Coach Bubba Lemon is the Head Coach for both Boys' Basketball and Girls’ Flag Football at Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Oregon. Coach Lemon graduated from Tualatin in 2006, then went on to play football, basketball, and track at Linfield University before transferring to Willamette University. He is the grandson of Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon. After 9 nine years as an assistant football coach at Willamette, Coach Lemon returned to his alma mater. He spent six seasons as a junior varsity and varsity assistant before being named head coach in June 2022. In his first season (2022-23), he guided Tualatin to a 24-5 record and the program's first OSAA 6A state championship. The team repeated as state champions in 2023. Under his leadership, the Timberwolves have secured multiple Three Rivers League titles, earned a third-place finish at state in 2024, and won another 6A title in 2026. Coach Lemon has been named 6A All-State Coach of the Year and has received many other coaching honors.

 In this conversation, Coach Bubba Lemon shares his journey from a multi-sport athlete to becoming the head basketball coach at Tualatin High School. He discusses his coaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of player development, joy in the game, and building a winning culture. Coach Lemon also highlights the growth of girls' flag football and the fun dynamics of coaching them. He elaborates on practice strategies, the significance of trust within the team, and the overlooked aspects of game situations and timeouts in basketball. Coach Lemon shares insights on coaching strategies, emphasizing the importance of structured timeouts, unconventional statistics, and the pivotal role of point guards in his system. He discusses building a strong team culture akin to family, handling losses with a constructive mindset, and the significance of continuous learning in coaching. The dialogue highlights the mental aspects of sports and the need for intentional communication with players.

Photo Credit: Tualatin Life

Takeaways:

Help Kids Reach Their Goals

Coaching is about providing opportunities for players!

The Why: Help players find their Joy / Create Experiences

Female Athletes are like Sponges and show incredible support for one another

Practice should be high-energy, loud, and constantly moving

Culture of Competing and Never Failing our Teammates

“A Quiet Gym is a Loosing Gym”

Practice Structure: Personal Development Time

The Infinity Drill

Synergy with the Youth Program

How Can I make Tualatin A Basketball Hotspot?

Why is Basketball the Greatest Sport?

Timeout Strategy: Don’t call them to stop Momentum 

Greatest Challenge in Coaching: Buy-In

Who’s on The Court At The End of The Game?

Emphasizing Tip Outs!

https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast