The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by David Harris, Associate Head Coach at Northern Kentucky University. Harris played at Ashland University before beginning his coaching career through roles at Florida, VCU, Texas, Navy, and Northern Kentucky. In this episode we discuss the coaching DNA he picked up from Billy Donovan, Shaka Smart, Ed DeChellis, and Darrin Horn, how starting in video gave him a unique lens for teaching and developing players, and the behind-the-scenes lessons he’s learning now that are preparing him for his own head coaching opportunity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Cheri Mah, a leading expert in sleep and performance who has worked with some of the best athletes and organizations in the world, including Nike, Under Armour, the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, Formula 1, and the U.S. military. In this episode we discuss how coaches can build daily and weekly routines around sleep, how to plan travel to maximize sleep and performance, the biggest sleep disruptors athletes face, and how screen time before bed can impact sleep quality.

Learn more: https://www.dr...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Hansen Wong, Manager of G League and International Scouting for the Indiana Pacers. Wong has built a unique career with the Pacers, starting as a video intern and working his way through roles as Assistant Video Coordinator, Video Coordinator, and Director of Basketball Information and Technology before reaching his current position, while also serving as an Advanced Scout for the Nigerian National Team. In this episode we discuss his unique journey from student manager to the NBA and what his NBA interview process looked like, how scouts ba...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Assistant Coach with the New York Knicks. Ahelegbe played at Northern Iowa before continuing his career professionally in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Austria, eventually transitioning into coaching with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Windy City Bulls, and Knicks. In this episode we discuss how coaches can help injured players stay mentally strong and come back stronger, the impact Coach Ben Jacobson had on his development as a leader and point guard to help his preparation for the professional level, and how players can make an impact wi...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Huger, Associate Head Coach at Temple University. Huger played professionally in Finland, Holland, and Belgium before coaching at Longwood, George Mason, Miami, and Temple, along with serving as the head coach at Bowling Green. In this episode we discuss what European basketball can teach American player development, the lessons from Coach Larrañaga that stayed with him from player to coach, and the toughest parts of leading a program and what he would do differently the next time he’s a head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Joe White, Assistant Coach at the University of South Dakota. White’s journey includes playing at Southern Oregon and professionally in Ecuador before transitioning into coaching, with stops at Tacoma CC, Lane CC, Idaho State, and South Dakota, along with head coaching experience at Lane CC. In this episode we discuss how head coaches can delegate while developing their assistants, the biggest mistakes young coaches make when trying to advance, and the habits and mindset that help coaches separate themselves.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Phil Beckner, a player development coach and performance consultant with Be Better. Be Different. Beckner has built an impressive career with coaching stops at Weber State, the Oklahoma City G League, Nebraska, and Boise State, while also working closely with some of the game’s top talent. His experience in player development has given him a unique perspective on building elite players and programs. In this episode we discuss how head coaches can build and develop a stronger staff, what working with Damian Lillard and other elite NBA...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dexter Gooding, Assistant Coach at the University of Tampa. Gooding played at High Point before transitioning into coaching, with stops at South Florida, High Point, and now Tampa. His experience on both sides of player development has given him a unique perspective on helping athletes improve while continuing to grow as a young coach. In this episode we discuss the biggest challenge he faced transitioning from player to coach, what goes into developing a player before they even step on the court, and the key areas of gr...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Aaron Fearne, Assistant Coach at the College of Charleston. Coach Fearne has built a unique career across Australia and the United States, with experience as both a player and coach at the professional and collegiate levels. His journey includes stops with the Cairns Taipans, Charlotte, and Charleston, along with head coaching experience with the Cairns Marlins, Cairns Taipans, and Charlotte. In this episode we discuss how coaching young players early in his career shaped his approach to development, the biggest adjustments he had to make transitioning from Au...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Hamm, Assistant Coach at Cal State Fullerton. Hamm’s journey includes time as a player at Thomas More, followed by coaching stops at Thomas More, Lindenwood, Saint Leo University, and now Cal State Fullerton, along with experience as a head coach at NKY Elite. His time across different programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build winning environments and continue growing as a coach. In this episode we discuss the common traits he’s seen in programs that consistently win, how coache...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Bobby Horodyski, Assistant Coach at Western Michigan University. Horodyski’s journey in basketball started as a manager before becoming a player at UCF, eventually working his way through coaching roles at Wyoming, Utah Valley, BYU, Queens, and now Western Michigan. His experience in different roles and programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to add value to a staff and continue growing in the profession. In this episode we discuss what a young DOBO should prioritize and master during their first year in this...