Caesar Smith, Athletic Director, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, San Francisco, CA

Meet Caesar Smith, a basketball coach and Athletic Director at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in San Francisco, CA. He has nearly a decade of experience coaching basketball in Texas. Smith has coached at various high schools in Texas, including Klein Collins High School, Wisdom High School, Westfield High School, and Southwest High School. He even coached the swim team at East Central High School.

In 2020, he returned to his alma mater in California and took over the basketball program in 2021. Under his leadership, the Sacred Heart Cathedral Fightin’ Irish won the Central Coast Section Open Division Championship in 2023. Smith was recently selected to coach at the NCAA College Basketball Academy in Memphis, TN, where he previously served on the inaugural staff at the University of Houston in 2019.

Prior to coaching, he achieved multiple accolades in basketball. He was selected twice for the All-West Catholic Athletic League and was recognized as a San Francisco Bay Area All-Metro performer. Additionally, he was part of the championship team in the '95-'96 WCAL Basketball Championship. After completing high school, he continued his basketball career by becoming an All-League performer at City College of San Francisco. Later on, he became the Defensive Player of the Year for the Sonoma State University Men's Basketball Team.

He obtained his bachelor's degree from Sonoma State University and went on to pursue a master's degree from the University of Southern California. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate studying Global Sport Leadership at East Tennessee State University.  Caesar is an active member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and serves on the Coaches' Education National Committee.

He is also a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Additionally, Smith has obtained various coaching licenses, including his FIBA coaching license and USA Basketball Gold Coaching License. He is also recognized as a Certified Interscholastic Coach by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

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Coach Chuck McCown, Program Director, Houston United Select Basketball

Since then he has guided select programs to a Top 10 finish at AAU Nationals, a National Championship Runner Up, an Adidas National Championship and a 2019 Final Four at the Adidas Championships.

Tune in as Coach Chuck shares his story; tells who has the tougher job between coaches and officials and offers 3 things all coaches need. Last but not least, Coach Jacinto gives 1 piece of unsolicited advice that you didn't ask for but you probably need to hear.

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Coach Armando Jacinto, Spring ISD (TX) Athletic Director and Founding President of Hispanic Texas High School Coaches Association

Coach Jacinto is an outstanding mentor, best selling author and Reicher HS Hall of Fame inductee.

Coach Jacinto has 38 years in athletics including 21 at University High School in Waco TX, seven at Travis HS in Austin, six as an Asst AD, and currently two years as the AD in Spring ISD.

Tune in as Coach Jacinto shares his story; tells who has the tougher job between coaches and officials and offers 3 things all coaches need. Last but not least, Coach Jacinto gives 1 piece of unsolicited advice that you didn't ask for but you probably need to hear.

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Coach Billy Goffney, Westfield HS (TX) Head Boys Basketball Coach

He began his career coaching girls at New Waverly High School before moving over to the boys' side and making three consecutive trips to the State Tournament.

After New Waverly, he moved to Longview and is now at Westfield HS in Houston TX.

Tune in as Coach Goffney shares his story; tells who has the tougher job between coaches and officials and offers 3 things all coaches need. Last but not least, Coach Goffney gives 1 piece of unsolicited advice that you didn't ask for but you probably need to hear.

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Coach Michelle Trotter, George Ranch (TX) Head Girls Basketball Coach

Coach Trotter just finished her 28th year as a Coach and Teacher. While she has head coaching stints in, volleyball, softball, cross country, and track, her love and passion have always been on the hardwood. Coach just closed out season number 18 season as a head basketball coach. Her last two stops were 9 years at Crosby, and she just finished her first season at George Ranch High School. Raised in West Fork, Arkansas, a small town located in the Ozark Mountains with a population of around 2000, Coach Trotter attended West Fork schools K-12 grade. She was a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball, softball, and throwing the discus and shot put in track and field.

Family, Church, and School were the foundations of her formative years. After high school, Coach Trotter attended Harding University and received a BA in Kinesiology with a minor in History and a M. Ed in Exercise Physiology. 

Grandparents, relatives, and stories from Texas eventually pulled Coach Trotter to the Lone Star State. She took my first teaching/coaching job in Beaumont, Texas, where she met her husband and best friend Todd.

Having had two major heart surgeries, the first at the age of 22, Coach Trotter and Todd were prevented from having kids of their own. However, their lives have centered around kids with Todd’s work in ministry and hers in education. 

Tune in as Coach Trotter shares her story; tells who has the tougher job between coaches and officials and offers 3 things all coaches need. Last but not least, she gives 1piece of unsolicited advice that you didn't ask for but you probably need to hear.

⁠✅ **FOLLOW THE COACHES:**Follow Coach Peavy on IG & X: @DavidPeavy20

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David Peavy - Head Basketball Coach at Duncanville High School (TX)

Coach Peavy brings more than 25 years of successful coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Coach Peavy has led the Duncanville Panthers to back to back to back to back Texas 6A Boys Basketball State Championships. His Panthers were also crowned 2022 National Champions by MaxPreps and Fab 50. Since joining the Duncanville ISD family in April of 2018, he has not lost a single playoff game.

Peavy was named the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year in 2020-2021. He has been named Coach of the Year four times and was twice named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Committee. He has twice been invited to speak at the USA Coaches Academy and was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year. Last but not least, Peavy was invited to coach in the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic.

