coach Lanier has learned working under legendary coaches Rick Barnes and Billy Donovan, how to grow and maintain a culture as a first year head coach and an overview of the style of play Rice has been looking to incorporate this year.
Carlin Hartman is the Associate Head Coach at the University of Florida. Following Hartman’s playing career at Tulane, he played a few years in a Semi Professional league and then right into his first coaching position at Rice. Following Rice, Hartman held various positions at McNeese State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Richmond, Centenary, James Madison, Columbia, Oklahoma, UNLV and currently The University of Florida. In this episode Coach Hartman talks about some of the biggest challenges he has faced in his growth as a coach, how the game of basketball has evolved over his years as a coach as well as how analytics plays a major role in basketball to this day.
Dedrique Taylor is the Head Coach at California State Fullerton University. Coach Taylor is in his 12th season as a head coach, all while at Cal State Fullerton. Coach Taylor started his coaching career following his playing career at UC Davis and pivoted into various roles at Loyola Marymount, Portland State, Nevada and Arizona State. Looking back on Coach Taylor’s coaching career, we take him back to his first year as a head coach and learn what he would have done differently as a head coach, we dig deeper into some of the biggest challenges he has faced as a head coach as well as how him and his previous teams as an assistant overcame the ups and downs of a season to learn and grow from things the next season.
Jason hart is the Assistant Coach at the University of Kentucky, Coach Jason Hart. Coach Hart joins us starting in the AAU circuit as well as High School ranks as a Head Coach at Taft High School following his 9 year NBA Career. Following Coach Hart’s year stint with Taft he has made coaching stops at Pepperdine University, USC, NBA G League Ignite and currently The University of Kentucky. Coach Hart talks to us on this episode about his experiences growing in the ranks from coaching in High School to one of the highest College basketball programs, some things Kentucky and Coach Pope have looked to instill into Kentucky their first year as a staff as well as some differences he has learned coaching in NBA in comparison to College.
Today, on the Rising Coaches Podcast, we got the pleasure of speaking with a legendary High School coach, USA National coach and USAB National Director for Coach Development, Coach Don Showalter. Coach Showalter has coached for 45+ years, achieving the status of a 10x gold medal winner with USA Basketball and 10x USA basketball development Coach of the Year awards. He has also received Iowa Coach of the year accolades 10 different times, and was inducted into the Iowa High School hall of fame in 2016. While with USA basketball, Coach Showalter's U16 and U17 teams have an international record of 62-0. Showalter's success is amazing in the industry and he currently helps to give back by helping other coaches learn and grow themselves. We are excited to learn more from a true great in the industry.
Jim Shaw is the Associate Head Coach at Stanford University. Coach Shaw joins us with a strong career of winning, while being a part of 19 NCAA tournament teams in his time making stops at Western Oregon State as a player, and holding various assistant positions at Idaho State, Oregon State, University of Portland, Oklahoma, University of Washington, Saint Mary’s, Washington State and Stanford, while also holding a Head Coaching stint at Western Oregon University and posting a 102-30 overall Record as a Head Coach. In this episode, Coach Shaw talks about some things he looks for when searching for that next assistant coaching position, some common threads amongst all of his successful teams and a breakdown of a typical college practice lay out.
Jamie Wood is the Founder and CEO of HYPHENATED ATHLETICS, Jamie Wood. Jamie Wood joins us as previously holding an assistant athletic director position at Ohio State University as well as formerly being the Assistant Athletic Director of NIL at Texas A&M. Now he currently runs his own company called HYPHENATED ATHLETICS which helps student athletes with their NIL. In this episode we talk heavily on the new elephant in athletics, NIL or Name, Image and Likeness. Jamie talks about what a typical person in a NIL coaching position would handle on a day to day basis, what all NIL consists of for college athletics as well as how coaches best work with their athletes to ensure NIL does not become a distraction in their day to day lives.
Brett Reed is the Head Coach of Lehigh University, Coach Brett Reed. Coach Reed joins us as a coach who has grown in the profession himself. Starting as an assistant coach with Oakland Community College following his playing career at Eckerd, leading him into positions at UNC Greensboro, High Point and Lehigh all as an Assistant. After 4 years of learning and growing at Lehigh he is appointed the Associate Head Coach and then the Head Coach after one more year and holding a 53% winning record and the all time winningest coach in Lehigh history. In this episode we talk on what he looks for when hiring a coach, how to maintain a head coaching role as well as what to look for in Lehigh's offensive and defensive patterns.
Nick Sales is the Head Coach at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. Following Coach Sales’s Playing Career at Defiance College, he soon became the Graduate Assistant there which then led him into assistant positions at Albion College and Marietta College. Following Marietta, Sales got his first head coaching position at Rose Hulman as he is now going into his third season. Coach Sales talks to us about some of the benefits of starting as a Division 3 Coach, some first year Head Coaching bumps in the road he has encountered as well as some Game Strategy and Preparation tips for other coaches.
Jake Lorbach is the Assistant Men’s basketball Coach and Director of Scouting for Eastern Kentucky University. Coach Lorbach is a young coach on the rise but has a plethora of knowledge in the game, having a playing career under coach Thad Matta at Ohio State University and working his way up the profession starting at St Edward’s High School, University of Colorado Springs, Kirkwood Community College and now where he stands, Eastern Kentucky University all in the assistant roles. Coach Lorbach also held the General Manager and Coach title for the Great Lakes Elite team in the TBT Tournament. In this episode Coach Lorbach talks about some of the main duties he has as a Director of Scouting as well as some of the things they look for in players, while also speaking on some of the best ways to know if a recruit is worth pursuing.
Bill Hubly is the Assistant Athletic Director of Scouting with the University of Pittsburgh Men’s team, Coach Billy Hubly. Coach Hubly joins us with a strong coaching background including various roles at Georgia Institute of Technology, East Carolina University, University of South Florida and currently the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Hubly, has made a great rise in the industry getting to learn from some phenomenal coaches, including Coach Brian Gregory and Jeff Capel to name a few. In this episode we talk about some things he looks for when scouting an opposing team, how NIL and the transfer portal have made an impact on basketball as well as some of the major takeaways he has learned from all of his stops with stellar programs.
Sean Damaska is the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Dayton. Coach Damaska had started right into his coaching career following his playing career wrapping up at Northern Illinois University. His first coaching role would be with the Dallas Mavericks as a Player Development Intern and soon leading him to Dayton where he worked his way up from a Graduate Assistant into now as an assistant coach. On this episode Coach Damaska talks about identifying and developing young talent at Dayton, some typical duties of a recruiting coordinator and what he has built on his own coaching philosophy so far.
We take a unique turn and get to learn from not only a coach with 10 years of coaching experience but also someone with nearly 20 years of experience in team building and growing leaders, Coach Sean Glaze. Coach Glaze has coached two different high school programs including Cobb County Schools and Cherokee County, where he brought both programs from single digits wins to individual school record breaking programs. On top of this Coach Glaze has spoken in front of large corporations as well helping to motivate and build their teams programs as well as their cultures. This episode we talk about how a coach can help build their program's culture over time, how to build leaders out of your players and some of the best practices to motivate your team.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are continuing the second half of our previous conversation with a legend in the industry as a former NBA Head and Assistant Coach and most recent assistant coach for the University of Arkansas. Please welcome the second half of our conversation with coach Keith Smart.
Keith Smart is a former NBA Head and assistant coach and most recently former Assistant Coach with the University of Arkansas. Coach Smart is a legendary coach and player as he hit arguably one of the biggest shots in NCAA history, has a 20 year professional career and 27 year coaching career. Coach Smart has been the Head Coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings as well as holding assist positions with those same programs, also including the Fort Wayne Fury, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Arkansas. This episode we talk about some of the takeaways he has learned playing under Legendary Coach Bobby Knight, some major things NBA coaches look for when recruiting and some of the biggest challenges he has faced as a coach at various levels and do not forget to check out Part 2 on Monday!
Kelby Jones is the assistant Women’s coach at Oklahoma State University. Coach Jones has worked his way through the industry starting as a student manager at North Texas and growing into various roles at schools including the University of Texas, Mississippi State and now Oklahoma State University. Coach Jones talks about some takeaways he has learned while growing in the industry, utilizing analytics as a team and some of the most important elements to growing a strong basketball team.
Desond Oliver is the Assistant Men’s Coach at The University of South Florida. Coach Oliver has nearly 30 years of coaching experience including a head coaching stint at East Tennessee State and held assistant roles with Niagara, Texas A&M, Cornell, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, Georgia, Canisius, Charlotte, Tennessee and currently South Florida. In this episode Coach Oliver enlightens us on some takeaways he learned as a head coach, how his coaching philosophy has grown over the years and some common threads amongst the successful teams he has been a part of.
Jeff Battle is the Associate Head Coach at Georgetown University. Coach Battle has truly grown in the industry starting as a Graduate Assistant at Delaware and making stops in various roles at Caesar Rodney High School, Delaware State University, Loyola, Xavier University, Wake Forest, Providence and currently Georgetown University. Coach Battle has coached a wide range of tenured players, some including Chris Paul, Jeff Teague and Ish Smith. Coach Battle talks with us on rising in the industry starting as a High School coach, how his approach to coaching developed over the years and the ups and downs of the transfer portal.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined with the Director of Recruiting Operations and Assistant Women’s Coach at the University of Kentucky, Coach Ciara Gregory. Coach Gregory has a short list of schools with a rather quick incline, starting as a Graduate Manager at Charlotte and working her way up to being an Assistant Coach. Following her 5 years in Charlotte as a coach she found herself recently joining the Wildcats staff. Coach Gregory talks to us on some of her day to day duties as the Director of Recruiting Operations as well as some things that make Kentucky basketball so unique. Coach Gregory also has a strong background in working with guard play at Charlotte and she dives into some unique things she liked to work on. Please welcome to the podcast, Coach Ciara Gregory.
Brian Pauga is the Director of College Scouting and Basketball Intelligence for the Utah Jazz, Brian Pauga. Brian started as a student manager at Michigan State University and took an immediate jump into the NBA holding various roles with the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz. Brian Pauga has 15+ years of scouting at the NBA level and shares with us some insight on some of the best ways to assess a players ability to fit in a system, best practices to grow in the NBA as well as his belief on what best separates a good scout from a great one.
Jeff Capel is the Head Coach of the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Capel joins us today with a wide range of coaching and basketball knowledge starting from his career as a player at Duke University and leading into his various assistant positions at Old Dominion, VCU and Duke. Coach Capel also held Head Coaching Stints with an overall record of 259-202 as a head coach at VCU as well as Oklahoma and currently the University of Pittsburgh. On this episode Coach Capel talks about some of his big takeaways he learned while playing and coaching under Coach Krzyzewski at Duke, some major takeaways he learned as a first year head coach at the age of 27 as well as promoting accountability amongst your players.
