In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Fairport High School and USA Basketball head coach Scott Fitch joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on developing connected competitive teams.

Scott Fitch is one of the most accomplished and trusted coaches in the USA Basketball pipeline, with more than two decades of sustained success at the national, grassroots, and high school levels. In January 2025, Fitch was named Head Coach of the 2025 USA Basketball Men’s U16 National Team, a role in which he led the program to a 6–0 record and the gold medal at the 2025 FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup. He was also selected as a court coach for the 2025 USA Men’s Junior National Team April minicamp in San Antonio, continuing his long-standing involvement with USA Basketball’s elite development pathway. These appointments represent the latest in 20-plus coaching assignments with USA Basketball,

Scott Fitch has also been the head boys basketball coach at Fairport High School in New York since 2001. Fitch has been honored five times as the Monroe County Coach of the Year, twice as the Section V Coach of the Year and twice All-Greater Rochester Coach of the Year. He led his team to back-to-back Section V Championships in 2006 and 2007 and to the state final four in 2007. In 2016-17, Fitch led Fairport to a 22-2 record, a section title and the state championship game.

Fitch has played a central role across multiple Junior National Team minicamps, including April and October 2024, and has contributed at nearly every level of the USA Basketball youth system. His previous national team experience includes serving as a court coach for the 2022 USA Men’s U17 National Team, an assistant coach for the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit Team, and head coach of the 2019 Nike Hoop Summit Team, which earned a victory under his leadership.

Earlier in his USA Basketball career, Fitch served as a court coach at the 2021 USA Men’s U16 National Team training camp, as well as an assistant coach for the 2018 USA Men’s U17 National Team and the 2017 USA Men’s U16 National Team, further establishing his continuity and impact within the program.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Radford head coach Zach Chu joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on winning in the margins.

Zach Chu is in his first year as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Radford University. Currently the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, Zach Chu brings nine years of experience in the NBA and a deep analytical background. Chu capitalizes on a deep analytical background, uniquely positioning him to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of college basketball with an end-to-end application of analytics from portal management, roster composition, and individual player development to game strategy.

After accompanying Coach Rick Carlisle to Indiana to manage game strategy, following five years in the Dallas Mavericks’ organization, Chu helped the Pacers leverage a data-driven approach to engineer one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA and an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals by their third year.

Recognizing the potential impact of this differentiated strategy in the NIL era, Chu accepted the role as Chief Strategist at SMU last year, where he implemented the same conceptual approach proven at the NBA level, producing the 20th ranked offense in the country while being one of only two schools in the nation to have six players average double figures. The Mustangs posted a 24-11 record, including a 13-7 finish in their inaugural season in the ACC.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Frank Bennett joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on inbound philosophy and high school coaching.

Frank Bennett has established himself as one of Missouri’s premier high school basketball coaches, leading Chaminade College Preparatory to sustained excellence in the state’s top class. Since taking over the program in 2013, Bennett has guided the Red Devils to a Missouri State Championship, two state runner‑up finishes, eight Final Four appearances, multiple Metro Catholic Conference titles, and several district championships.

His leadership has produced a remarkable career record of 248 wins against just 72 losses, cementing Chaminade’s reputation as one of the most consistent programs in the region

Bennett has coached and developed some of the most significant basketball talents to come out of Missouri, including:

• Jayson Tatum — NBA All‑Star and 2024 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics

• Bradley Beal — Three‑time NBA All‑Star and Olympic gold medalist

• Tyler Cook — Former NBA forward and standout at Iowa

• David Lee — NBA All‑Star and two‑time NBA champion

Bennett’s impact extends beyond Chaminade. He has served as a head coach for USA Basketball at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit, leading the USA Men’s team against the World Team of top international players. He has also been an assistant coach at previous Nike Hoop Summits (2023, 2024) and contributed to USA Basketball Junior National Team camps. His involvement underscores his reputation as one of the nation’s most respected high school coaches.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, NBA film analyst Adam Pike of Grizzlies Film joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on the Noah LaRoche offense used by the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat.

Adam Pike independently covers the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle basketball teams from a coaching and X's and O's perspective.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Gerard Hillier joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on modern player-centered coaching.

