The Basketball Podcast

Maureen Hirt, head coach of the 2026 NCAA Division III National Champion Denison University women’s basketball team, joined the Basketball Podcast to discuss one of the most remarkable championship runs in college basketball history. Hirt shares how Denison became the first unranked team to win a Division III national title, built on a process-driven culture, shared leadership, and player ownership.

Hirt breaks down the program’s unique committee-based leadership model, why they moved away from captains, and how communication and daily connection shape their culture. She also discusses Denison’s 4-out, 1-in dribble drive offense, the us...

Milwaukee Bucks Head of Player Development and Assistant Coach Johnny Carpenter joins The Basketball Podcast to explore how coaches can develop players who think, adapt and solve problems. He shares how relationships, film and analytics help identify what is holding a player back and shape an individualized development plan.

Carpenter explains how to build learning into workouts and team practices through varied situations, live decisions and purposeful constraints. He also discusses reading space, finding the “play after the play,” and shifting the focus from practice intensity to player intent—offering practical ideas coaches can apply at any level...

Gabo Loaiza, head coach of Jämtland Basket, shared how he builds his teams around a shared way of seeing the game. That common picture comes from video work and clear communication so players can decide for themselves. Identity starts with energy and effort, then talent, then tactics chosen to multiply both. His game model is fast and risk-taking. He develops Plan A instead of inventing Plan B for every opponent, trusting the team’s strengths even in playoffs. Players must win individual battles and show “blind generosity”—unseen effort that helps teammates. Passing and constant movement sit at the core...

Stella Kaltsidou, one of European basketball's most accomplished female coaches, having won the Euro Cup with the London Lions. Stella discussed her coaching philosophy centered on making players feel good while being aggressive, explaining how she implemented the tagging up system at Athinaikos which generated 12.9 second chance points per game during the Euro Cup.

Kaltsidou detailed her approach to offensive playbooks with multiple options within simple structures to confuse scouts, shared her defensive philosophy including a unique middle pick and roll hedge strategy she learned from Paris Saint-Germain, and emphasized the importance of video analysis...

Bradley University head coach Brian Wardle, discussing his coaching philosophy and defensive systems. Coach Wardle shared his approach to building team defense around "flat triangles" positioning and gap defense, emphasizing the importance of consistency in practice with 30 minutes daily dedicated to defensive work including shell drills and breakdowns. He discussed his evolution from being the youngest Division I head coach at 30 to his current role at Bradley, where he's been challenged by new leadership to increase community engagement and fundraising efforts.

The conversation covered his offensive philosophy focusing on ball screen continuity with decision-making grading...

Detroit Pistons assistant coach Steve Scalzi offered a sharp, experience‑driven look at his coaching journey and philosophy, drawing on years across the NBA, G League, and college basketball. He reflected on how those environments shaped his approach to player development and discussed his transition into becoming the head coach of the Motor City Crews.

He broke down foundational shooting concepts such as shot line, kinetic chain, and hand‑to‑rim, stressing that great shooters aren’t built through rigid templates but through flow, rhythm, and individual expression. Scalzi also highlighted the continued value of mid‑range scoring, f...

Ryan Marchand, a professional basketball coach currently serving as head coach of the Fukushima Firebones in Japan's B-League. Ryan discussed his coaching journey from the NBA and G-League to overseas opportunities in Taiwan, where he had considerable success, and his successful turnaround of the Fukushima team from last place to the finals.

A few key themes emerged from the conversation with Ryan. First, dynamic coaching requires adapting systems to the strengths of the personnel rather than forcing players into a rigid style of play. Whether utilizing smaller, faster lineups or bigger, more physical groups, the focus is...

University of Tulsa head coach Eric Konkol discussed his successful 2025-26 season that produced 30 wins and an NIT championship game appearance, a campaign built on staff continuity and attracting a complementary, high-character roster. His program is guided by the core philosophy of “Attitude, Commitment, Class,” a framework from Jim Larrañaga that prioritizes energy, dedication, and professionalism.

