The Basketball Podcast

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Trine University men's basketball head coach Brooks Miller joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on common sense defense and Trine's winning formula.

Brooks Miller just completed his 13th season as the Head Coach of the Trine University Men’s Basketball program and has 24 combined years of collegiate basketball playing and coaching experience. Miller has compiled an overall record of 226-116 at Trine including a 131-69 record versus Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents.

In 2024, Miller led the program to its first ever NCAA Division III National Championship behind a 29-4 record. The 29 wins is a record for the school’s most wins in a season. It is now back-to-back seasons that the program has crossed the 20-win mark after going 22-4 overall last season. Coach Miller has also guided the Thunder to MIAA Championships in 2019, 2021 and 2024. Trine swept both the MIAA regular season and MIAA Tournament Championships in 2021 finishing conference play undefeated with a 17-0 mark during a COVID shortened season.

Miller’s career at Trine University has been highlighted by being named the 2020-2021 NCAA D3 National Coach of the Year by both Hoopdirt.com/Just Play Sports Solutions and Basketball Times Magazine. In March of 2024, Miller was again named NCAA DIII National Coach of the Year for the second time receiving those accolades from D3Hoops.com, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), as well as being named the Eddie Robinson CollegeInsider.com National Coach of the Year for NCAA DIII.

Miller worked as an assistant men's basketball coach for three Hall of Fame coaches that amassed seven National Championships throughout their careers.  Miller began his collegiate coaching career working for BCAM Hall of Fame Coach Ed Douma (one National Championship) whom he previously played for at Hillsdale College. In 2007, his career took him to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he served as a graduate assistant coach to Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Bob Knight (three National Championships) and was involved with on-campus recruiting and player development. In 2009, he became the Head Assistant Men’s Basketball coach and National Recruiting Coordinator at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas for Junior College Hall of Fame Coach Steve Green (three National Championships). While at South Plains, Coach Miller coached and or recruited nine players that would transfer on to NCAA Division I universities.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Purdue University Fort Wayne head coach Jon Coffman joins The Basketball Podcast to share strategies for sustained success and community engagement.

Jon Coffman is synonymous with success at Purdue University Fort Wayne. As he embarks on his 11th season as head coach (2024-25), he holds the distinction of being the program's winningest coach in Division I history with a remarkable 179-142 record.

Coffman's coaching prowess doesn't go unnoticed. He's garnered numerous accolades, including Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2022 (adding to his 2015-16 Summit League Coach of the Year award). His strategic guidance led Purdue Fort Wayne to capture the Horizon League regular season title in 2022 and the Summit League regular season title in 2015-16. The team has also made a habit of postseason appearances, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2023.

Beyond wins on the court, Coffman fosters a culture of player development. An impressive 24 players under his tutelage have gone on to professional careers, including NBA standout John Konchar. His commitment extends to recognizing his players' achievements, with a staggering 40 All-Conference honors awarded in the last 14 years.

Coffman's dominance extends beyond Purdue Fort Wayne. He holds the title of Winningest Mid-Major coach in Indiana over the past 11 seasons. His program's consistent success garnered national recognition with consistent rankings among the Top 25 Mid-Major programs by collegeinsider.com (2024).

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Queens University of Charlotte head coach Grant Leonard joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on conceptual offense, including spacing, pace and player development.

Grant Leonard was hired by then-Division II Queens as an assistant coach in 2013 and promoted to associate head coach in 2016. Over seven years as an assistant coach, the team achieved a winning percentage of .837 with a 189–37 overall record, consistently ranking in the top 25, including a No. 1 ranking. Queens won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular season championship three times, secured two SAC tournament titles, and made two Elite Eight appearances with Leonard on the staff. He was promoted to head coach for the 2022–23 season, Queens’ first season in NCAA Division I. In his first season, Queens went 18–15 with a 7–11 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). Last year, his team reached the Atlantic Sun Tournament Quarterfinals for the second straight season after defeating Florida Gulf Coast University in the opening round.