Dave Love is a long time NBA shooting coach. Coach Love joins us with 8 years of experience working in the NBA as a shooting coach, but nearly 20+ years of being a shooting coach and consultant for people of all ages. Coach Love has experience working with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, G-League Ignite and most recently the Dallas Mavericks. On this podcast we talk on Coach Love's journey in the industry as a shooting coach, proper shooting mechanics that anyone should look out for, as well as some best practices to improve jump shots of any age and some brand new research founded on periodization of skill training.
Corry Irvin is the current Head Women’s Coach at Chicago State University. Coach Irvin has 25+ years of coaching experience ranging from the High school ranks all the way to Division 1 basketball. She has held numerous positions at schools including Saint Xavier University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mississippi State University and presently Chicago State University. In this episode we cover building a culture, a program as a head coach and takeaway some great advice for helping coaches grow in the industry, just as she has.
Gabe Lazo is the Assistant Women’s Coach at the University of Tennessee. Coach Lazo has made various stops after his playing career ended at Barry University in a variety of roles including Florida International University, Stony Brook, George Washington, Mississippi State and currently Tennessee. Coach Lazo has an extensive background at a variety of levels while working his way up in the industry. This episode we talk about building your coaching philosophy, a division 1 coaches tips on recruiting and best practices to move up in the industry.
Dave Saur is the current Head Women’s Coach at Chatham University. Coach Saur has a strong coaching background starting in the Division 3 ranks and working his way up the chain, holding roles at schools including Thiel College, California University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Stetson University, UMass Lowell, University Louisiana at Monroe and Chatham University, where he recently led his team to a PAC championship and Head Coach of the year award. In this episode we learn about some advice on moving up in the industry, utilizing your network to its fullest and creating a culture as a head coach.
Chad Boudreau is the current Head Coach at Western Illinois University. As a head coach, Boudreau holds an overall record of 97-33 holding 3 consecutive conference regular season titles in four years as well as recently earning a spot as a finalist for the Joe B. Hall award as being one of the top first year head coaches in Division 1. Prior to his head coaching career Boudreau started out at Hannibal-LaGrange as a women’s Graduate Assistant Coach. He would soon work his way to Indian Hills, Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Western Illinois as an assistant. Soon to be the head coach of Highland Community College and where he stands now, Western Illinois University.
Jon Vanderwal is the current head coach at Marietta College. Coach Vanderwal has grown a strong history at Marietta college raising the program from the bottom of the conference to now being a Nationally ranked D3 powerhouse under his tenure. Vanderwal has a head coaching record of 313-126 with a 72% winning percentage over his 17 year reign at Marietta as well as being presented the Glenn Robinson Award as the top division III coach in the nation.Vanderwal has also been awarded 4 coach of the year awards in the OAC as well as 4 Region Coach of the year awards while averaging 23.3 wins and 5.5 losses from the 2011-2022 seasons.We are honored to chat with such a strong division 3 coach.
Ronnie Burrell is the current assistant coach with the Portland Trailblazers. Following an extensive 15 year professional playing career including France and Germany, Coach Burrell would step into a Graduate Assistant Role with Florida Atlantic University as his first role as a coach. Following FAU he would take on various positions at IMG Academy, Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, Chicago Bulls, College Park Skyhawks, and currently the Portland Trail Blazers. Coach Burrell has a tremendous coaching background while continuously moving up the chain on top of winning the NBA G League coach of the year award in 2023 with the Long Island Nets.
Jesse Reed is the current head coach at Franklin Regional High School. Coach Reed had a stand out career at American University and was one of the top players in the state of Pennsylvania coming out of High School. Following Coach Reed’s collegiate career he played a brief stint in Europe then found himself starting his coaching career for Saint Vincent College and then to Carnegie Mellon University which would lead him to where he stands now. While at Franklin Regional, Reed has grown the program to new heights, while recently going 27-4, setting school records and winning Coach of the Year accolades, only in his 3rd season as a head coach.
God Shammgod Jr. is the current Player Development coach with the Boston Celtics, Coach God Shammgod Jr.. Coach Shammgod started his coaching career after his playing career ended at Fairmont State where he played under head coach Jerrod Calhoun. As a coach he would hold a brief stint at Youngstown State and then back to Fairmont State. Coach Shammgod would soon transition back to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, soon to make it into the G league with the 76ers at the Delaware Blue Coats and where he stands now, a player development coach with the Boston Celtics. We are excited to learn from a young coach with a tremendous basketball background.
We have a unique turn as we are celebrating our 100th episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast! It's hard to believe we've reached this incredible milestone, and we couldn’t have done it without you, our amazing listeners. Over the course of these 100 episodes, we’ve explored, learned, and connected with so many incredible coaches at all levels in the profession. Today’s episode is a special celebration where we talk about some of the best takeaways we have learned from previous guests including the best advice for coaches to move up in the industry, most unique journeys we have covered and much more! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or joined us recently, we’re so grateful you’re here to mark this milestone. So let's dive into this celebratory 100th episode!
Joe Gallo is the head coach at Merrimack College. Coach Gallo capped Merrimack’s final years in division II with 3 NCAA tournament appearances and snapped a 19 year championship drought, along with his 143-98 head coaching record at a nearly 60% win-loss ratio. Following Gallo’s playing career at Merrimack, he moved a few inches over to another seat allowing him to start his assistant coaching career. Following 4 years he moved on to Dartmouth and Robert Morris both in the assistant roles until he got the head job back at Merrimack. Coach Gallo has propelled his teams to 3 regular season championships and 2 tournament titles including a variety of Coach of the year awards. We are excited to speak with a young but great coach in the industry.
Chad Murray is the current head coach at Pacific Lutheran University. Coach Murray stepped into coaching after his playing career finished at Chapman University. His first coaching gig came about at North Central College then into Vassar College and Nebraska Wesleyan University in the assistant roles. Coach Murray then stepped into his first head coaching gig at Cornell College which would eventually lead him into his head role at Pacific Lutheran University. Coach Murray would help the Lutes reach their first league championship since 1986 and claiming the NWC Coach of the Year award.
David Grace is the current head coach of Campbell Hall High School. Coach Grace has a tremendous background starting in the High School ranks as an assistant at Trevor Browne HS and taking a head coaching position soon after at South Mountain HS. Following his brief head coaching stint, Coach Grace took a step into the college ranks at Sacramento State, San Francisco, Oregon State, UCLA, California, and Vanderbilt, all in the assistant roles and then back into a head role at Centennial HS and where he now stands, Campbell Hall High School. Coach Grace was ranked by ESPN as the 7th best recruiter helping get numerous players including Lonzo Ball, Scotty Pippen Jr., and many more. We are excited to learn from a tremendous coach and nationally known recruiter.
Jerrod Calhoun is the current Head Coach at Utah State University. Coach Calhoun has done a remarkable job growing programs over the years and leaving a place better than he found it. Following his playing career at Cleveland State he took a student assistant position with Cincinnati which would help him get his first assistant coaching position at Walsh University. Following 3 years at Walsh, Calhoun landed a role with West Virginia University under coach Bob Huggins which would help set himself up into his head coaching positions with Fairmont State, Youngstown State and now Utah State University. Coach Calhoun has grown each program he has taken over as a head coach and currently holds a record of 242-144 with a 63% win percentage and numerous regular season championships along with a Horizon coach of the year award. We are excited to talk with a veteran coach and first year Head Coach of Utah State.
Roy Blumenthal is the current Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Ryder University. Coach Blumenthal has five decades of coaching experience at the High School and Collegiate levels including his 25 year reign at West Chester University with experiences as the Head Coach and Founder of the Global Sports Academy Goodwill Select teams. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at West Chester for his commitment to the program over the years and has worked an extensive amount with international student athletes over the years. We are excited to learn from a tenured coach and current special assistant at Ryder University.
Mike Fuline is the current Head Coach of the University of Mount Union. Coach Fuline started his coaching career in the high schools ranks first as an assistant and then head coach at Massillon Jackson High School where he posted a 95-42 overall record and numerous championships here as a head coach. Following this Fuline would take a jump into the college ranks and start his long tenure as Head Coach, which will be his 13th season. Coach Fuline has had Mount Union continuously on the national rankings as well as deep runs in the NCAA tournament including their first 30 win season and a run to the NCAA Championship, while holding a variety of coach of the year awards. We are excited to speak with a strong coach in the division 3 ranks.
Alex Sarama is the Founder of Transforming Basketball. Coach Sarama has traveled all over working in basketball including England, France, Italy and even working in the NBA here in the US. Coach Sarama has held a ton of different positions including working with coaches to help them develop their own practice plans to best help coaches be prepared for their head coaching gigs. Coach Sarama has a ton of experience working with player development as well as coaching development.
Kevin Sutton is the Technical Director of Basketball at IMG Academy. Coach Sutton has an extensive coaching background ranging from High School to the Division 1 level. Coach Sutton has made a variety of stops in his 38 year coaching career including various roles at James Madison, Montverde Academy, George Washington University, Georgetown University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island, Florida Gulf Coast University, Kansas State and his current role at IMG Academy. As a head coach at the high school level, Coach Sutton has posted a 489-102 overall head coaching record for an 83% win ratio and has worked as a head and assistant coach for USA basketball for nearly 8 years.
Danny Reese is the current Assistant Coach at Youngstown State University. Coach Reese is a young coach on the rise who had a stellar playing career at YSU and following his playing career, Danny would become the Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Jerrod Calhoun for 6 years. Most recently Coach Reese was appointed as the assistant coach for the previous two years and he has been an integral part of the Penguins successes during their five straight winning seasons for the first time in YSU Division 1 history and helped the penguins break numerous 20 win seasons. We are excited to chat with a young coach on the rise!
Today, on the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are continuing the second half of our previous conversation with a long time NBA assistant and most recent assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, so please welcome back coach Dan Burke.
Dan Burke is a long time NBA coach and former assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. Coach Burke has been coaching in the NBA for 35 years and has held coaching stints including a Video Coordinator role for the Portland Trailblazers and Assistant positions for the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and most recently, the Detroit Pistons. Coach Burke has worked along legendary coaches such as Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers and Monty Williams. We are excited to hear more about his strong NBA background and what helped him grow in the industry. This episode had a ton of good content so we had to cut it into 2 parts.
Chris Holguin is the current Player Development and G League Liaison for the LA Clippers. Coach Holguin has made a tremendous growth in the industry starting his career as a Student Manager at the University of Texas at San Antonio and working up the ranks in various roles at Maret School, Reno Bighorns in the G League, Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, and where he stands now and for the past 8 years, with the LA Clippers. Coach Holguin has held various roles with the LA Clippers including Assistant Video Coordinator, Head Video Coordinator, Coaching Associate, Player Development/Video/ACC Liaison, and his current position as the Player Development and G-League Liaison. We are excited to learn from a coach with a wide range of experiences.
