In this episode, I sit down with Coach Gene Durden — head coach of Buford Girls Basketball and one of the most respected coaches in the state. With multiple state titles, his program is elite — but what really sets him apart is how he gets his players to buy in.

We talk about how he coaches with intensity, holds kids to a high standard, and still has them hugging him after the game. He explains how to get on a player without losing them — how to coach hard but still make them feel loved.

Coach Durden also opens up about losing his son, Devin, in a tragic car accident and the last conversation they had. It’s powerful. And it changed the way he coaches forever.

If you’re a coach who wants to lead a team that fights for you, trusts you, and gives everything they’ve got, listen.