We can't do this job (or any job) for a long time without knowing WHY we're doing the job, and coaching basketball is no different. With its long hours, intense nights and tough days, coaching basketball is a mission, but you have to know why you're doing it. What do you enjoy? That's what we want you to answer in today's podcast, while also discussing a little Leo Tolstoy and pushing you to research and learn about one of the great coaches of the 1980s and 1990s, Dale Brown.

Every second counts on game day, and organizing your bench is one way to save those precious seconds. In today's podcast, we breakdown thoughts on game day management of your bench, how to practice it before games even start and tips on be as efficient as possible during timeouts and quarter breaks. In addition, we've got a great quote from John Maxwell, while we discuss one of the great early coaches of the game, Clair Bee! Enjoy today's podcast!

As we get closer to the start of the season, what are ways that you can get your team into optimal shape before your first practice? That's the topic of discussion in today's podcast, where we break down various options, both on and off the floor, to help build toughness, chemistry, camaraderie and skill before your first day of practice. In addition, we've got a great quote from Jerry Rice and some research points of interest for one of our best modern coaches, Billy Donovan. Enjoy!

It was a blast to have on three great coaches for this month's Zoom roundtable! Rob Brost, John Carrier and Jake Nannen jumped on the pod to discuss how to be a great teacher of the game, what their focus is on for this fall to improve upon, things that they've learned this summer and one favorite drill of each coach! This was a blast to do, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!

We love X's and O's. I mean, we really love them, right????? One of the biggest draws for coaches to the game is drawing up plays, and watching our team run a set to perfection is extremely gratifying for most of us. In today's podcast, we discuss what we should and should not be doing with our set plays, suggestions on how to install them, the ideal number you should have in your portfolio and other tips! In addition, we've got a very appropriate quote from Mike Neighbors, and a study of one of our most popular and successful coaches of the last decade.

For most high school programs, the players that you have in your program are going to be pulled in multiple directions, whether that be by other sports, school activities or family activities. You have to show your human side and have some understanding, but you also have to hold players and families accountable for their non-emergency absences. In this pod, we discuss how to create a positive absence policy and how to clearly define repercussions, In addition, we have a quote from one of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, and a discussion of the predecessor to Dean Smith at North Carolina . . .

Ball handling and passing are two of the three ball skills of the Holy Trinity of player development, but they need to be emphasized DAILY this upcoming season. In this podcast, we discuss how you should implement ball handling and passing in your practices, ball handling techniques that you should be working on, and the difference between in-season and off-season development of these skills. In addition, we have a great quote from Coach Wooden and a study of one of the more underrated modern coaches who people often forget that he won a national championship!

As humans, most of us bounce back fairly quickly and strongly from failure, but where many of us get tripped up is when we experience too much success. In today's podcast, we discuss stories from my career of how success took off the edge, creating adversity in your team, anticipating adversity and more! In addition, we've got a great quote from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Younger, all while discussing the man who had more success than anyone else, yet remained grounded as a teacher his entire life . . .

Preparation is key for everything we do as coaches, but pregame scouting report information and implementation are vital to your team's success! In today's podcast, we discuss putting together scouting reports, what you should and should not include, how to present that information to your team and how to implement it in your practices! In addition, we've got a discussion on one of the great coaches and basketball influences of the last 50 years!

Each and everyone of us have our shortcomings, both as human beings and as coaches. Some of these shortcomings we are aware of, while many of these things we are not. In today's episode, we discuss our personal and professional "Blind Spots", what we can do to both diagnose them and make them a better part of our personality. In addition, we've got a great quote and a discussion of one of the all time greats, Adolph Rupp!