John Shulman is an established coach in the industry as he is the head coach at Central Arkansas. Coach Shulman started his coaching career as an assistant at University School of Nashville which led him into assistant roles at Wofford, East Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga, ultimately leading into his first head coaching position at Chattanooga and leading into McCallie School, Alabama-Huntsville and Central Arkansas all in the head coaching position. Coach Shulman has posted a winning record from the High School to college ranks, holding a 58% win percentage in College and a 76% win ratio in High School all as a head coach.
Joanne Aluka-White is the current Women’s Assistant Coach at the University of North Carolina. Coach White had a stellar playing career at Middle Tennessee which led her into representing her country in the Olympics as well as a stint with the Dallas Fury in the NWBL. Following her playing career, she was led into her first assistant coaching role with Florida International University and then Charlotte as an assistant and shortly after becoming the Associate Head Coach at Charlotte. Following Charlotte, Joanne would then take a position where she now stands for the past 6 years, as the current Assistant Women’s Coach at the University of North Carolina.
Dave Fedor is the newly appointed first year head coach at Georgian Court University. Coach Fedor started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Rutgers University which helped lead him into Georgian Court as an assistant and landed a position with division 1 Robert Morris University, where he stood for 6 years also as an Assistant Coach. Coach Fedor most recently landed his first head coaching position back to where it all started, Georgian Court University. Coach Fedor was also a pivotal piece working with The Hoop Group as an assistant director and director of team tournaments. We are excited to learn from a new head coach and a coach on the rise himself.
Karen Lange is a tremendous coach in the industry and the current Assistant Women’s Coach for Duke University. Coach Lange started her coaching career following her standout playing career at The University of Iowa. Lange has a great coaching resume making stops at Virginia Tech, Kansas, Charlotte, Georgia and Duke in support staff roles while holding a head coaching title at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Lange has a strong reputation for her ability to develop guards, while helping to grow strong defensive teams as well. Lange tends to be a frequent visitor in the postseason and NCAA tournaments no matter where she is at. We are excited to learn more from a great coach!
Adam Cohen is a Rising Coaches member and the current Associate Head Coach at Xavier University. Coach Cohen is a remarkable coach to say the least while having huge prior success working in the SEC, PAC-12, Ivy League, Big East and Conference USA. He has made stops including University of New Orleans, University of Southern California, Rice, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Xavier University. Cohen has the honor of being recognized as one of the best assistant basketball coaches in the NCAA with a strong knack for his recruiting and ability of working with Point Guards. Coach Cohen has also been recognized by NABC on the 30 under 30 team and helped guide many athletes into the NBA. We are excited to learn from such a young and established coach.
Larry Shyatt is a prestigious coach in the industry, as a former NCAA head coach and NBA assistant. Coach Shyatt has an extensive background, following his playing career at The College of Wooster, Shyatt took his first coaching gig at Akron University which would lead to Utah, Cleveland State, New Mexico, Providence, Clemson and Florida all in assistant roles while holding head coaching titles at Wyoming, Clemson and most recently Wyoming. Coach Shyatt recently held a stint with the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant coach in the NBA while receiving Co-Coach of the year awards in his career and holding a 117-68 overall head coaching record.
Brad Brownell is the current Head Coach at Clemson University. Coach Brownell started his coaching career, following his playing career at DePauw University. He landed an assistant role with Evansville which would lead into Indianapolis and UNC Wilmington which would turn into landing his first head job at UNC Wilmington, then Wright State and where he currently stands as the all time most winningest head basketball coach at Clemson University. Brownell has attained 2 CAA regular season and 2 tournament championships, along with a Horizon League tournament and regular season championship and received 3 coach of the year awards. We are excited to be joined with a legendary coach.
Caroline McCombs is the current Women’s Head Coach at George Washington University. McCombs has been in the coaching industry for nearly 25 years, starting her coaching career at Valparaiso University, which would lead her into assistant roles at University of Pitt, Northwestern and Auburn. Shortly after her stint at Auburn, McCombs would become the head coach at Stony Brook University for nearly 7 years and would lead her into her current role, as Head Coach at George Washington University. While at GW, McCombs has helped lead the charge to the national rankings setting records for made 3s in a single season and landing top recruits in the nation. We are excited to learn more from such a great coach.
Thad Matta a legendary coach and the current Head Coach at Butler University. Coach Matta has a current overall head coaching record at 471 wins to 187 loses with a 71% win percentage for his career. Coach Matta started his career at Indiana State as a GA and moved up the chain to various places including Butler, Miami and Western Carolina all in assistant roles. Matta’s head coaching stint started at his alma mater, Butler and then led him to Xavier, Ohio State and back to Butler University. Matta has earned 3 Big Ten, 1 Atlantic 10 and 1 Horizon League Coach of the Year awards including numerous NCAA and Final Four appearances including 8 regular season championships and 7 conference tournament championships.
Trent Michaels is the current Director of Basketball Operations at West Virginia University. Coach Michaels has started and grown in various positions at WVU, starting as the Student Manager and going to a Head Student Manager, Graduate Assistant, Coordinator of Basketball Operations and now the Director of Basketball Operations. Coach Michaels is a young coach on the rise and has shown tremendous growth and patience throughout his career all while at WVU. We are excited to learn from a young coach on the rise.
Brenton Petty is a young coach on the rise as he is the Director of Player Development and Assistant Coach at the University of Maryland. Following Petty’s unique playing career ending at Fordham University, he took a position with Maryland to become the Graduate Assistant coach for 2 years. Following his GA role, Petty would then get a basketball operations intern role with the Detroit Pistons which would help bring him back to where it all started, as the Video Coordinator at Maryland. Petty is a young coach on the rise with a unique story.
Jonathan Metzger-Jones is the current Assistant coach at the University of California, Davis. Following Coach Jones’s professional playing career in Europe, including Switzerland, Denmark and Finland, Jones would take a position as the Director of Basketball Operations at Cal State for his first coaching gig. Following Cal State, he held positions at UC Santa Barbara, University of Montana and UC Davis all in the assistant roles. Coach Jones has recruited and mentored multiple players who have gone on into the NBA while also helping his program at UC Davis set numerous records throughout his time there. Coach Jones has a ton of success as a coach and knows what it takes to be able to move up in the industry.
Patrick Bain is a Rising Coaches member and current Assistant Women’s Basketball coach at Wright State University. Coach Bain is a young coach on the rise as he started his coaching career following his stellar playing career at Cedarville University where he was a stand out player for the Yellow Jackets. Bain then became the Assistant Coach with Cedarville on the men's side which would transition him into an assistant role onto the women’s side at Wright State. We are excited to learn more from a young coach on the rise with a wealth of knowledge of the game.
Matt Dickman is a current Rising Coaches Member and Assistant Coach at Graceland University. Coach Dickman had a very noticeable rise in the industry as he started coaching at various High Schools in Arizona leading him into roles within the G League and at the college level. His collegiate coaching career started at Brownie Mackie College which would jumpstart him to Central Methodist University, Indiana University East, Buena Vista University, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Mount Marty University, Saint Louis University and his current role at Graceland University.
Tim Kaine is the current Assistant Coach and Chief of Staff for LSU. Coach Kaine has grown through the ranks starting in high school and working his way up to being a pivotal piece of a Division 1 program. In between, Kaine made a variety of stops, including Austin Peay, Guilford College, Newberry College, Winthrop, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Murray State and where he currently stands, at LSU. Coach Kaine gives us the insight how he grew in the industry and utilized camps to help him make connections and gain his first college coaching gig.
Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the basketball business. Coach Stevens has a short road of stops but an incredible background nonetheless, as he grew from an assistant role at Butler to being the Head Coach and ultimately one of the best Butler has seen during his 6 year head coaching stint, including 2 Horizon Coach of the Year awards, 2 Final Four appearances and 7 regular and tournament Horizon League championships in total. Following Butler, Stevens stepped into a role with the Boston Celtics as a head coach for 8 years and now serves as the current President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, who recently won the 2024 NBA Championship.
Justin Gainey is the current Associate Head Coach at Tennessee. Coach Gainey’s coaching background ranges in various roles at NC State, following his playing career, Elon University, Justin Gainey is the current Associate Head Coach at Tennessee. Coach Gainey’s coaching background ranges in various roles at NC State, following his playing career, Elon University, Appalachian State, Marquette, Santa Clara and currently, the University of Tennessee. Gainey has been known for his tremendous defensive and recruiting strategies while helping his guards to excel on their perimeter play, helping the Vols to number 5 in the AP poll and recording numerous wins against top 10 nationally ranked teams. We are excited to learn more from such a well versed coach. State, Marquette, Santa Clara and currently, the University of Tennessee. Gainey has been known for his tremendous defensive and recruiting strategies while helping his guards to excel on their perimeter play, helping the Vols to number 5 in the AP poll and recording numerous wins against top 10 nationally ranked teams. We are excited to learn more from such a well versed coach.
Greg Oden is a former NBA star and current Director of Basketball Operations at Butler University. Coach Oden was drafted as the number one overall pick in the NBA draft and one of the most dominant big men in his era following his strong collegiate career at Ohio State. Oden played 6 years in the NBA, including the Portland Trailblazers and Miami Heat, as well as one year in China. His coaching career would follow his playing career, which started at his alma mater, Ohio State. Oden started as a Graduate assistant and Student Coach, which would lead into his current position, as the DOBO at Butler University.
Randi Henderson is a strong Division 3 coach who is currently the Head Women’s Coach at Washington University in St. Louis. Coach Henderson has been in various roles at schools such as Athens High School, Minnesota Morris, Coe College and currently Washington University in St. Louis. She has been a head coach for 17 years holding a 274-156 overall record with a 64% win ratio and has led her teams to 6 NCAA appearances. Henderson has made a large impact at every school she has coached while achieving national accolades not only on in-game team statistics but also breaking school records at various places. We are excited to learn more from such a great coach.
Jimmie Oakman is a pivotal member in the Rising Coaches community and the current Assistant Coach for the Grand Rapids Gold. Coach Oakman started his coaching career at Amherst High School while working his way up the ranks at a variety of stops including various roles at Daniel Webster College, Boston University, Long Island Nets, College Park Skyhawks, Australian Men’s National Team, and the Grand Rapids Gold. Oakman has played a major role with the Gold, as he runs their offense and opponents scouting. We look forward to learning more in these areas from him.
Jack Stevens is the current assistant basketball coach at The College of Wooster and a high level player development coach. Coach Stevens has worked with players from 19 different Division 1 conferences as well as a variety of players from the NBA, G League and overseas leagues. He also has helped propel a strong Division 3 program in Wooster to a 126-49 win record in his 7 years there, including a Conference Title and 3 NCAA appearances.
Jon Harris is the current Assistant Video Coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. Jon is a young coach with an impressive resume, having a 7 year professional playing career including the G League and in countries such as Argentina, Germany, China and Canada. Following his playing career, Jon worked with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers to help with summer league and youth camps, and started his first coaching gig at Lakewood High School. Making a quick rise to Florida State University as a Graduate Assistant and then the Assistant Video Coordinator with the Spurs. We look forward to learning more about such a prestigious program such as the Spurs.