Leonard began his coaching career as an assistant at Shorewood High School in 2004–05. He then assisted in coaching the Washington College Shoremen in 2005–06. For the next three seasons, he was the director of basketball operations for Texas–Pan American. In 2009–10, he served as an assistant coach for the Flagler Saints. From 2011 to 2013, Leonard worked for the Paine Lions as an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, director of skill development, and defensive specialist, helping the team achieve their first winning season in seven years in 2011–12.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Seattle University head coach Chris Victor joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on playing with joy, unity and defense.

Chris Victor enters his fourth year as Head Coach of the Redhawks in 2024-25. The season will mark his eighth year overall at Seattle University as he spent four seasons as Associate Head Coach. Over the past three seasons, Victor has compiled a 66-35 record, including three straight seasons of 20 wins or more – the first such streak since 1957-59.

Chris Victor has an impressive head coaching record of 169 wins and 74 losses, boasting a winning percentage of .695. In 2022, he was honored as the Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year.

Most recently, the 2023-34 concluded in the program's first-ever postseason tournament championship as the Redhawks won four games in five days to clinch the 2024 Ro College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Fla. The postseason run led the Redhawks to a 23-win season for the second time in the past three years under Victor, as well as a 117 NET ranking – the highest such end-of-season ranking for the program.

Prior to Seattle U, Victor served as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington for two seasons. His first season on the Eagle coaching staff was punctuated by Eastern’s first-ever victory in a national postseason tournament as a member of NCAA Division I when the Eagles beat Pepperdine, 79-72, in the College Basketball Invitational. The Eagles went 22-12 and returned to the CBI in 2016-17.

Victor’s first head coaching position was at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., where he led the Owls of the Western State Conference and California Community College Athletic Association to 103 victories over five seasons. He won 73 percent of his games overall (103-39) and 73 percent in league play (44-16) with a pair of CCCAA Final Four appearances and one league title.

Victor spent four seasons as a top assistant at Concordia University in Irvine, Calif., under Head Coach Ken Ammann. In that span, Concordia went 118-23, won three out of four Golden State Athletic Conference Championships and made four-straight appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, including appearing in the national title game in 2006-07.

In this week's basketball coaching conversion, Boston Celtics Director of Player Development Craig Luschenat joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on Boston Celtics Player Development.

Craig Luschenat is the Director of Player Development for the Boston Celtics, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record in player enhancement and coaching. 

Prior to joining the Celtics, Craig served as a player development intern for Integrity Hoops and Wasserman Sports Agency Clients in Los Angeles, California. In this role, he was responsible for planning and leading workouts for NBA talent, as well as developing strong relationships with NBA players and agents. His notable work with NBA All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis highlights his ability to work with top-tier talent.

Craig’s journey in basketball began as a college player at Saint Joseph’s College, where he played under the guidance of Coach Rob Sanicola. His passion for the game and dedication to player development led him to various coaching roles, including his tenure with the Maine Celtics. Craig served as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development for the Maine Celtics from 2020 to 2022, where he played a crucial role in enhancing player performance and development.

In July 2022, Craig transitioned to the Boston Celtics as a Player Enhancement Coach, a position he held until July 2024. His exceptional skills and commitment to player growth earned him the role of Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development in July 2024.

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Washington Wizards assistant coach JJ Outlaw joins the Basketball Podcast to share insight on defense, player maturation, and transitions.

J.J. Outlaw is a dynamic and experienced NBA assistant coach who has made a significant impact on the game. Currently serving as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards under Brian Keefe, Outlaw has been a valuable member of various NBA coaching staffs, including stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Outlaw's journey to the NBA began with a successful football career at Villanova University, where he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. After two seasons in the NFL, he transitioned to the world of basketball, leveraging his competitive spirit and athleticism to excel in a new sport.

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, University of Richmond head coach Aaron Roussell joins the Basketball Podcast to share insight on Coaching the Princeton Offense.