Developing leaders and promoting discipline on and off the court is what David Peavy believes in. He is committed to building a championship team of character, class, and one that gives total effort.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction & Coach Peavey's incredible accolades

• 1:59 Coach Peavey's background: Growing up in San Antonio, military family, early love for coaching.
• 4:12 His unconventional path to becoming a basketball coach, from St. Anthony to Incarnate Word, and early high school roles.
• 10:57 Key moments and mentors that shaped his coaching career 
• 15:58 The mindset of a champion: Why success isn't overnight, and the importance of continuous growth.
• 18:15 Bridging the gap: Coach Peavey's insights on fostering collaboration between high school coaches and AAU coaches for player benefit.
• 23:29 Unpacking his coaching philosophy: Is he a system guy or a player development guy? Why "tweaking" personnel is key.
• 28:00 The truth about skill development: Tailoring training for individual roles, not just creating "Kobes" and "Kyries."
• 33:31 Duncanville Basketball secrets: Simplifying the game and why they "don't work on press break."
• 36:19 The great Texas debate: Houston vs. Dallas basketball culture – who embraces coaching more?
• 41:46 Mentorship & Giving Back: How Coach Peavey supports young coaches in the basketball community.
• 45:22 The hardest truths of coaching: Beyond the X's and O's – being a mentor, connecting with players and parents.
• 50:40 New rule changes & the future of basketball: Thoughts on 5 fouls/2 shots and advancing the ball.
• 52:45 Tougher job: Coaching or officiating?
• 53:57 Beyond the court: What would Coach Peavey do if not coaching?
• 55:18 3 Must-Have Traits for Coaches: Passion, Patience, Professionalism.
• 55:49 The "2 Foulest Things" he's experienced coaching.
• 57:28 The untold story: Coach Peavey's secret past!

Whether you're an aspiring coach, a seasoned veteran, a parent of a youth athlete, or just a fan of Texas high school basketball, Coach Peavey's wisdom offers invaluable lessons on leadership, resilience, and building a winning mindset.

#CoachDavidPeavey #DuncanvilleBasketball #TexasBasketball #HighSchoolBasketball #ChampionshipCoach #PlayerDevelopment #BasketballCoaching #TeamCulture #AAUBasketball #HoustonVsDallas #Leadership #SportsPsychology #YouthBasketball #WinningMindset #BasketballStrategy #MaxPreps #Naismith"

👉 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more leadership lessons and coaching inspiration! ✅ **BUY THE BOOK:** Find mentorship and level up your coaching game with "The Path for Coaches, Volume One: Mentoring," available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML1D2T1YKA6AN/checkout/DHKSBTBKWURK3K4K23VQUTG7?src=embed⁠⁠

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• Follow Coach P on X: @CoachPrejean1

Meet Coach Ayana Weeks, the award-winning head girls track and cross country coach at West Fork. In this episode of the Coaches Co-op Podcast, we dive into her inspiring journey from being a track athlete to leading a district-winning team made up only of freshmen.

In this episode, Coach Weeks opens up about:

~Her passion for developing girls in sports and why it's crucial (only 38% participate vs. boys in 70s).

~The unique challenges women coaches face, including balancing family life and combating the misconception of a "second sport" mentality among some athletes.

~The science and art behind building a winning track program, from year-round training strategies (block starts, peaking for district) to fostering team cohesion.

~Her 'why': inspired by Michelle Obama to "leave the door open" and pull others through, advocating for female administrators and leaders in athletics.

~Behind-the-scenes look at a track coach's life: the long hours, dedicated weekends, and the emotional highs and lows.

~Her dream relay teams (4x1 and 4x4) featuring legendary sprinters like Allyson Felix, Usain Bolt, and Sydney McLaughlin!~Invaluable advice for all coaches: the need for a strong support system, a controlled ego, and the importance of never stopping learning.

~Discover how Coach Weeks balances coaching, teaching, and administration while making a lasting impact on her athletes.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction to Coach Ayana Weeks

1:00 - Ayana's Background & Journey to Coaching

4:10 - When She Knew She Wanted to Coach

6:00 - Coach Weekes' "Why": Passion for Girls in Sports

7:50 - The Disparity: Why Girls Leave Sports

8:50 - Hurdles & Challenges for Women Coaches

12:00 - Coach Life Balance: Hardest & Easiest Things

14:30 - Demystifying the Track Season: Year-Round Training

17:50 - Winning with an All-Freshmen Team!

19:30 - Hard Day vs. Easy Day for Sprinters

21:00 - Losing Sleep: The Coach's Emotional Rollercoaster

22:30 - Most Talented Athletes Coached

24:50 - Coaching vs. Running: Which is Tougher?

27:50 - Individual vs. Team Sport: High School Perspective

29:50 - Beyond Coaching: Her Other Dream Job

30:50 - Dream Relay Teams (4x1 & 4x4)

35:20 - Top 3 Things Every Coach Needs

37:00 - Toughest Things About Coaching

39:15 - Unsolicited Advice: Never Stop Learning"

Weeks is a graduate of McNeese State University where she was a track and field athlete. Coach Weeks holds a B.A. is in History/Social Studies Ed., a M.S. from Arkansas State University and is currently enrolled at UT-Arlington working on her Principal’s Certification.

Coach Weeks' Words: "Girls in sports is my biggest “passion” in coaching; we know that life lessons and skills are developed through participating in athletics. I hope that as a coach I can be most influential to young women through my role as a coach."

#trackandfield #coachlife #womeninsports

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Drop your thoughts or favorite moment in the comments below!

#Coaching #TrackandField #Leadership #TeamCulture

✅ **BUY THE BOOK:**

Find mentorship and level up your coaching game with "The Path for Coaches, Volume One: Mentoring," available on Amazon: ⁠⁠https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML1D2T1YKA6AN/checkout/DHKSBTBKWURK3K4K23VQUTG7?src=embed⁠

"Stay ready so you don't have to get ready."