Andrew Van Craenenbroeck is a current Rising Coaches Member and Vice President of BS Hoops Analytics. Andrew has had multiple positions at high caliber basketball universities in various roles with North Dakota State and Lincoln Memorial University. Andrew now helps out with various teams in conferences such as Power 5 D1 all the way to small high schools. They have also done work with pro teams in Africa and Australia.
Raphael Chillious is a former collegiate and current Head Coach at South Kent High School. Coach Chillious started at West Nottingham and South Kent before working at Nike, which led him into assistant roles at Villanova, Washington University, Connecticut, East Carolina and now as the Prep Head Coach back at South Kent. Chillious has coached 17 players to make an NBA roster and has coached alongside and learned from some great coaching minds.
William Twigg is the current Academy Coach for the London Lions and Youth National Team Head Coach in the United Kingdom. Coach Twigg is a young coach on the rise as he has worked with a variety of D1 and NBA basketball camps in the USA, while also holding stints as a very successful head coach for a variety of youth programs in the UK. We are excited to learn more about international basketball and some ways coaches can connect with international coaches.
Josh Pastner is a former NCAA Head Coach and current ESPN Analyst. Coach Pastner is a young coach with a stellar career path as he started as an assistant coach at Arizona following his playing career. After 6 years as an assistant at Arizona, Pastor landed another assistant role with Memphis which led him into his first head coaching gig at Memphis for 7 years. Following Memphis, Pastor went on to be the Head coach at his most recent position, Georgia Tech for 7 more years before stepping down and working as an analyst. Coach Pastner has held a tremendous record of 276-187 with near a 60% win ratio as a head coach. We are excited to learn more from a great in the coaching industry!
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with the current Assistant Coach at Indiana University, Coach Brian Walsh. Coach Walsh is a young coach on the rise with a great resume so far, having a stellar playing career at Xavier and Akron University. Following his playing career Walsh started his coaching career at Akron University which led into a stint at Dayton, and where he now stands for the last 7 seasons, Indiana University. The Pittsburgh native has helped bring in one of the top recruiting classes in the nation for the Hoosiers and produced a strong season this past year with numerous BIG 10 wins on the road. We are excited to learn more from a young and aspiring head coach.
Mike Jarvis is a former NCAA coach with 28+ years of coaching experience, with 18 of which being a head coach. Coach Jarvis started his coaching career following his playing career at Northeastern and onto Harvard as an Assistant Coach. Following Harvard, Jarvis went on to Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, as his first head coaching gig, which led him to Boston University, George Washington, St. John’s and most recently Florida Atlantic University. Coach Jarvis has multiple coach of the year awards on top of a 364-201 overall head coaching record.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with the current Head Coach of John Carroll University, Coach Pete Moran. Following Moran’s playing career at JCU he went out to coach at Berkshire High School in Cleveland where he led his team to three conference and two district championships in 3 years, leading him into an assistant coaching role at John Caroll and ultimately into the head role where he stands now. In Moran’s 7 seasons as a head coach at JCU, he has posted a 92-54 overall record with 3 OAC Championships, numerous NCAA appearances and a Final Four appearance, while also being the #1 Division 3 team in the country numerous times throughout his stint. We are excited to learn from a phenomenal young coach.
Paul Biancardi a former Division 1 coach and current National Recruiting Director of High School Basketball and Sports Analyst for ESPN. Coach Bicardi has made various coaching stops along his way including Salem State, Stoneham HS, Suffolk, Boston University, Boston College, Ohio State, and Saint Louis all in the assistant coach positions and was named the #1 assistant coach in the country by Hoop Scoop in 2002, while also holding a head coaching stint for 3 years at Wright State where he earned the Horizon League coach of the year award in 2004. We look forward to learning more about the recruiting process and getting some advice from one of the best in the business.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with the current NBA scout for the Chicago Bulls, Coach Dave Bollwinkel. Coach Bollwinkel provides a ton of knowledge on the game with his extensive resume including assistant coaching positions at Cal University, Oregon, Colorado State, San Jose State, University of Dayton, Wisconsin, St. Marys and having a head coaching stint at Cal Poly Pomona and St. Mary’s. Bollwinkel also held NBA positions with the Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers and currently the Chicago Bulls. We talk about some advanced scouting tactics that NBA scouts use and what to look for when recruiting a player.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with the former Grand Canyon University and recently appointed assistant Coach at Ohio State University, Coach Jamall Walker. Coach Walker has nearly 25 years of coaching experience at a wide range of stops. Following his playing career at Saint Louis University, coach Walker took a position as an assistant at Alton High School, which helped lead into spots at F. L. Schlagle High School, Redlands Community College, Ball State, Saint Louis, Murray State, Ohio University, Illinois University and Grand Canyon University, where he helped GCU win their first ever NCAA tournament game this past season. Congratulations to Coach Walker who was recently appointed the assistant coaching position at Ohio State University following our conversation.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with two coaches on the Buffalo Women’s basketball staff, including a pivotal member in the Rising Coaches community, Erin Sinnott. Coach Sinnott and her story are familiar with the Rising Coaches podcast as we have had the opportunity to learn from her individually in a previous episode. Alongside Erin is the current Associate Head Coach at Buffalo, Coach Jacey Brooks. Coach Brooks has a great coaching history helping programs excel such as Canisius College, Bowling Green, SUNY Cortland and currently Buffalo, where they both helped lead the program to the conference championship this past year.
David Richards is the current head coach at Chatham University. Richards comes from a strong background in the basketball industry as he has held a variety of positions at schools such as Robert Morris University, West Virginia Wesleyan, Merrimack College and where he now stands as the head coach at Chatham University. Coach Richards just finished his 6th season at Chatham and holds the conference's highest win percentage with an overall record of 79-42 with 2 NCAA appearances, 2 Conference Championships and a conference coach of the year award.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix, with a father-son duo in Pat and Matt Ambrose. Matt Ambrose is a recent graduate from Calvin University and was a pivotal player for the men's basketball team's successes with a 25-5 record this past season. Pat Ambrose is a former head coach of Stevenson High School and Hall of Fame coach who has excelled the Stevenson program for the past 24 years while holding an overall record of 505-191 with 4 state trophies and coaching former and current NBA players and a wide range of kids into various colleges, including current NBA All Star, Jalen Brunson. We are excited to get to learn from a current Hall of Fame coach and another one on the rise.
Bruce Weber is a former stand out Head Coach at Kansas State. Coach Weber started his coaching career as a GA at Western Kentucky, leading him into an assistant role with Purdue and starting his head coaching career at Southern Illinois, Illinois, and then most recently Kansas State. Coach Weber has posted a 497-302 record in his stint as a head coach winning 2 championships in the MVC, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences each, on top of his extensive collection of Coach of the Year awards. Weber is now working with the Big 10 network as an analyst.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix, with the current Senior Director of Wasserman Basketball, Coach Tony Ronzone. Coach Ronzone has a ton of experience including his professional playing career overseas while beginning his coaching career as the youngest Head Coach in New Zealand history, while also leading the Saudi Arabian, Chinese and United Arab Emirates national teams. Ronzone held a variety of positions in the NBA including stints with the Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks. Ronzone was the General Manager of the Timberwolves and most recently was responsible for the preparation and organization of the NBA draft for the Dallas Mavericks.
We sit down at the Final Four in Phoenix with TJ Rosene and Mano Watsa. Coach Rosene is the current Head Coach at Emmanuel College, Director of Coach Development at PGC Basketball, and host of the Hardwood Hustle Podcast. Alongside Coach Rosene we get to speak with a former Head Coach at the University of Waterloo, President and Founder of More Than Hoops Inc, and the President and Owner of PGC Basketball, Coach Mano Watsa. Tj and Mano both have tremendous knowledge on the basketball industry, not only in how to grow as a coach but also as a player.
Adam Gordon is the former CEO and Co-Founder of Rising Coaches and a former college basketball coach. Coach Gordon has been in coaching positions at a variety of places including the University of Tampa, College of Central Florida, Clemson, Northern Colorado, Mississippi State and Southeast Missouri State. Coach Gordon was the Co-Founder of Rising Coaches where he recently passed the torch and moved on to where he currently stands, the VP of Athletics at Renaissance Search and Consulting.
Matt Mayberg is a current member of the Rising Coaches community and the assistant at Lewis and Clark College. Coach Mayberg is a young coach and still on the rise as he has learned in a variety of positions including an intern,Graduate Manager and Head Grad assistant all at Seattle University. Following Seattle, he moved on to Peninsula College and helped them lead to a 36-18 overall record in two seasons while being in the top four of the conference every year. Mayberg now stands at Lewis and Clark where they have recently recorded the best offensive point production in over 20 years.
Andy Farrell one of the founding fathers of Rising Coaches, while also being a member and the current Assistant Coach at Siena College. Coach Farrell has a ton of basketball knowledge for us as he has been at various positions including Virginia Commonwealth University, where he started his coaching career also including Clemson Depaul University, Longwood University, Southwest Mississippi Community College, Dayton Flyers, and where he currently stands, Siena College.
Adam Bauman is the current Director of Scouting and Analytics at Alabama and Rising Coaches Member. Prior to Bauman’s years at Alabama he served in various roles at the University of Buffalo, Mississippi State University, Santa Clara University, Arizona State and Southern Illinois. On top of Bauman’s role at Alabama, he is also the Head Coach for Blue Collar U which is a team in the TBT or known as The Basketball Tournament.
Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the basketball busines. Coach Stevens has a short road of stops but an incredible background nonetheless, as he grew from an assistant role at Butler to being the Head Coach and ultimately one of the best Butler has seen during his 6 year head coaching stint, including 2 Horizon Coach of the Year awards, 2 Final Cour appearances and 7 regular and tournament Horizon League championships in total. Following Butler, Stevens stepped into a role with the Boston Celtics as a head coach for 8 years and now serves as the current President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics.
Amit Tailor is the current Manager of Basketball Operations at Grand Rapids Gold in the NBA G League. Coach Tailor has a wide range of knowledge expanding from a Game Day Statistician with the Chicago Bulls, a Scout for the Knicks and NetScouts Basketball as well as an assistant for the University of Florida, Santa Clara University, Clemson as well as assisting with USA Basketball. Most recently Coach Tailor was a Video/Player Development Associate with the Houston Rockets and is now currently with the Denver Nuggets G League team, the Grand Rapids Gold.
Kendall Aldridge is a Rising Coaches Member and current Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Purdue University Northwest, Coach Kendall Aldridge. Coach Aldridge has a great career path for young Coaches as he started in the high school ranks at Decatur Central High School, as well as various other High school positions and ultimately landed his first NCAA Division 3 coaching gig with Houghton College. Following Houghton, Kendall gets a position where he currently stands at Division 2 Purdue University Northwest. Kendall is definitely a coaching name on the rise!