Konkol emphasized playing lots of basketball through a game-based approach that incorporates advantage drills and a “three-trip game” (canceling pauses) to develop decision-making skills, while using video in multiple ways—primarily for corrections—for teaching. He detailed the team’s record...

Veteran coach Justin Wetzel, who most recently served as associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Noblesville Boom (NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers). shared his player development philosophy centered on the concept of players being "CEO of their own development," which involves a four-step process: establishing player expectations and strengths within the organization, having players set two to three measurable goals, creating standards that match those goals, and implementing consequences when players don't meet their standards. He explained how this player-led approach helps avoid conflicts, builds accountability, and focuses on players' existing strengths rather than...

University of Alabama Huntsville women's basketball head coach Allen Sharpe, discussing his coaching philosophy and the team's recent success. Sharpe shared insights from his long career, including his influences from playing under Don Meyer at Lipscomb University and his experience coaching both men's and women's teams. He detailed his emphasis on simplicity in defensive systems, focusing on one-on-one defense and closeouts, and the importance of physicality and accountability in his program.

Sharpe explained his use of notebooks for players to enhance learning and retention, and discussed the balance between maintaining high standards and ensuring players...

Central Arkansas head coach John Shulman shared insights focusing on his coaching philosophy, career journey, and the "uncommon" approach he brings to the game. Shulman shared stories from his long coaching career, including his time at Chattanooga, Alabama Huntsville, and now Central Arkansas, where he led a historic season in his second year. He explained his core philosophy of being "uncommon" in all aspects of the game, from defense to recruiting, to avoid predictable outcomes.

Shulman detailed his defensive strategies, such as the "Deep" inbound defense, and his offensive system based on the Princeton offense...

Utah State head coach Wes Brooks shares insights on his challenges and solutions. Learn more about his journey from assistant coach to head coach, sharing his approach to rebuilding the Utah State program after two challenging seasons. He explained his offensive philosophy centered on "fist and flash" gameplay, spacing concepts (single, double, triple), and teaching players to read defenses rather than running specific plays.

Wes detailed how he's implemented this system over four weeks of summer practice, emphasizing the importance of spacing, player development, and mental performance coaching. He discussed the psychology of coaching through challenges, the...

Charles Hantoumakos, the Canadian Under-18 Men's National Team Head Coach, breaks down their underdog victory against the United States at the 2026 FIBA Under-18 America Cup. Charles shared detailed tactical breakdowns of offensive concepts including flow mechanisms, rifle actions, and turnout sets that helped Canada secure their first-ever title in the event

Hantoumakos shared insights on the importance of keeping plays simple while allowing talented players to make reads, the critical role of spacing and mismatch exploitation, and the need for thorough scouting and personnel analysis. Charles emphasized the importance of celebrating mistakes as growth opportunities...

Loyola Marymount Women's Basketball Head Coach Aarika Hughes shares the coaching philosophy and leadership principles that led LMU to its first outright West Coast Conference Regular Season Championship since 2004.

Coach Hughes breaks down the habits, systems, and culture shifts that transformed the program, including simplifying scouting reports, implementing a "Joy Drill," developing players through constraints-based coaching, and creating a solution-focused environment where players can thrive. She emphasized the importance of "stick-with-it-ness" and patient administration support throughout her five-year journey building the program. Hughes explained her coaching philosophy of keeping things simple and consistent, including simplified...

William and Mary head coach Brian Earl discussed his coaching philosophy and approach, sharing his background playing and coaching at Princeton under coaches Pete Carril and Bill Carmody, explaining how he evolved from the traditional Princeton offense to a faster, more up-tempo style that still incorporates backdoor cuts and passing.

Earl discussed his offensive principles of getting good shots, emphasizing passing and team play, and his defensive approach of applying pressure through pressing and intensity after both makes and misses. The conversation covered his methods for developing players, particularly focusing on decision-making through experiential learning...

