In this heartfelt interview, Making the Team host Erik Soderborg sits down with Coach Gus Sopeña, head coach of the Summit Academy boys basketball team, for an honest conversation about the emotional and mental challenges of coaching — and the deep rewards that come from helping young athletes reach their full potential.

Coach Sopeña opens up about:

The pressure and expectations coaches quietly carry

What it means to truly care about your players

How high school basketball shapes character beyond the court

The moments that make it all worth it — even when no one’s watching

Why building a strong team culture is more important than just winning games

📌 Whether you’re a coach, player, parent, or sports fan, this conversation is a reminder that coaching is about people first — and that some of the most meaningful victories happen off the scoreboard.

📌 Subscribe to Making the Team for more interviews with top athletes and coaches.

Be sure to check follow Summit Academy's journey on their Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/summitacademybasketball/

Please consider following us on social:

https://www.youtube.com/@MakingTheTeamPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

https://www.instagram.com/making_the_team/

https://www.tiktok.com/@making.the.team

⏰ TIME CODES ⏰

0:00 Intro Teaser

0:30 Getting into Coaching

8:52 Coaching Interview Process

22:23 From Assistant to Head Coach

23:55 The Bountiful Experience

33:00 The Life of a Coach

39:15 Mental Struggles of Coaches

40:45 Summit Academy Opportunity

47:00 Building a Winning Team

52:58 Balancing Coaching and Caring

1:02:27 Practice Plans

1:06:05 Conditioning Philosophy

1:11:05 Communication Between Players and Parents

#gussopena #basketballcoach #summitacademy #highschoolbasketball