Aaron Roussell, the reigning A-10 Coach of the Year, enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Richmond Spiders Women's Basketball team. With an impressive career winning percentage of .694, Roussell has transformed the Spiders into a competitive force in the Atlantic 10 Conference and nationally.

Roussell's tenure at Richmond has been marked by significant accomplishments. In the 2023-24 season, he led the Spiders to their first A-10 regular season title and championship since 1991, culminating in a historic appearance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. His coaching prowess has also been recognized with individual accolades, including the 400th career win against Loyola Chicago and the program's 1,000th win against Fordham.

Prior to his time at Richmond, Roussell gained valuable experience at Minnesota State, the University of Chicago, and Bucknell University. His consistent success throughout his career has solidified his reputation as a skilled and dedicated coach.

Swarthmore College head coach Landry Kosmalski joins the Basketball Podcast to share insight on shifting strategies and sustained success.

Two-time National Coach of the Year Landry Kosmalski has a 224-93 record at Swarthmore with a .707 win percentage since taking the helm in 2012. Under his leadership, the Garnet have become a powerhouse in Division III basketball, consistently ranking among the top teams in the nation.

Kosmalski’s coaching career is marked by numerous accolades and achievements. He has been named the NABC Division III Coach of the Year and has earned the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year award multiple times. His teams have made several NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Elite Eight and the Final Four. In the 2019-20 season, his team was ranked No. 1 nationally and finished with an impressive 28-1 record.

Kosmalski has been recognized as the Region/District Coach of the Year in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2023. He has also earned the title of Centennial Conference Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Under his leadership, Swarthmore has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 seasons. Additionally, his teams have clinched the Centennial Conference Championship in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Before joining Swarthmore, Kosmalski served as an assistant coach at Davidson College, where he helped lead the Wildcats to two Southern Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich joins the Basketball Podcast to share defensive concepts, techniques and drills.

With a career coaching record that includes over 347 wins, Krista Gerlich brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to the program. A former standout player for Texas Tech, Gerlich was a key member of the 1993 NCAA Championship team, earning accolades such as Final Four All-Tournament Team and NCAA Woman of the Year for Texas.

In 2013, Gerlich took over as head coach at UT Arlington, where she became the winningest coach in program history with 121 victories. Her tenure at UT Arlington was marked by significant achievements, including a Sun Belt Regular Season Championship and a Sun Belt Coach of the Year award..

Gerlich returned to her alma mater in 2020, taking the helm of the Lady Raiders. Under her leadership, the team has shown steady improvement, reflecting her commitment to building a competitive and resilient program. Known for her strategic acumen, player development skills, and ability to foster team chemistry, Gerlich continues to inspire and lead her players both on and off the court. Her dedication to excellence and her deep connection to Texas Tech make her a pivotal figure in the world of collegiate basketball.

Minnesota State University-Mankato head coach Emilee Thiesse joins the Basketball Podcast to share insight on National Championship motion defense and offense.

Emilee Thiesse has transformed the Minnesota State University’s women’s basketball program into an NCAA Division II powerhouse. Under her leadership, the Mavericks clinched their second NCAA Division II Championship during the 2023-24 season, breaking several team records along the way. Thiesse’s tenure boasts an impressive 228-116 (.662) overall record, with 5 NCAA Tournament appearances, and her teams consistently ranking among the top in scoring offense and defense. Minnesota State’s 2023-24 season saw them achieve a 20-2 conference record, their second NSIC Championship, and their first NSIC Tournament Championship.

Thiesse’s coaching prowess has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the NSIC Coach of the Year honor. The team broke several team records during their 2023-24 championship season, including games played (37), most wins (32, tied with 2008-09 season), points scored (3,069), field goal attempts (2,673), field goals made (1,146), field goal attempts (789) and free throws made (571). Along with the fourth-best scoring offense in NCAA Division II (82.9 ppg), the Mavericks also boasted a smothering defense that ranked second in steals per game (17.1), second in turnovers forced (28.05) and first in turnover margin (+13.11).