Chop Talk

Guest: Jared Czech is an Assistant Basketball Coach at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. Coach Czech has worked his way up from Graduate Assistant, Director of Operations, Hoop Group, and finally got his break as an assistant at Columbia. This episode is filled with tangible advice that people can go out and apply right now. Enjoy! 

Breakdown: 
1:00 - Background 
4:00 - St. Patricks High School 
7:00 - NJ High School Basketball 
13:35- Process of landing GA job at University of Denver 
14:38- GREAT ADVICE LISTEN 
18:30- GO DO IT 
20:40- Start early 
23:35- NJIT 
24:55- How do you prepare for an DOBO role? 
28:05- Great advice on food orders 
28:50- Check your bus routes *****
32:00- Check your hotels 3-4x***
33:50- Working at the Hoop Group
43:33- Air Force Academy 

Guest: Kevin Hoehn is a walk-on for the Villanova basketball team. Kevin was 14 years old when I met him coaching a local AAU program called NJ Thunder. In this episode he takes us through the process of walking on, Villanova culture, and most importantly his Mental Health Struggles. 

Breakdown: 
1:46 - Decision to not pursue D3/D2 opportunities
8:30 - Learning from the older guys 
14:30 - COVID adjustments  
16:00 - Mental Health Struggles 
18:03 - Knowing when to say something 
20:30 - Check on your people 
24:00 - Stay in the moment 
26:10 - Give your self battles to win 
27:30 - Brain dump 
29:45 - Be grateful 
32:45 - Sleep routine 
36:05 - Counselor 
43:00 - What will you miss after graduation? 

Guest: Jake Martino is a freshman at Texas Christian University (TCU) where he works with the football team in content creation. He is at every BIG12 game shooting video to create content on and off the field. Jake got his start through Siena athletics and really helped the basketball team in particular. He does a great job of breaking down what makes elite content and the process of making your videos stand out. 

2:50- Background 
6:00- Sent an email to break in 
11:35- If you don't try you wont get there 
12:50- Take every opportunity when starting out 
15:10- Self Taught 
18:30- Working for free 
24:30- TCU Football BIG12
27:50- What makes ELITE content? 
33:45 - What can you do to have your Instagram stand out? 
38:50 - Follow up is important 
41:00 - Never know where a connection will bring you 

Guest: Matt Healing is the Head Men's Basketball Coach at D2 Pace University. In this episode we talk about working his way up the ladder, revitalizing a program, and more. Matt coached me in high school and it's been fun to watch his journey. Enjoy!

3:30- Jobs while coaching 

6:03- D3 prepares you 

9:45- Adjusting to DOBO 

12:30- Volunteering is underrated 

16:20- Getting involved @ Pace 

19:10- What helped you get the Head Coach job 

24:00- Interview Process 

28:00- Rebuilding a program 

31:05- Non-negotiables in recruits 

34:00- Recruits communication

36:00- What’s too much? 

38:30- Hiring assistant coaches 

42:30- FAMILY 

Guest: Nick LoPinto works for the Montag Group as a sports agent where he represents numerous sports broadcasters. Nick was also a former St. Johns student manager and worked as an Executive Assistant for Steve Lavin after college. 

Breakdown 
1:30 – Manager Experience 
6:00 – Building Relationships with you coaches 
10:40 – Things you learned as a manager that helps you now 
16:30 – Networking while working with Steve Lavin & Fox Sports 
20:30 – Mowing lawns in between 
21:30 – How he got into Montag Group 
23:40 – Clients Nick works with 
26:00 – Typical tasks that an Agent does 
31:45 – How to stay organized 
36:50 – Things to work on for an aspiring agent 
41:10 – Relationships 
43:45 – Following up with people is huge 
48:40 – What do the best people you know do consistently 

Breakdown 
2:00 – Choosing Temple University 
5:00 – Taking defense seriously 
8:50 – What makes a good defender? 
10:45 – Looking for tendencies 
18:40 – Work Ethic 
22:50 – Rankings don’t matter 
24:20 – Who do you model your game after? 
28:45 – Time is so important 
30:30 – Family 
33:34 – Advice for the youth 
38:30 – What’s a good day? 

Guest: Nate Pierre-Louis 

Resume
-All-State Selection (Roselle Catholic)
-American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team 
-Co-Most Improved AAC 
-Second on the team in Scoring 10.9PPG
-First on the team in rebounding 8.5 (5th AAC) 

Breakdown: 
1:00 - Hoop Group / Working camps 

6:05 - Relationships  

10:30 - Getting the job at St. Rose College 

20:29 - D2 recruiting challenges 

24:23 - How to contact a college coach via email 

29:10 - Try this email HACK 

34:00 - Recruits communication with coaches 

37:15 - 2020/2021 Season 

41:10 - Career goals 

Guest: Mike Murray 

Resume
-Assistant Coach St. Rose College 
-Hoop Group Camp Director 
-Queens College Assistant Coach 
-Played at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn

Guest: Bobby Whyte. Bobby is the owner of HyPower Performance, a company that helps develop athletes. HyPower offers both basketball and strength programs that allow athletes to develop. Whyte has worked with a variety of athletes ranging from D1 to D3 the NBA and more.  

Breakdown: 
2:20 - Coaching in China 

10:00 - I'm Possible Training 

16:00 - Training athletes 

22:30 - Building a business / Network 

35:30 - What makes a good trainer? 

41:05 - What do the best athletes have in common? 

45:00 - What's important to you? 5,6,7 game. 


Resume: 
-Certifications on mobility including both Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) and Functional Movement Systems (FMS). 
- Head Strength Coach for the Guangxi Rhinos (China). 
- Camp director for Israel basketball 
- Strength and conditioning coach for Hudson Catholic Basketball 
-I'm Possible certified 

Guest: Andrew Ford: University of Florida Men's Basketball Graduate Assistant 

In this episode of Chop Talk Andrew talks about his transition from Providence College to University of Florida. Ford gives some key advice and also shares some of his experiences that he has had with USA Basketball. 

Resume: 
-Providence College Basketball: Head Manager 
-Team USA Basketball: Head Manager. Gold Medal. 
-University of Florida Basketball: Graduate Assistant 

Jordan King is a local product of Albany NY and Siena Men's Basketball player. In this episode King talks about different topics including playing on the "B" team in AAU and how it helped him develop into the player he is today. Jordan also talks about coming to Siena and earning his scholarship by putting in the work. 

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