Like your X’s and O’s, but not sure what’s missing? - This week TJ and Sam explore what it looks like to up your conditioning level and get your players to give max effort in practices and games. It might just be the x-factor you need for next season. 

Show Notes:
• Defining max effort reps and rethinking conditioning
• Why this is important
• What’s good conditioning
• Physical and mental fatigue
• Sharing past experiences
• Comparing to pick-up basketball
• Fighting human nature
• Coach effort
• Giving players specifics
• Practice ideas
• Going to the players for individual buy-in
• Rewarding max effort possessions
• What effort can achieve for a team
• Improving both physically and mentally
• Boost in confidence
• Focusing on the right things

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This week we’re joined by Justin Joyner, Assistant Coach at Michigan to first breakdown all things ball screen defense. Then we dive into culture, leadership, and what he’s learned in his coaching journey. Justin Joyner spent 7 seasons at Saint Mary’s College under Head Coach Randy Bennett and this past season joined the staff Coach Dusty May’s staff at the University of Michigan. Last year they finished second in the Big Ten and reached the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

Show Notes:
• Where ball screen defense starts – Knowing who you are
• Having two types of coverages
• The Why and personnel considerations
• Guarding the 3
• Contingency plans and switching
• What offenses are doing
• Matchups, switching, and must do’s of ball screen D
• Flat/middle ball screens
• Rebounding teaching points
• Being aggressive against unorthodox ball screen offense
• Weakside rules / zone – helping on ball v. the roll
• Culture of joy and flexibility in leadership & coaching
• Learning your team in the summer
• Having an approach of gratitude
• How Randy Bennett at Saint Mary’s wins the margins
• What separates Dusty May at Michigan

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This week we discuss various ways and give tangible ideas for training leaders in your program. And coaches, if you want to go deeper on this topic with PGC Coaching staff and members there is an upcoming leadership track to help you master this facet of your coaching. Go to PGCCoaching.com to learn more.

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This week TJ and Sam jump into the topic of player development and the 4 steps you need to take to ensure your players are improving for next season.

Show Notes:

• Nick Saban quote
• Getting talent v. developing talent
• When development is your only option
• Getting to action
• What if you focused on development over systems & strategies
• Evaluating the quality of your player development
• Various facets of player development
• Having a shared vision & creating a plan
• Focusing on strengths or weaknesses
• Good coaches are problem solvers
• Developing the mental aspect
• Making it tangible and measurable

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This week TJ and Sam are joined by Head Coach Andre Cook from St. Edward’s University. With over 400 collegiate wins and 20 years of coaching experience Coach Cook shares how he coaches the offensive side of the ball - specifically looking at their pace, shot selection, player development and more.

Show Notes:
• Setting his offensive foundation & keeping the ball moving
• Implementing sets & constant pressure on the defense
• Defining shot selection for your team
• Developing pace in practice
• What are the hardest actions to guard & paint pressure
• What translates from player development
• How his coaching has evolved and finding the path
• Know thy self
• Adapting to zone defenses
• Offensive rebound philosophy
• Marrying the offense to the defense
• Find what's best for you

More about Coach Andre Cook:

Andre Cook has helmed St. Edward’s men’s basketball since the 2009-2010 season, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach during the 2022-23.

The Hilltoppers have posted 11 consecutive winning seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances under Cook, including a program-record 30 wins in 2018-19, snagging the Heartland Conference Regular Season Title, Heartland Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Regional Final while climbing as high as No. 2 in the national rankings. 

In 2019, Cook was named the Clarance Gaines Award winner by CollegeInsider.com to the Division II National Coach of the Year and NABC District Coach of the Year. During his tenure, Cook has coached 31 players to 44 all-conference selections, one LSC Freshman of the Year, and guided six players to all-region honors.

Cook came to St. Edward’s from Hudson Valley Community College, where he compiled an overall record of 119-40 (.748) in five seasons. In his last two seasons there, his Vikings combined for a 62-5 overall record and a 32-0 mark in conference play. Cook was named Region III Coach of the Year and BCANY Junior College Coach of the Year in 2007-08. In 2008–2009, the Vikings advanced to the NJCAA Division III national tournament semi-final.

Credit & More info: https://gohilltoppers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/andre-cook/14

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This week TJ and Sam tackle the topic of how to best approach summer basketball with your club or high school team because when it comes to spending your time and money wisely as a coach, parent, and player, you want to be confident you're getting it right. In this episode the topics range from having the right goals, understanding referees, setting expectations with parents, and ultimately how to think outside the box to ensure everyone wins.

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This week Coach Graham Maxwell joins TJ and Sam to go through 4 Quarters discussing tips for coaches when it comes to having a better passing teams, working with Parents, designing your practices, and what we’re seeing in the NBA Playoffs.

Show Notes:
Passing
• Grow their understanding
• Take coaches out
• 4 T's
Parents
• Expectations on communications
• Letting go
• The parents perspective
• Doing better
Practice
• Less is more
• The arc of a practice
• Let the drills be the teacher
NBA Playoffs
• How role players show up
• Defense, Role ID, & Coaching
• Adjustments & Style of play

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In light of Gregg Popovich’s decision to step down as head coach of the Spurs, this week TJ and Sam discuss the impact he’s had on the game and specifically 5 learnings from his leadership you can apply to your own coaching.

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This week TJ and Sam are joined by PGC Basketball Owner and President, Mano Watsa, along with Better Basketball founder Rick Torbett, first to discuss how relationships are foundational to everything we do as coaches, and how to build them and grow your network. They’re also excited to share an important announcement with everyone about PGC Coaching and Better Basketball once again coming together to deliver resources and build community with coaches.

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This week we’re excited to be joined by Coach Jamon Copeland, head men’s basketball coach at Ave Maria University. This past season he led his team to a conference tournament championship and a win in the NAIA national tournament. With 15 years of head coaching experience, in this episode Jamon shares the ins and outs of how he implemented an aggressive style and fast paced system.

Show Notes:
• Having an identity as a coach
• Switching Styles, 'touch the wall' drill, and marrying offense & defense
• Winning possession battle: turnovers and rebounding
• Full court defensive pressure concepts & decision making
• Starting Aggressive then pulling back
• Ability to make adjustments
• Dictating the pace and fast paced principles
• Half-court principles
• Selling your system to your players
• How it looks in practice and manipulating load
• Different defensive looks and teaching points
• Personnel implications
• Advantages of playing fast
• Match your coaching style with your personality

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