University of Michigan women's basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico, discussed her philosophy of building "the hardest working team in America" through practice analytics that track intangible aspects like communication, diving for balls, and taking charges, while maintaining a balance between hard work and fun. She explained her defensive principles focusing on physicality, pressure, and keeping opponents out of the paint, using drills like progressive denial to develop players' ability to handle one-on-one situations without fouling.

The conversation covered her adaptive offensive approach that adjusts to the strengths of her team, including strategies for handling elite players...

Cal State East Bay head basketball coach Bryan Rooney discussing his team's historic 33-1 season and their connecting style of play. Rooney explained how his team implemented the "tagging up" system where all five players engage in defensive rebounding immediately after shots go up, creating pressure defense and transition opportunities. He detailed how the system connects full-court and half-court defense, emphasizing that defensive engagement starts as soon as possessions are decided rather than waiting for specific situations.

Bryan Rooney has won over 300 games and during the 2025-26 at East Bay, Rooney guided the team to a historic 33...

Before becoming the head coach of the Portland Fire, Alex Sarama was a Basketball Immersion member learning, questioning, and exploring a games approach to coaching with Basketball Immersion founder Chris Oliver.

In this revisited 2018 episode of The Basketball Podcast, Alex asks Chris deep questions about:

At the time, Alex Sarama was working with NBA Basketball Operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa while studying pro...

Duke Associate Head Coach Chris Carrawell, where he discussed his coaching philosophy, offensive and defensive systems, and player development approaches at Duke University. Carrawell explained how Duke's offense is built around creating spacing and advantages through a 5-out system similar to NBA concepts, with coaches breaking down plays into smaller groups to teach players to read and react in game situations.

He detailed how player development has evolved from traditional one-on-one training to more system-specific development focusing on players' roles within Duke's offensive and defensive schemes. Carrawell also shared insights about teaching defensive concepts like...

USA Basketball and former NBA head coach Stephen Silas, where he discussed his experiences coaching in short international qualifying windows for FIBA competitions. Silas shared insights about preparing teams with limited time, explaining that USA Basketball teams typically have only six practices before playing two games against other national teams in challenging international venues.

Silas detailed his approach to quickly building team culture through group activities, film sessions, and quiz competitions while emphasizing the importance of defense first and adapting to FIBA rules that differ significantly from NBA play. Silas also discussed his role clarity...

My notebook overflowed after 6 months with coaches at every level—hoops lessons from London, Paris, NBA weekends, youth basketball, messing around with my coaching, and the NCAA trenches. Having been incredibly fortunate to talk hoops with coaches at every level of the game over the last six months, I’ve synthesized a collection of insights I believe can move the needle for your program.

Dive into the principles of conceptual defense in basketball with Charles Klask, a highly respected NBA coach and champion who served on the Denver Nuggets’ staff during their historic 2023 NBA Championship run. With decades of experience across the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic, Klask shares how conceptual defense serves as the essential counter to modern offense—moving beyond rigid rules to flexible, principle-based systems that allow players to read and react intelligently in the game’s “gray areas.”

The discussion unpacks the core ideas behind self-organization within clear team parameters, such as shrinking the floor...

St. Joseph's head coach Steve Donahue discussing his coaching philosophy and recent success. Donahue shared how he adapted his passing-oriented offense when taking over as head coach at St. Joseph's, modifying his approach to better suit his roster's strengths and the A-10 conference's physicality. He emphasized the importance of teaching players to make good decisions, particularly in ball movement and spacing, while focusing on winning through defensive rebounding and forcing difficult two-point shots.

Donahue also discussed his player development approach, including using drills that replicate game situations and implementing a "5Hs" team-building exercise to quickly...

National champion head coach Easton Bazzoli discusses Gannon University's 2025-26 national championship-winning season and their approach to the Crutchfield basketball system. Easton explained how they built the program from a 3-win team to a 34-3 national champion, emphasizing the importance of constant pressure defense, decision-making development through game-like practice situations, and individual player development based on each player's unique strengths.