Ben Sanders is the current head coach of Guaymas in Mexico and current Rising Coaches Member. Coach Sanders brings a wealth of knowledge to the podcast working in various roles in the G league with the Windy City Bulls, Long Island Nets, and Wisconsin Heard as well as a stint in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. Prior to these roles, Coach Sanders held positions in the NCAA with New Mexico, Rice and Alfred University all playing a pivotal role in his new found head coaching gig.
Kevin Noon is a former Division 1 assistant coach, Rising Coaches Member and current Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual. Noon has made various coaching stops ranging from being a walk- on then manager at Rider University, Graduate Assistant at the University of Miami, Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Maryland, back to Rider as the DOBO and most formerly Bowling Green University as an assistant for 8 years. Coach Noon now works as a Financial Advisor looking to assist everyone but looks to assist basketball coaches in the industry with their financial planning. Learn more: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/kevin-r-noon/
Alan Stein, Jr. is a very influential person as he is a coach, trainer, author and motivational speaker. Coach Stein was a Director of performance for Pure Sweat Basketball, Founder of Stronger Team, Author, and Motivational speaker who has worked with the biggest names in basketball today including, Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. Coach Stein brings us a wealth of knowledge as we will get to learn more about his techniques for coaches and players to improve their mindset in game as well as on a day to day basis.
Luka Voncina is a former professional basketball player and current Founder of LV prospects. Luka is a current owner and operator of a company in Slovenia to help assist players to pursue their collegiate careers in other countries. Luka helps give us some insight on how coaches can use International agencies to their advantage in the recruiting processes.
Nate McMillan is a very well known name in the basketball industry as a coach and player. Coach McMillan was a draft pick to the Seattle Supersonics in 1986 and then went on to start his coaching career for Seattle following his 12 year playing career in the NBA. He coached in the NBA at various places such as Seattle, Portland, Indiana and Atlanta all in the assistant role while also holding the head coaching title in Indiana and most formerly with the Atlanta Hawks.This conversation was so insightful, we just kept going, so we decided to split it into two parts.
Nate McMillan is a very well known name in the basketball industry as a coach and player. Coach McMillan was a draft pick to the Seattle Supersonics in 1986 and then went on to start his coaching career for Seattle following his 12 year playing career in the NBA. He coached in the NBA at various places such as Seattle, Portland, Indiana and Atlanta all in the assistant role while also holding the head coaching title in Indiana and most formerly with the Atlanta Hawks.This conversation was so insightful, we just kept going, so we decided to split it into two parts.
Coach Major is a man of many talents as he is the current President of Basketball Operations with Rising Coaches and Co Host of the Rising Coaches Podcast. Coach Major also has a strong coaching background including Cal Lutheran, Pacific, Southern Illinois, Xavier, Ohio State, Texas and the Nigerian National team all in the assistant role, as well as, Charlotte and the Rwanda National Teams as a head coach. We are very excited to get to do this one.
Gary Waters a former NCAA Division 1 Coach. Waters brings 40+ years of coaching experience to the podcast today, while making various stops at Ferris State and Eastern Michigan in the assistant positions, including Kent State, Rutgers and Cleveland State as a Head Coach while also crowning multiple regular season and tournament titles in the MAC and Horizon League Coach Waters even won a variety of MAC and Horizon League coach of the year awards.
Cooper Neimand is a former NCAA coach and current Owner of Coach Coop LLC . Cooper formerly coached at various places such as Wesleyan Christian Academy, Lander University and most recently Lincoln Memorial University. Cooper now runs his own company to help coaches best achieve their own personal goals in the coaching profession. Check him out at cooperneimand.com.
Mike Bobinski is the current Athletic Director of Purdue University. Mike has been an athletic director for 25+ years and has made various stops such as Navy, Akron, Xavier, Georgia Tech and where he currently resides at Purdue University, since 2016. We are excited to get to learn more about the interview process and athletic director side of things during this podcast.
Kevin Eastman is a coach who has 35+ years of experience at a variety of different levels including NCAA all the way to the NBA. Coach Eastman has been an assistant coach in the NCAA at places such as Richmond, Colorado State, VCU and Tulsa, while also holding head coaching stints at Belmont Abbey, UNC-Wilmington and Washington State. Following his NCAA coaching career Eastman found himself in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers as an assistant coach for 10+ years combined.
Tyler Slick is a current member and pivotal coach in the Rising Coaches industry and also current Coach at Lincoln Memorial University. Coach Slick has made various coaching stops from the high school to the Division 1 ranks at schools such as Minneapolis North High School, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School, Bethany Lutheran College, North Dakota State College, Minnesota State University, the University of Memphis and currently, Lincoln Memorial University.
Cuonzo Martin is a former NBA player and Division 1 coach who is currently a motivational speaker and podcast host of his show “It All Counts”. Cuonzo started his coaching career after his NBA stint where he would play for various teams including the Hawks, Bucks and various teams in the CBA, then continued his basketball career on the other side of the lines, first as a coach in high school, which led him into a position at Purdue. He then grew in his role to be an associate head coach, leading him into head coaching positions at numerous schools including Missouri State,Tennessee, California and most recently Missouri.
Jake Alburtus is the current Recruiting and Operations coordinator at Georgia Tech University. Coach Alburtus is a new face to the Georgia Tech staff, while recently coming from a coaching stint with the Arkansas Razorbacks and spending numerous years with Western Michigan as a student manager and graduate assistant.
Archie Miller is the Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island. Coach Miller is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Native and went on to move south to continue his playing career at NC State. Upon graduation, Miller would carry on his basketball career on the other side of the lines as he would coach at a variety of places in various assistant roles including Western Kentucky, NC State, Arizona State, Ohio State and Arizona. He started his Head coaching career at Dayton University for 6 years which led him into another head role at Indiana for 4 and then currently where he resides now, University of Rhode Island.
Orlando Vandross is a graduate from American International College in Springfield (Mass.), He ranks 13th in scoring at AIC and is third on the career assist list for the school. Coach Vandross enters his fifth season as an assistant coach and eighth overall with the Virginia Men’s Basketball program. He served his first three seasons as UVA’s director of recruiting/player development. He also spent five seasons as an assistant coach for the Charlotte 49ers from 2011-2015 after 13 seasons at Boston University as an assistant, including three as associate head coach.
Karen Aston is a strong Division 1 Head Coach with 15+ years of head coaching experience and almost 30 years of coaching experience overall. Coach Aston is the current head coach at UTSA while also having previous head coaching roles at Charlotte, North Texas and Texas. Prior to her head coaching career she held multiple assistant roles at Baylor, North Texas and Texas.
Kenny Blakeney is a former Duke Blue Devil and a 2 time NCAA Champion Blakeney took a wide range of coaching stops including James Madison, La Salle, Delaware, Seton Hall, Marshall, Harvard and Columbia all in assistant positions and currently rounding things out where he currently stands as the current Head Coach of Howard University.
Jamie Dixon was born and raised in Burbank, California. Coach Dixon played his college career at TCU and was drafted in the 7th round of the NBA draft by the Washington Bullets leading him to round out his professional career in New Zealand. He started his coaching career in New Zealand at Te Aute College, making his way to numerous assistant positions including LA Valley, UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii, Northern Arizona, and Pittsburgh. He received his first head coaching position at the University of Pittsburgh and was there for 13 years which led him to his current position as the Head coach of TCU and back to his alma mater. He currently holds 467 wins and 220 loses overall as a Head Coach.
Adam Nelson is a former coach in the NCAA for 15+ years. Adam has had various coaching stops at the University of South Carolina, Boston College, Holy Cross, Northeastern, Newbury and Suffolk University. Adam is now the current owner and operator of the well known coaching resource, HoopDirt.com.
Matt Jones the current Assistant Coach at the University of Idaho. Coach Jones is a 5 year member of the Rising Coaches Organization and a Trinity University Alumni. Matt has had coaching stops in roles such as a GA and DOBO at Seattle University, which then led him into his current position at Idaho.
Mike Mulcahey has 25+ years of experience as an Athletic Trainer. Mike is the current athletic trainer with the Dayton University Flyers Men’s basketball team in his 9th season. We are excited to speak with Mike today to help coaches be able to learn more about how to best help their players get the most out of their bodies while also actively recovering and rehabbing.
Nicole Woods is the current Head Coach of the Women's Basketball program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Woods started her coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at SIU Carbondale for 2 years where she was then led into an assistant position after another two years at Stetson. Following Stetson, Woods went on to be the Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator for 5 seasons and then adopted the Associate Head Coaching position for 1 year. After that, she was most recently appointed the Head Coach position at UNCW.
Today on the Rising Coaches Podcast, you will get to hear a recap of some of the top segments we have had with current coaches and former players after our new podcast relaunch in October of 2023, some of which include Purdue’s Matt Painter, Florida Atlantic's Dusty May, Yale's James Jones, and Marquette’s Shaka Smart, as well as some other of the best basketball minds in the industry. We hope you enjoy our best of 2023 episode.
Allen Deep is a Pittsburgh native who has a strong resume including a variety of years as a G League Assistant, as well as a team USA Assistant Coach, while currently running his own prep team and training organization, Run The Show. He coached at a variety of places including University of Akron, Maine Red Claws and the Westchester Knicks, while also playing a pivotal role with the successes of Team USA. Allen worked alongside various coaches such as Greg Popovitch, Jeff Van Gundy, Brad Stevens and Tom Thibodeau to name a few.
Terence Dials is a Youngstown, Ohio native and current Director of Professional Development for Ohio State University. Terence played 4 years at Ohio State while being a Big Ten player of the year his senior year while moving on to play professionally in various countries including France, Germany and Uruguay just to name a few. Terence was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame and then came back with the Buckeyes to start his coaching career now starting his 5th season as an assistant coach.
Lionel Chalmers is a current Assistant Coach with the Orlando Magic. Coach Chalmers was born and raised in Albany, New York where he then went on to move to Ohio and play his collegiate career at Xavier University. He was a 2nd round draft pick in the NBA to the LA Clippers and then went on to play 11 seasons in various countries such as Europe, Italy, Russia, Turkey and France, just to name a few. Following his playing career, Lionel got a job with the Orlando Magic in various roles and continues to keep working his way up in the industry.
Greg Tonagel is one of the current hottest names in the basketball industry. Coach Tonagel is the current Head Coach at Indiana Wesleyan University as well as the fastest AND youngest Head coach to receive 500 wins in all of college basketball history, which he accomplished in just 629 games as well as winning 3 NAIA National Championships. Tonagel played at Valparaiso for four years and upon graduation, stayed as the Director of Basketball Operations for one year, which turned into his first head coaching position at IWU.
