This episode features Interim Head Coach Che Jones of Phoenix College. A lot has happened since Coach Che and I first connected. For instance, he WAS the assistant at Phoenix College, but there was a lot of movement in his athletic department that has included his new title as Interim Head Coach. 

Coach Che is a Las Vegas native, but has been with Phoenix College for 7 years on the women's and men's side. 

On this episode he shares his experience as a mediocre athlete turned professional athlete, working with a dominant men's program and a growing women's program at the college level, and more! Check it out. 

Coach Che Jones can be found on Instagram @im_still_Che

This episode features Coach Mindy Eckert of Manhattan Christian College. Coach Eckert began her coaching career while she was still playing in high school. While attending the University of Saint Mary she helped coach middle school and high school basketball teams. During the summer of 2015 she took an assistant position at John Wood Community College where she stayed for 3 years. After her tenure at John Wood she helped turn around the division 3 MacMurray College Women's Basketball team. Unfortunately, MacMurray College closed their doors in May 2020. While Mac's college was very sad and brought a lot of uncertainty for many, it lead Coach Mindy to her current position at Manhattan Christian College. 

In this episode Coach E shares her journey throughout her career, rebuilding a program and having to close the doors, her first year as a college head coach during Covid-19, and more! Check it out. 

Coach Mindy Eckert can be found on twitter @MindyEckert33

This episode features me. (Odd, I know). For those that don't know me, my name is Sammy Doucette & I coach at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. This is my 2nd year at OCC.

Earlier in November I spoke with Coach Mike Hernandez for an episode on his podcast, The Basketball Teacher Podcast. It was a really fun and free flowing conversation highlighting, specifically, the year 2020. He published it on his show on December 20th for the last episode of 2020. I'm bringing it to my show to give my listeners another opportunity to hear a conversation about a year we all have had to do some SERIOUS adjusting and learning in.

I know it's weird for me to have an episode featuring myself, but I truly just want to share the content. Check it out!!!

Coach Mike Hernandez can be found on twitter @mhgiantsfan & @BballTeacherPod

Below is the link to his podcast:

https://anchor.fm/basketballteacherpodcast

This episode features Head Coach Mike Hernandez of Metro Tech High School. He's a coach, a teacher, and the host of his podcast 'The Basketball Teacher Podcast'. He has a unique story in that he actually never played organized basketball. He needed volunteer hours and his friend asked him to coach a 6th grade team with him in order to get the necessary hours. Instantly, Coach Mike fell in love with coaching hoops. Ever since then, he's been set on being a coach! 

On this episode we discuss his journey, how he balances coaching & teaching, important lessons he hopes his players learn from him that reach far beyond just the sport of basketball, what he's learned during Covid-19, the culture of his team, his podcast, and SO MUCH MORE! Check it out!

Coach Mike Hernandez can be found on twitter @mhgiantsfan & @BballTeacherPod

Below is the link to his podcast:

https://anchor.fm/basketballteacherpodcast 

PSA ** I was on an episode of his podcast. Coach Mike Hernandez has graciously sent me the audio to the episode. It will be featured on his podcast 12/20/20 AND on mine 12/26/2020.. check it out, along with many other episodes from his podcast as well!!!**

On this episode I spoke with Coach Kevin White of the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Coach White has 18 years of coaching experience & knew this was what he wanted to do at the age of 11!

His experience includes the high school level, the travel circuit, junior college level, and the NCAA DIII level. In addition, he was a Five Star Basketball Camp counselor for six years and is the co-founder of the Camp Darryl Basketball Academy.

In this episode he tells us about the transition from coaching at the high school level to college, mistakes made earlier in his career, the evolution of his recruiting, the importance of networking and so much more. Check it out!