Bazzoli discussed their offensive philosophy of creating constant pressure while maintaining high IQ decision-making, their approach to practice where they play 5-on-5 competition almost daily, and their focus on developing high-character players over pure talent...

Greg Tonagel, one of college basketball's most accomplished coaches, discussing his coaching philosophy centered around habits and fearlessness. Be sure to check out his All Access coaching video series available at gregtonagelbasketball.com and immersionvideos.com, offering an inside look into championship-level program building. Greg Tonagel shared how he transformed his approach from focusing on behavior modification to developing habits that drive success, explaining his shift from using a "box" mentality to a "line" approach that emphasizes growth and movement rather than categorizing players as either in or out of expectations.

The conversation covered practical...

Arthur Moreira discussed his successful 2025-26 season where his team won 29 games, including the Big Sky regular season and tournament championships, earning an NCAA tournament berth for the first time in a decade. As the first Brazilian head coach in NCAA Division I basketball, Arthur shared his coaching philosophy focusing on relationship-building with players, individualized development through varied coaching approaches, and a simple, adaptable offensive system that emphasizes transition play and player decision-making.

Moreira detailed his defensive strategies including peel switching and tagging-up concepts, while emphasizing the importance of practice over play in player development, drawing from...

Samford women's basketball head coach Matt Wise reflecting on his first year as head coach and the team's remarkable turnaround season. Wise discussed the challenges of starting with a difficult non-conference schedule that included five Power 5 opponents, leading to an early 1-6 conference start. He explained how the team's confidence and belief improved throughout the season, culminating in winning the Southern Conference Tournament Championship as the sixth seed and earning an NCAA tournament berth. The Bulldogs overcame a double-digit deficit in the championship game to advance to the NCAA First Four, finishing the season with an overall record of 16...

Tony Irons discussed his coaching philosophy and experiences across various basketball levels. Irons shared his approach to coaching at high school, junior college, and EYBL levels, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with players and creating competitive environments through standards-based accountability. He discussed his defensive philosophy centered around man-to-man defense, his approach to practice design using scripted-to-live drills, and his belief in flexible coaching that adapts to personnel.

Irons also reflected on his father's coaching legacy and how he incorporates lessons learned from mentors like Dennis Gates and constraint-led approaches into his coaching methodology. The conversation covered...

Zach O'Brien, assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks and former head coach of Mist BC in the Unrivaled Basketball League, discusses his approach to player development and coaching methodology. He explained his focus on decision-making, creativity, and empowering players rather than controlling their actions. He discusses the importance of establishing team principles and creating an environment for players to explore and problem-solve.

O'Brien shared his experience implementing constraint-led training approaches in the WNBA, emphasizing the importance of creating environments where players can explore and problem-solve rather than following rigid drills. He explained his coaching philosophy centered...

This conversation was an opportunity to bring a typically offline discussion I have with coaches online to share with you. In it, Jared Mocaby from Kansas Select got to ask me a bunch of questions about youth basketball coaching strategies. We discussed solution-based coaching approaches, emphasizing the importance of letting players figure out problems rather than giving direct instructions, and the value of playing full-court transition basketball during practices.

The discussion covered topics including shot selection, position development, the balance between winning and player development, and the overuse of tournament play versus focused practice time. We explored...

In this episode of the Basketball Podcast, Coach Roneeka Hodges discussed her experience as the associate head coach for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA and her role as head coach of the Phantom BC and Unrivaled Basketball League. She reflected on her coaching journey, emphasizing the importance of player development, building trust with players, and adapting to the evolving game.

Coach Hodges shared insights on balancing control and trust as a head coach, the challenges of transitioning from playing to coaching, and the value of mentorship in her career. She also highlighted the unique opportunities provided...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Jamill Jones joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on running an elite youth program.

Jamill Jones serves as a Director with Team Takeover, one of the premier programs on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he provides leadership across elite player development, program structure, and national representation. He articulates a development‑first philosophy rooted in defense, accountability, and family culture, emphasizing long‑term growth over short‑term results.