Learn more about the IWU program here: https://www.iwuhoops.net/#home2
Mitch Henderson was born in Indiana and a three sport standout. He continued his playing career for Princeton and was then drafted into the MLB by the New York Yankees, however he decided to continue his career in basketball. He received his first coaching position at Northwestern where he stayed as an assistant for 11 years from 2000-2011. This then led him to his first official coaching position at Princeton where he currently is the Head Men's Basketball Coach and holds a 208-117 record as a head coach guiding his team to 3 IVY League regular season championships and 2 IVY League tournament championships
Johnny Montello i the current Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at IUPUI, who is also a member of the Rising Coaches Organization. Coach Montello is in his seventh year as a college basketball coach and had previous stops at Walsh University in various roles as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Coach. Johnny then moved onto Eckerd College for a year where he helped with landing 9 very strong recruits which ultimately led him to his current position at IUPUI where he begins his first year.
Coach James Jones is the Head Basketball Coach at Yale University. Coach Jones started his collegiate career playing 4 years for Albany where he then went on to start his coaching career as an assistant for 5 years. Following Albany, Coach Jones landed an assistant role at Yale for 2 years then to Ohio University for 2 more before heading back to Yale to start his head coaching career. Coach Jones has been awarded 4x Ivy League Coach of the Year awards in his 25 year reign at Yale.
Kevin McGuff was cultivated in Hamilton, Ohio. He attended St. Joseph’s college where he played for four years. He then went on to start his coaching career as an assistant at Miami of Ohio and then to Notre Dame. These successful assistant jobs helped him land his first head coaching gig at Xavier University, then leading to numerous years at Washington and for the previous 10 years, being the head women's coach at The Ohio State University. He has landed multiple top recruiting classes in his stint at Ohio State and holds an overall record as a head coach at 427 wins and 199 loses.
Bill Comar is the current Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Ball State University, coach Bill Comar. Coach Comar is a pivotal name in the Rising Coaches tree as a member but also in the Ball State coaching staff. Coach Comar brings over 20+ years of coaching expertise at various stops such as Dayton, Miami of Ohio, Xavier, Loyola Chicago, Indiana and currently where he stands, Ball State. He brings an extensive coaching background to the table having worked in positions from Academic Coordinator to Assistant and many positions in between.
Shaka Smart is a Madison, Wisconsin legend who held his playing career at Kenyon College. Coach Smart stayed in the Pennsylvania area post college finding an assistant role at California (PA) which then led him to assistant roles at Akron University, Clemson, Florida and into his first head job at VCU. After helping VCU get to their first Final Four appearance in school history as one of the youngest Head Coaches in the Division 1 basketball realm, Coach Smart went on later to take a head role at Texas and now currently serves as the man in charge at Marquette University.
Jonneshia Pineda is the current Associate Coach for the Women’s basketball team at Louisville. Coach Pineda started her collegiate career playing at Georgia Southwestern State University. Following her career she moved on to various roles at Georgia Tech for 6 years which helped her land her assistant and then associate positions at Louisville where she currently serves. She has helped Louisville win two conference regular season championships, four trips to the elite eight and a run to the final four in her 4 years at Louisville.
Johnny Dawkins was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and played his collegiate career at Duke University. At Duke, he became the team's all-time leading scorer with 2,556 points, which stood until 2006 when JJ Redick surpassed it. He was the 10th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft and continued on for 9 seasons playing with various teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons. He started his coaching career back at his alma mater, Duke University as an assistant and after one season was moved to the associate head coach. After some time excelling in this role he got his first head coaching position at Stanford University for 8 years which led him into his current position as the head coach at the University of Central Florida since 2016.
Katie Smith is a Logan, Ohio native who went on to play her collegiate career at Ohio State University where she ended up breaking the BIG 10 scoring record for points in a career for both the men’s and women’s teams. She ended up getting drafted into the WNBA to the Minnesota Lynx for 6 years where she then bounced to a couple teams including Detroit Shock, Seattle Storm and rounded her career with the New York Liberty. As a coach she continued her basketball career coaching where she ended her career at the New York Liberty as the assistant and then the Head coach for a year. She is currently the assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx.
Fran Fraschilla is a Brooklyn, New York Native, and current College Basketball Analyst with ESPN. Fran had numerous stops in his coaching career including Ohio University, Ohio State University and Providence College all as assistant coaching positions. He then went on to start his Head Coaching career at Manhattan for 4 years, St. John’s for 2 years and New Mexico for another 3 years posting an overall record of 176-99 as a head coach.
David West is a New Jersey Native and former American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Xavier University and then went on to play an extensive career of 15 seasons in the NBA for numerous teams including the New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors and was a two-time NBA All-Star (2008 and 2009) and a two-time NBA champion (2017 and 2018) with the Golden State Warriors. David currently is coaching AAU for Garner Roads in North Carolina.
Erin Sinnott was born and raised in St.Joseph, Missouri. She went on to start her playing career at Evansville for two years and finished her playing career at Daemen University. She started working as a director of basketball operations with Rising Coaches and through hard work she has grown into various roles such as a Intern position with Minnesota and a DOBO role with Buffalo leading her into her current position as the assistant coach at Buffalo University while still being a critical part in the Rising Coaches Organization.
Dusty May is an Illinois native, and currently the head basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University. Coach May started as the student manager at Indiana University under coach Bob Knight until 2000 where he then went on to take on video and administrative roles at USC and Indiana before landing his first assistant job at Eastern Michigan while also finding assistant roles at Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Florida. Following 3 years at Florida he landed the Head coaching job at Florida Atlantic where he most recently helped lead FAU to their greatest season in school history in the 2022-23 campaign and leading the charge into the Final Four.
Coach Matt Painter is a Fort Wayne, IN native and is currently the Head Coach for the Purdue Boilermakers. Painter played for four years at Purdue University where he then went on to graduate and begin his coaching career at Washington & Jefferson College in Pittsburgh, PA. Painter then transitioned after a year to Barton University, which ultimately led him to Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and ultimately brought him back to his roots at Purdue. As Head Coach of Purdue, the Boilermakers have gone on to win four Big 10 regular season championships, two Big 10 tournament championships and numerous NCAA appearances with four Big 10 Coach of the Year Awards, an NABC Coach of the Year, and NBC Coach of the Year Awards.
In our first episode under new leadership, Doug and Alan are joined by Rich Czeslawski to discuss the future of the organization. Joined by some special guests early in the show, the group sets the stage for what’s next for Rising Coaches.
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by Player Development Coach Mike Procopio. They discuss Procopio’s path through the profession, his time working in the NBA and with Kobe, and answer questions from the room. It was so good that we went for double the time!
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by Marville College Assistant Coach Raul Placeres They discuss Placeres’ path through the profession and answer questions from the room.
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by former North Carolina A&T Head Coach Will Jones. They discuss Jones’ path through the profession and answer questions from the room.
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by NC State Assistant Coach Joel Justus They discuss Justus’ path through the profession and answer questions from the room.
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by NC State Assistant Coach Kareem Richardson. They discuss Richardson’s path through the profession and answer questions from the room about the collegiate interview and hiring process.
This week, Mark Phelps is joined by Holy Cross Head Coach Brett Nelson. They discuss Nelson’s path through the profession and answer questions from the room.
Join Mark Phelps as he leads a conversation on how every coach’s path through the profession is different.
Heather Macy - Greensboro College Women's Basketball Head Coach & Author of Believe, Live, Think: 2 Feet In Pick up a copy of Coach Macy's Book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999212591/ref=tsm_1_tp_tc (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999212591/ref=tsm_1_tp_tc) Learn more about 2 Feet In and Coach Macy here: https://go2feetin.com/ (https://go2feetin.com/)
Byron Starks - Louisiana State University Eunice Head Men's Basketball Coach - The Rising Coaches Podcast
Travis Ford - St. Louis University Men's Basketball Head Coach - The Rising Coaches Podcast
Donny Lind - UNC Greensboro Men's Basketball Assistant Coach - The Rising Coaches Podcast
Chris Straker - San Jose State University Assistant Women's Basketball Coach - The Rising Coaches Podcas
Gabe Palmquist-Clark - Academy of Art University Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - The Rising Coaches Podcast
Dan Rickard - Stony Brook University - The Rising Coaches Podcast with host Bryan Bender.
Kevin and I record this conversation just 10 days after being let go at UAB. Kevin talks openly and honestly about the realities of getting fired and having to find another coaching job. This is as real of a conversation as we've had.
The Carousel w Guest Levell Sanders of Binghampton - Plus Maine Opens and a P5 Conference Breakdown of Assistant Coaches Who Are Next Up.
The Rising Coaches Podcast - The Carousel Special Edition Teaser with Erin Sinnott, Brian Burton, and host, Adam Gordon.
Host, Bryan Bender, sits down with Coach Heather Macy - Greensboro College on The Rising Coaches Podcast
Tanner Bronson - UT Chattanooga joins host, Bryan Bender, on The Rising Coaches Podcast.
Jody Bailey - University of New Orleans joins host, Bryan Bender, on The Rising Coaches Podcast.
Yusef Fitzgerald - The Piney Woods School joins Bryan Bender on the Rising Coaches Podcast.
Adell Harris is the Chief of Staff for Vanderbilt Men's Basketball and joins Bryan Bender on the Rising Coaches Podcast during the Science of Basketball Conference.
The Rising Coaches Podcast, host Bryan Bender, sits down with Hansen Wong of the Indiana Pacers.
Host Bryan Bender, of The Rising Coaches Podcast, sits down with Corry Black - St Anne Pacelli.
Host Bryan Bender of The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Ganiyat Adeduntan - Colgate University.
Host Adam Gordon of The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Global Sports and Events.
Host Bryan Bender of The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Angres Thorpe - University at Buffalo.
Host Bryan Bender of The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Kevin Carroll - Lipscomb University.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Bryan Bender - Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Hosts Adam Gordon (Rising Coaches) & Erin Sinnott (Women In Sports) dive daily this week into all the latest news and scoop on open jobs in college basketball.
This is a rerelease from March 2020. Kevin and I record this conversation just 10 days after being let go at UAB. Kevin talks openly and honestly about the realities of getting fired and having to find another coaching job. This is as real of a conversation as we've had.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Phil Beckner - Player Development Coach.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Chris Oliver - Basketball Immersion.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Lindsey Harding - Sacramento Kings.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Zack Freesman -Western Carolina.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Mike Fly - Florida Gulf Coast University.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Aisha Foy - University of Kentucky.
Adam Gordon with The Rising Coaches Podcast sits down with Adam Cohen - Stanford University.
This is a re-release from December 2020 with Colton Houston - HD Intelligence , on The Rising Coaches podcast.
The Rising Coaches Podcast presents Keith Pickens Assistant Men's basketball coach at SEMO
This is a replay of an episode aired originally in August, 2018. This was the 13th guest episode ever of the Rising Coaches Podcast. Dave Love joins the podcast to talk all things shooting. Love has worked for several different NBA teams including the Phoenix Suns, the OKC Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and most recently the Orlando Magic. Coach Love describes growing up in Calgary and working under legendary shooting coach Chip Engellend. Love answers specific questions about the shot and various details of how he has taught and improved shooters from all levels all the way up to NBA all-stars. For more info visit www.coachdavelove.com
This is a replay of an episode aired originally in October, 2017. This was the 10th guest episode ever of the Rising Coaches Podcast. Andy Farrell, co-founder of Rising Coaches talks about how his 3 years at SW Mississippi Community College made him the coach he is today. Farrell has taken his newly renewed passion for defense and player development into his role on Anthony Grant's new staff at Dayton. We talk form shooting, post defense and transitioning from high major to junior college and back again.