Coach White can be found on twitter @COACHKQW

On this episode I chat with Coach Mario Caetano of Adams State University. Coach Mario got his start in coaching at his alma mater Northern New Mexico College, while he was still receiving his undergraduate degree. He moved up the ranks and ended up becoming the top assistant coach & assistant Athletic Director. After 5 years on staff, his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where he took some time away from college coaching. He was still involved with hoops on the AAU circuit, but worked at an elementary school & drove Uber and Lyft during his free time. Coach Mario ended up getting a call from the Northern New Mexico College Athletic Director, who offered him the Interim Head Coach position with only 8 games left in the season. That was another unique experience that Coach Mario dives into during our conversation. 

After bringing in 17 new recruits and removing the "interim" from his title, he was offered the top assistant position and recruiting coordinator title at Adams State University. He then made the decision to start a new journey at Adams State where he is currently in his first year. 

During this episode he dives into his journey in depth, explains what he has learned from 2020, advice for coaches, and so much more!

Check it out!! 

Coach Mario Caetano can be found on twitter @RioCaetano

On this episode I chat with Head Coach Danelle Bishop of Cal Poly Pomona Women's Basketball. Coach Bishop is entering her 11th season at the helm of CPP. She's led her team to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Sweet Sixteens (2011, 2014, 2015), two Elite Eight appearances (2011, 2014) and a Final Four (2014).  She has a win-loss record of 200-96 in 10 seasons at the helm of the CPP women's basketball program. 

Prior to leading the CPP program, she was the head coach at Cal Baptist University for 3 years. Before CBU, her first head coaching gig was at Azusa Pacific University for four years, where she was hired at 27 years old and from the get-go flourished as a coach. With 17 years of head coaching experience, Coach Bishop is 338-181, a .651 winning percentage.

In this episode I ask Coach Bishop about all of her coaching stops, what her approach to leading a college team at 27 years old, the infamous 1-3-1, coaching through Covid, and more!

Coach Bishop can be found on twitter @CPPCoachBishop

On this very special episode I chat with husband and wife; Head Coach of Mater Dei High School girl's basketball, Kevin Kiernan, and the Head Coach of Concordia University Irvine Women's Basketball team, Christine Collins-Kiernan. 

Coach Christine is entering her fourth season as Concordia University Irvine Women's Basketball's Head Coach. She inherited an unfavorable program and has done a phenomenal job at rebuilding it. She has a record of 43-40 at the helm, leading the team to a 3rd place finish in the very competitive PacWest conference and consecutive PacWest Tournament appearances. Prior to coaching at CUI, she was a division 1 assistant at Cal State University of Northridge where their staff put together the best Division 1 turnaround in the nation in 2012. She also served as an assistant coach under husband, Coach Kevin Kiernan, for several years at Mater Dei & Troy High School.

As mentioned, joining Christine on this episode is Coach Kevin Kiernan of Mater Dei High School. Coach Kevin is entering his 15th season at Mater Dei. He is no stranger to consecutive Trinity League Championships, CIF Championships, State Championships, National Championships, Coach of the Year Honors, moving players on to the 4 year level, or just flat out dominating. He is nearing 1000 career wins as a High School head coach, and will no doubt go down as one of the best to ever coach this game! 

We talk about their journeys through coaching, how their styles or philosophies have changed over time, their programs NOW, and so much more! Check it out!!

Coach Kevin Kiernan can be found on twitter @KevinkKiernan 

Coach Christine Collins-Kiernan can be found on twitter @ChrystiCollins 

This episode features Head Coach Liz Kay of Wahconah High School in Massachusetts. Her first varsity gig was at a small prep school, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, in Greenfield, MA. After 3 years, she moved over to the public realm. 

Coach Liz's career includes 2 State Championship appearances while at Coventry High School in Connecticut, and one league title, 2 Regional Championship appearances, and 2 Coach of the Year honors in Western, MA all while at Wahconah High School. 

She's also worked countless summer camps, including Snow Valley Basketball, and been a mentor for USA Basketball's 'Women in the Game'. 

On this episode she shares some of her background, mistakes she made, who she was as a newer coach versus the coach she is now, coaching during Covid-19, and so much more! Check it out! 

Coach Liz can be found on twitter @coachlk22