Team Takeover’s model prioritizes practice over games, beginning player development as early as third grade, maintaining coaching continuity across age groups...

Coach Bret Burchard discussed his work with Championship Shift, a mindset training company that helps coaches and athletes compete and lead with confidence, resilience, and humility. Bret shared his experience as a former NBA and college basketball coach, emphasizing the importance of leading for impact rather than validation. He explained how coaches can maintain their passion and effectiveness by reconnecting with the reasons they started coaching, managing their mindset in high-pressure situations, and building a strong team culture.

Bret also highlighted the need for coaches to constantly re-engage their players with the vision and purpose of the...

Jim Haverstrom, a youth hockey director and coach developer with USA Hockey, joined the Basketball Podcast to discuss coaching methodologies and player development across both sports. The conversation explored various coaching strategies, including the importance of making practices fun and engaging, as well as the integration of constraints-led approaches in coach education programs. Jim emphasized the significance of adapting coaching techniques to individual player differences, providing constructive feedback, and creating game-based practices that help players develop both technical skills and mental toughness.

Episode Breakdown:

02:32 Hockey Embraces CLA

05:41 What Fun Really Means

09:04...

Mike Neighbors, assistant coach for the LA Sparks, shared his insights on transitioning from college to professional coaching, emphasizing the importance of pace, player development, and feedback loops in the WNBA. Neighbors discussed his philosophy on assistant coaching, highlighting the need for clear communication and alignment with players' roles.

He also touched on the challenges and opportunities in women's basketball, including the impact of social media and financial pressures on young players. The conversation covered Neighbors' approach to defensive strategies, practice efficiency, and the evolving role of analytics in coaching. The episode concluded with Neighbors expressing his...

Ryan Cottingham, the head coach of Spring Arbor University's men's basketball program, shared insights into his approach to building and sustaining a successful small college basketball program. He discussed the importance of creating a strong team culture based on core values of integrity, toughness, and unity, and highlighted various initiatives such as "Fun Week," leadership teams, and individual player meetings to foster this culture.

Cottingham emphasized the role of player-led initiatives, regular recognition of individual achievements, and the involvement of parents in team activities to create a supportive environment. He also connected the program's success to its...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Thompson joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on integrating science, skill, and human connection

Clayton Thompson serves as the Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he sits at the cutting edge of professional sports science and player development. With a background as an R&D Engineer and a Master’s in Business Administration, Thompson is a vocal advocate for dismantling the traditional silos between "strength and conditioning" and "on-field skill." His philosophy is built on the be...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Vietnam Men’s National Team head coach Matt Van Pelt joins the Basketball Podcast to share his defensive shift from packline to forcing left.

Matt Van Pelt is currently the Head Coach of the Vietnam Men’s National Team, as well as the Hanoi Buffaloes, the reigning champions of the Vietnam Basketball Association. He now has basketball experience in 28 countries, having ran camps and clinics all over the world, and is also the owner of Van Pelt Sports Management and the co-owner of Pro Coaches Academy and The Performance Lab, in addi...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, By Any Means Basketball founder Coleman Ayers joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on reengineering player development.

Coleman Ayers is the founder of By Any Means Basketball, a global training and media organization dedicated to player development. Launching the brand as a high schooler in Washington, D.C., Coleman turned his passion for skill acquisition and research-backed training into a worldwide movement. After finishing his playing career at St. John’s College High School, he chose to forgo college basketball opportunities and moved to Miami, studied exercise physiology, and began wo...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, former Bob Jones University head coach Burton Uwarow joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on special situations and mentorship.

Uwarow is currently the Director of Athletics at West Florida Baptist Academy. He became head coach at Bob Jones University in April of 2017 as the second head coach in program history. In his first year as head coach, he led the Bruins to an astounding 22-11 record to lead them to their second NCCAA DII national tournament and first NCCAA DII national championship game in program history.

In his...