Darryl Jacobs - Executive Director of Rising Coaches DEI Alliance The Rising Coaches Podcast
The Rising Coaches Podcast - Dr. Marcus Bright A Real Conversation About Racism with Adam Gordon
A Real Conversation with Adam Gordon & Bharat Mohan Bharat Mohan Leadership and Culture Consultant
A former college basketball assistant turned entrepreneur... now the Founder & CEO of Lemon Perfect Company.
Jimmie Oakman from the Long Island Nets breaks down how to stand out as an Assistant Coach.
The Rising Coaches Podcast presents Samson Kayode - USA Basketball. Samson Kayode tells what the five traits he looks for in a player. Shedding light on evaluation, holding a team up to standards with USA Basketball, living with and living up to those expectations.
Bryan Hodgson has gained a reputation as one of the best recruiters in the country. Bryan shares insights on evaluation, recruiting and the importance of specializing in something.
Rick Ray joins us for our first episode of "A Real Conversation with Adam Gordon" Rick opens up about some of the issues with the coaching industry, how he's navigated his career, the lessons he learned at Mississippi State and SEMO and what's next for him as a person and a coach.
Nima Omidvar has a penchant for boldness and branding. He has done everything from host tournaments as a HS and grassroots coach, he helped Maryland basketball become world famous with appearances on the ESPYs and the Ellen Show for the Running Man Challenge, he helped create a dominant student section at South Alabama by wearing a chicken suit on campus and has helped coin the term "The world's most powerful university" at George Washington. Most importantly he is extremely genuine and down to earth.
This episode is from a live Zoom session recorded for the Rising Coaches Association in May, 2020. Andre discusses his journey through coaching and answers questions from our viewers.
Todd Golden discusses his journey through basketball from a player at St. Mary's, to helping build programs at Columbia and Auburn, and then back out west to San Francisco. Todd discusses what made each program successful and his experience after 1 year as the head coach of the Dons. We also discuss the organization that Todd helped create this off-season in the wake of the George Floyd murders. For more information visit www.coachescoalitionforprogress.org
Darnell Archey talks about his journey through hoops from his time at Butler as a player and coach, coaching HS ball, working with Brad Stevens, stepping away from the Butler way, and how he's transitioned into running his own program as the head coach at the University of Mobile.
This is an excerpt from a Live Virtual event we did on 5/18/2020 with our Rising Coaches members. Coach Graves gives a brief background on his coaching career and answers questions from our live virtual audience.
Dana Pump along with his brother David have been two of the most influential people in basketball for the last 30 plus years. They have had a hand in everything from grassroots, to exposure camps, scouting services, MTE's, search firms and much more. In addition to his contributions to the game of basketball, Dana Pump has dedicated his life to the fight against cancer. The Harold and Carole Pump Foundation has raised over $8.5 million. visit http://haroldpumpfoundation.com for more info
Mahmoud is the first ever Palestinian or Muslim head coach in the NBA or GLeague. A fact he didn't know until he was named head the head coach of the Rockets GLeague affiliate RGV Vipers. Mahmoud discusses his journey and the lessons he's learned going from part-time DII assistant at St. Cloud State to GLeague head coach in less than 5 years.
Nancy Lieberman discusses how growing up playing at Rucker Park as a girl helped her develop her toughness, motor and mindset. She talks about the lessons she learned from mentors like Pat Summitt and Muhammad Ali and how forging a new path for women in sports was lonely at times. There was no road map. Nancy gives us so much wisdom in this episode of the podcast. Definitely a must listen. Make sure to visit nancyliebermanfoundation.org to find out more about Nancy's charity work.
Austin Claunch is just 30 years old and already has two years of Division I head coaching experience under his belt. In 19-20 he led his team to over 20 wins, and a second place finish in the Southland Conference. Austin talks about his path through coaching and how he has built his culture and recruiting philosophy at Nicholls State.
This is a replay of an episode aired originally in April, 2017. This was the 3rd episode ever of the Rising Coaches Podcast. Earl recently broke down game film on the Rising Coaches Network so we thought it was a good time to dig this episode out of the archives. Earl talks about how he came hours away from enlisting in the Air Force before fate took him into a coaching. Earl talks about how he has built his culture at Charleston, his recruiting philosophy and what they chart and value as a team. Earl also talks about his experiences working for Gregg Marshall and Brad Brownell, two of the best defensive coaches in college basketball.
Tim Kaine played soccer in college and got his opportunity to get his foot in the door coaching college basketball from a connection he made working camp. Tim discusses his path to Murray State and the challenges that come with being at one of the most successful mid-major programs ever.
Pat Skerry discusses how he built Towson into a winning program and how he has sustained success over his ten years at Towson.
Pete Gash was one of the youngest DI asst coaches in the country at the age of 24. He worked for HOFers like Billy Donovan and Tom Crean. And then adversity hit. Pete opens up about his wife's battle with cancer, his very public firing from UMASS, the emotions that drove him to the brink of the profession and how he found a renewed purpose and passion for the game and career that he loves.
Rekha Patterson just finished her 5th year at SEMO where she led the Redhawks to 25 wins and the first OVC tournament championship in almost 15 years. Rekha talks about her journey through coaching including her time at Baylor with Kim Mulkey and winning the national championship. She also talks about what she's learned in her time as a head coach and how she built SEMO women's basketball into a championship program.
Paul is one on the leading Financial Advisers in the college basketball world. We have an in depth conversation about how coaches should manage their finances to combat the lack of job security in athletics. We also talk about the effect the Coronavirus has had on the economy and on sports.
Paul Biancardi joins us to talk about evaluating, recruiting and the impact coronavirus has had on college hoops.
Mike joins the podcast and discusses how he went from an NAIA asst coach to an ACC DOBO in just one year, his relationship with Shaka Smart, the transition from VCU to Texas, and what he's learned and experienced in his two seasons as head coach at UNC Asheville
Kevin and I record this conversation just 10 days after being let go at UAB. Kevin talks openly and honestly about the realities of getting fired and having to find another coaching job. This is as real of a conversation as we've had.
Elwyn McRoy has coached at 14 different schools during his 20+ years in college basketball. Elwyn opens up about how he's managed all of those moves both personally and professionally. We also discuss several of the challenges and issues in the coaching industry today.
Joe Abunassar is one of the industry leaders in player development. Joe discusses how he transitioned from a manager at Indiana under Bobby Knight, to a career in college basketball and how and why he pivoted out of college basketball and into player development at a time when player development wasn't really "a thing." Joe has worked with some of the best players in the world including several NBA all-stars and HOFers.
John Feinstein joins the podcast to discuss his new book The Back Roads to March: The Unsung, Unheralded and Unknown Heroes of a College Basketball Season. The book covers all levels of college basketball from DIII to High-major. John shares stories and insights from his time with Longwood men's basketball, Jim Calhoun and Bob Knight.
Aqua Franklin just finished her first season as the head coach at Lamar University. We talk about what she has learned after year one. We also discuss how she navigated her career and formed her philosophies with the help of her many mentors including Gary Blair and Vic Schaefer.
Jordan Sperber started Hoop Vision while he was in high school as a basketball analytics blog. Now he is one of the most trusted sources in basketball analytics. Jordan talks about his journey in basketball and some of the best ways to incorporate analytics into your program.
Kevin Sutton isn't interested in trophies that collect dust on a shelf. He's interested in living trophies. Kevin joins the podcast to talk about his background, his journey through coaching, and how he uses basketball to pour into the lives of his players.
Jeremy Growe joins us to talk about how he navigated his journey from student manager to assistant coach at one of the best mid-major programs in the country. Jeremy speaks about his time at Xavier working for Chris Mack and Travis Steele and gives insight into the culture and the things they did on the court that led to their success. Jeremy also talks about what they have done at Furman and why it has led to four straight 20 win seasons.
Russ joins us to talk about his journey in coaching. He tells us how he went from a manager at a small college to one of the youngest D1 assistant coaches in the country and the lessons he's learned in the years since. Russ is one of the best in the business at maintaining relationships and he gives us insight into the system that he uses to ensure that he is staying in touch with his contacts. Russ is now part of a young staff that has helped get Tennessee State to the top third of the OVC.
Before Jamy Bechler was an author and speaker he was a successful head coach and Athletic Director. We talk about his coaching philosophy, rebounding and the perspective he's gained about leadership since he's gotten out of college athletics. Jamy also discusses his latest book "The Bus Trip" which is filled with valuable lessons written from the perspective of a struggling basketball team.
James Kane has won everywhere he has been. And in the process he has established himself as one of the best recruiters in the country. James tells us the story of how he discovered Ja Morant, he talks about his recruiting philosophy, and the lessons he's learned working for some of the best and brightest coaches in college basketball.
After a year as the GA at Clemson, Thomas decided to get out of coaching. He quickly realized that a life away from basketball wasn't for him and started working to get back into the profession. Butters took a volunteer spot at Charleston Southern and now, 6 years later he is their Assistant Head Coach. Butters talks about his journey through the coaching profession, the culture they've built at Charleston Southern and his ability to connect and build relationships.
Cornell Mann has won everywhere he has been. He has helped take 5 different programs to the NCAA tournament. We talk at length about his experience at Iowa State, Fred Hoiberg, Cuonzo Martin and how Mann is able to provide value through his relationships and work ethic.
G-League head coach Ryan Pannone spent several years coaching overseas before coming back to the US to take over the Erie Bayhawks. Ryan provides valuable insight into what it's like to be an American coaching international basketball. We get into a discussion about the differences in the European and American game and talk at length about offensive concepts.
Before Kevin Carroll was changing lives as an author, a keynote speaker and a behind the scenes X-factor for Nike, he was the director of sports medicine for the Philadelphia 76ers. We asked Kevin to take a trip down memory lane and relate his experiences as a former athletic trainer to culture and performance.
Mike Balado is the head coach at Arkansas State, but his path to becoming a division I head coach was anything but glamorous. We talk about Mike's humble beginnings as a HS coach in Florida, his relationship with Rick Pitino and the lessons he's learned from his first 3 years as the head coach at Arkansas State.
Jonah Baize is the president and founder of Combine Enterprises and JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital. But all of it started with a prep school. Jonah tells us the story of how he turned his training business into a prep school, which he turned into a vast real estate portfolio, which he turned into a venture capital fund. This is the story of Combine Academy
Bryan Weber's path to becoming the associate head coach at Stony Brook has a couple of unique twists. Bryan was a high school English teacher. He quit his job and earned an opportunity to volunteer at Akron. That summer he went to the Rising Coaches Conference and met Chris Caputo who would go on to become his biggest mentor. After going to work for Caputo a year later, Bryan decided the best way for him to move up the coaching ladder would be to get out of college basketball.