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Sean Dwyer, Assistant Coach with the Phoenix Suns. Dwyer has built an impressive coaching career with stops at Michigan State, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Loyola Chicago, and now with the Phoenix Suns. His experience across multiple college programs and the professional level has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build sustained success. In this episode we discuss the one characteristic he’s seen consistently across successful programs, the biggest adjustment he faced moving from college coaching to the NBA, and how assi...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Paul Mulcahy, former Division I player and founder of Share the Game. Mulcahy built his playing career at Rutgers and Washington before transitioning into coaching as an assistant at Gill St. Bernard’s High School. His experience as a high-level point guard gives him a unique perspective on leadership, communication, and the impact coaches can have on their players. In this episode we discuss the coaches who brought the best out of him and the lessons he took from them, great advice for point guards to help them...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Pat Martinelli, Head Coach at Mount Aloysius. Coach Martinelli began his journey as a student assistant at Allegheny before working his way into assistant coaching roles at Allegheny and Chatham, while also gaining valuable experience as the head coach of Caveman AAU. In this episode we discuss the responsibilities he took on early that accelerated his growth, how his time coaching AAU helped prepare him for his first college head coaching opportunity, and what those first few months looked like after taking over a program as a ne...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Richmond, Assistant Coach at Youngstown State University. Coach Richmond began his journey at West Virginia as a student assistant, practice player, and manager before building an impressive coaching résumé with stops at Centenary College of Louisiana, the University of Charleston, East Tennessee State, Fordham, and now Youngstown State. He also gained valuable experience leading his own program as the head coach at Notre Dame College. In this episode we discuss the lasting lessons he learned from working under coaching legends in John Beilein and Bob Hugg...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dan Ritter, Assistant Coach at Garden City Community College. Ritter's coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial University before earning his current role at one of the premier junior college programs in the country, Garden City Community College. His path offers great insight for young coaches looking to break into the profession and continue climbing the ladder. In this episode we discuss how he landed his first graduate assistant position despite having limited connections, the steps that led him from a GA role to hi...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, Doug and Alan dive into one of the most important topics in today's game: Recruiting Over Rankings. Answering questions submitted by our listeners and Rising Coaches members, we discuss how recruiting philosophies have evolved, how to uncover whether a recruit is truly the right fit for your program, why recruiting should be a full-staff effort instead of resting on one coach, and creative ways to separate yourself in today's competitive recruiting landscape. Whether you're recruiting high school prospects or transfers, this episode is filled with practical ideas for coaches at every...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re back with part two of our conversation with LaPhonso Ellis, former NBA veteran, current basketball analyst, and head coach of Team Heartfire in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). In this second half, Ellis shifts into what he’s learned from both coaching and evaluating the game at the highest level. In this episode we discuss his perspective on the common traits he’s noticed across elite teams through his work as an analyst and what those teams consistently do in practice, his experience leading Team Heartfire in the TBT and the le...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by LaPhonso Ellis, former NBA veteran, current basketball analyst, and head coach of Team Heartfire in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). In this first part of a two-part conversation, Ellis reflects on his journey through the game and the coaches who helped shape his understanding of leadership and winning at every level. In this episode we discuss what made Coach Digger Phelps such an effective leader and how he earned buy-in from his players, the key coaching traits he’s picked up from some of the best minds he’s been...

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jimmy Elgas, Head Coach at Henderson State University. Coach Elgas has built a wealth of experience through assistant coaching stops at Illinois State, Lincoln College, Southwest Texas, Kansas State, Utah, and Evansville before earning the opportunity to lead the Henderson State program. His journey has given him a unique perspective on leadership, personal growth, and building a successful culture. In this episode we discuss how coaches can continue developing themselves to better serve their teams in today’s landscape, the key factors he believes young coaches should cons...

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...

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...

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 co...

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 be...

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 h...

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 as...

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 th...

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...

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 play...

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 a...

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 an...

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 de...

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 wi...

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 hi...

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...

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 be...

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 re...

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-t...

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...