Dr. Timothy Clark is an author, a speaker and the co-founder and CEO of Leader Factor. He joins the podcast to discuss his new book "The Four Stages of Psychological Safety." We talk about how to create an atmosphere within your organization that will enable your team to function at new heights. We also discuss what the lack of psychological safety does to people and to cultures. For more info visit www.leaderfactor.com
Pete Schwethelm spent years coaching basketball at the HS, NCAA DIII, Mid-major and High-major levels. After his coaching career he worked in the search firm space. He currently runs a basketball camp for high school athletes, and is the author of the book Recovering Racist. Pete joins the podcast to discuss his thoughts on recruiting, networking and racism in America.
Scott is a keynote speaker, an author and a performance coach. After a career in strength and conditioning, Scott embarked on a journey to learn from and work with some of the best leaders and performers in the world. He joins the podcast to discuss some of the qualities that the greats share and some take-aways that our listeners can start applying immediately to their everyday lives. This episode is jam packed with great content!
Alicia Jessop is a writer for The Athletic, a professor at Pepperdine, an attorney and a former consultant for the NBPA. Alicia joins the podcast to discuss personal branding, media and her work helping athletes transition our of their sports. She shares strategies to help people determine their strengths and how to leverage those strengths into career advancement opportunities. Alicia also encourages coaches to look at themselves as part of the media and start using it to their advantage.
UMKC assistant coach Lucas McKay joins the podcast to discuss his 15 years working for Brad Brownell, the evolution of their relationship and the evolution of his roles and responsibilities over the years. Lucas gives us great insight on why Brad Brownell has produced so many head coaches. We also talk about what he has learned these past few months as he has transitioned from admin to assistant coach.
Fez has been teaching and practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years. He is based out of Boston and has worked with several teams, organizations and individuals in the Northeast. We discuss the benefits of meditation and yoga for athletes, some quick take-aways and advice for how to implement these practices with your teams. Fez uses his experience as a hockey player and musician to relateand deliver his message.
Chad Harmon joins the podcast to discuss his journey from manager to head coach, his time at Evansville, the WNBA, motion offense, transitioning back and forth between men's and women's basketball and his first year as a head coach.
Ganon Baker has been one of the leading skill coaches for almost 30 years. He joins the podcast to discuss his journey, his workouts, what he's learned from the best players in the world and the current state of the player development industry.
Matt Lisiewski is on the trajectory of achieving his dream of becoming a Division I athletic director. Along the way he has been a part of coaching staffs at George Washington, Maryland and SMU. He now works in development for Dayton where he manages over 200 major gift prospects for the university. Matt shares insights on raising money, making the most of working on a college campus, focusing on the task at hand, personal finance and MUCH, much more.
The podcast goes on the road for a live conversation with USC director of operations Mike Swets. Swets has a history of going out on a limb and putting himself out there. That trait has served him well as it has guided him through the coaching profession. Swets was a part of the greatest single-season turnaround in NCAA history at Towson which we discuss at length as well as Andy Enfield's ability to instill confidence and how that has lead to success at USC. We also talk about the differences between being a mid-major DOBO vs a high-major DOBO and how the position teaches you how to run a program and prepares you to become a head coach.
Simon joins the podcast to talk about his transition from men's basketball to women's basketball, the differences of coaching on both sides, his mentors and his rise to an ACC assistant coach by the age of 32.
Alan Keane is the head coach of the GB U18 National Team and the Reading Rockets men's pro team in England. After a lot of self reflection and help from his mentors Keane has changed the way he communicates with his teams. Instead of giving his team constant and often unnecessary feedback, he trains and gives his athletes a chance to self-correct on the fly. This collaborative environment has created greater buy-in from his athletes and has helped his teams enjoy success on and off the court.
Abe Woldeslassie is going into his second year as head coach for Macalester College. He joins the podcast to talk about his experience at Davidson, the importance of running your own race, life at the Division III level, and the challenges that lie in taking over a 3 win team.
Chris Oliver's teams enjoyed a ton of success over his 17 year career as a head coach in Canada, but nothing about the way they trained was normal. Chris focused all of his teaching around Basketball Decision Training or BDT. We go into detail in our conversation about what BDT is, when he discovered it and why it's so effective. Just this spring Chris stepped away from coaching to run his company Basketball Immersion where he shares his methodology.
Kareem Richardson joins the Indiana State staff after 6 years as head coach at UMKC. Kareem talks about what he learned during his first head coaching job, take-aways and things he would do differently. We also talk at length about his time at Louisville where he was part of their national championship in 2013. Kareem gives us insight to what Rick Pitino is like to work for and how he is able to function at such a high level.
Preston Greene is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in basketball. Full blood analysis is just the start of how he designs his athlete's programs and several years ago word got out. Now Preston has several BCS head coaches visit him and email on a regular basis for their own personal training regimens. Preston has great insight into the type of commitment it takes to win championships. We talk about his approach to his job and how he can best impact the team. Lots of Billy Donovan talk and Preston also describes his former bosses in Bobby Lutz, Johnny Dawkins, Oliver Purnell, Brad Brownell and Mike White.
Tim Ryan didn't get his first college coaching job until the age of 39. By the time he was 50 he was inducted into the Florida Community College Athletics Hall of Fame. Tim discusses his transition from the corporate world into college athletics and how his background in sales has helped him in recruiting.
Ronnie Hamilton talks about his transition from college football player to college basketball assistant coach. Ronnie worked his way up from a D2 GA spot to now an SEC assistant coach. We talk Kermit Davis and the difference between recruiting at the MM level compared to the HM level.
Jeff Goodman is the leading journalist and reporter for college basketball and the NBA. He was at our our first Rising Coaches event back in 2010 and joins us again on our podcast to talk about his journey, the FBI college basketball scandal, search firms and much more!
John Shulman took UT Chattanooga to two NCAA appearances. Now he runs an agency for coaches and players. We talk about his rise through the coaching profession, the importance of "fit" in recruiting, Mike Young, balancing and sacrificing for his family and 720 Sports. This summer Coach Shulman is launching "The Coaching Box" a program designed to teach young coaches how to coach!
Marlon joins the podcast to talk pack-line defense, motion offense and his time working for Dick and Tony Bennett. We also dive into his time at Cal, Hawaii and now Oregon State.
John Aiken discusses his path from a volunteer assistant coach at a local high school to becoming the associate head coach at McNeese State. Wild story! Good things happen to good people. We also spend time talking about Heath Schroyer and Richie Riley and how they are so successful winning in challenging situations.
After just 4 years at the division 1 level Jimmie took a job in the Nets organization this summer. Jimmie talks about his transition to the professional level, what every day life looks like compared to college, and some of the special projects he did to set himself apart from the competition.
Melanie Balcomb led her teams to 15 NCAA tournaments in 16 seasons as head coach of Xavier and Vanderbilt. In 2017 she helped South Carolina dethrone UCONN on their way to the national championship. Balcomb talks to us about growing up in a coaching family. Her dad was a legendary high school coach in New Jersey and was later an assistant at Princeton for hall of fame coach Pete Carril. Being around such great basketball minds at such a young age helped mold her into one of the great offensive minds in college basketball.
It's all about the 'ships! New head coach at SW Mississippi CC Bryan Bender joins us to talk about his path, the culture he is establishing and his philosophy on recruiting. Bender spent several years in D1 support staff roles before finally betting on himself and taking a JUCO assistant job.
After several years coaching at the Division 1 level, Cassius Bosket started Recruiting Boost to help assist athletes in their recruiting. Cassius and Adam have an in-depth conversation on the recruiting landscape and how much it's changed over the last 3 years. Cassius gives us some great insight on what mistakes programs make while recruiting and what the best program do on the recruiting trail.
Dave Love joins the podcast to talk all things shooting. Love has worked for several different NBA teams including the Phoenix Suns, the OKC Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers and most recently the Orlando Magic. Coach Love describes growing up in Calgary and working under legendary shooting coach Chip Engellend. Love answers specific questions about the shot and various details of how he has taught and improved shooters from all levels all the way up to NBA all-stars. For more info visit www.coachdavelove.com
Adam Bauman joins us to talk about the culture and style of play that helped lead the Buffalo Bulls to 2 NCAA tournaments in the last 3 years, including a tournament win against Arizona.
Trey Meyer joins us to talk about his transition to Furman and what makes them unique on the court and on the recruiting trail. Trey also dives into his experience in getting moved up on a staff as well as not getting moved up.
Andy Farrell, co-founder of Rising Coaches talks about how his 3 years at SW Mississippi Community College made him the coach he is today. Farrell has taken his newly renewed passion for defense and player development into his role on Anthony Grant's new staff at Dayton. We talk form shooting, post defense and transitioning from high major to junior college and back again.
Sean Dwyer talks about how Northern Kentucky went from a start-up D1 program to an NCAA tournament team. He also shares his experience working for Tom Izzo, Billy Donovan and Anthony Grant.
TJ Saint of the Detroit Pistons joins us to talk about life in the NBA, Stan Van Gundy, Brad Stevens and Rick Byrd. We also spend quite a bit of time doing what TJ does best... talking X's and O's
Head coach of Tennessee Tech Steve Payne's presentation at the 2017 Rising Coaches Conference
Part 1 of Adam Gierlach's speech from the 2017 Rising Coaches Conference at Marian University
Adam Gordon, Jonathan Ortiz, and Cole Kemper of SEMO Basketball talk about the 8th Rising Coaches Conference on the drive back. #RCC2017
In 2011 BJ Hill was named the Big Sky coach of the year as he led Northern Colorado to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. In 2016, BJ was removed from his position due to allegations of NCAA violations. Still in the process with the NCAA, BJ has decided to speak out. He wants to use his situation as a platform to discuss some of the pit-falls that he fell into early in his career and warn young coaches about going down a similar path.
Earl Grant is one of the fastest rising stars in college basketball. In just his third year as a head coach, Earl won 25 games, earned an appearance in the NIT and was named the CAA coach of the year. Earl talks to us about how close he was to joining the military and the differences between recruiting for Gregg Marshall and Brad Brownell. Please excuse the poor production of this episode. We hope the great content makes up for it!
Brandon Rosenthal is an assistant coach in the NBDL before the age of 30! Did he play in the NBA? Did he work for Coach K or Rick Pitino? No... he didn't do either of these things. In fact he played one year of Division III basketball and got his start as a D2 Graduate Assistant. So how does a guy like this get to be an assistant coach in the D League before his 30th birthday? Brandon tells us!
When Sam Ferry first attended the Rising Coaches Conference he was a student manager at Vanderbilt University. Now, 7 years later, Sam is an assistant coach for a Monmouth basketball program that has won back to back MAAC regular season titles. Sam talks to us about his rise through the profession as well as how they built Monmouth into the mid-major power that it is today.