Gerard Hillier is a significant voice in sharing progressive coaching ideas around modern player development. He's currently the coach education manager at Knox Basketball Incorporated in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to his role at Knox, he's also a Basketball Immersion content contributor and Director of Asia and Oceana region, and a consultant to the Fiji 3X3 national teams. Prior to Knox, Hillier has contributed significantly to Australian basketball at the regional and national levels, holding various coaching and development roles.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Basketball Immersion founder Chris Oliver joins the Basketball Podcast to reflect on 400 episodes of the podcast.

The Basketball Podcast, hosted by Chris Oliver, has reached an incredible milestone: 400 episodes since its launch on May 28, 2018. Listened to by coaches at every level — from NBA head coaches to youth coaches — and in more than 85 countries worldwide, the show has become a trusted source of evidence‑based insights, practical strategies, and thought‑provoking conversations that shape the way the game is taught and played.

In this special episode, Chris reflects on the journey by sharing memorable quotes and key takeaways from many of the guests who have helped define the podcast’s legacy. The very first guest, Dave Paulsen (now head coach at Holy Cross), set the tone with a line that continues to resonate: “The game has to look like our practice, and not their practice.” That philosophy — making practice representative of the game — has guided countless coaches and remains a cornerstone of the show’s mission.

Whether you’ve tuned in for one episode or all 400, this celebration is a thank‑you to the global coaching community for learning, growing, and sharing the game together.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Daemen University head coach Mike McDonald joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching backwards with success.

A fixture in the college basketball coaching fraternity, Mike MacDonald is entering his 29th season as a collegiate head coach. He was named the ECC, NABC District and BCANY Division II Coach of the Year last season after leading Daemen to a 28-1 record. He was also the recipient of the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Award given to the top coach in all of Division II basketball by collegeinsiders.com. MacDonald has led Daemen to a 232-84 record over his first 11 seasons, including eight 20-win seasons and five NCAA tournament berths. He enters the regular season just 11 wins shy of 500 for his career.

Mike MacDonald has led Daemen University through one of the most successful stretches in program history. Under his leadership, Daemen has emerged as a power in the NCAA Division II. The Wildcats are coming off the most successful season in program history when they posted a 28-1 overall record, won the ECC regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fifth time. Daemen rattled off 28 straight victories to start the season, earning the distinction of being the last remaining unbeaten team across all three levels of NCAA basketball. Along the way, they ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll for the first time in program history.

With previous stops at Canisius University and Medaille University, MacDonald has worked across all three NCAA divisions. Before arriving at Daemen University, Mike MacDonald spent eight transformative years as head coach at Medaille College (2006–2014), where he turned a struggling NCAA Division III program into a regional powerhouse. Inheriting a team that had gone just 4–46 over the previous two seasons, MacDonald led the Mavericks to an average of 18 wins per year and six postseason appearances. His final five seasons were especially dominant—Medaille recorded 101 wins, the most of any Division III program in New York State during that span, and ranked 17th nationally in total victories. He was named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year four times and left as the school’s all-time leader in wins (149) and winning percentage (.671).

Prior to Medaille, MacDonald spent 18 years at Canisius College, including nine seasons as head coach (1997–2006), where he guided the Golden Griffins to 108 wins and earned BCANY Division I Co-Coach of the Year honors in 2000–01. He also served as a longtime assistant at Canisius, helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances under head coach John Beilein.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Babson College head coach Stephen Brennan joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on culture, clarity and consistency.

Stephen Brennan has served as the head coach of Babson College men's basketball for over three decades, building one of the most consistent and respected programs in Division III. With more than 560 career wins to his name, Brennan ranks among the top 25 active coaches in total victories across the D3 landscape. His tenure is defined by sustained excellence, highlighted by 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, multiple NEWMAC championships, and a national title in 2017—the first in program history.

A nine-time conference coach of the year and the 2016–17 NABC National Coach of the Year, Brennan has guided Babson through eras of transformation while maintaining a culture rooted in discipline, development, and competitive integrity. His teams have reached the NCAA Tournament Sectional Semifinals multiple times, including a Final Four run in 2015 and a dramatic national championship win in 2017, where the Beavers overcame a 25-point deficit in the semifinals before edging Augustana (Ill.) in the title game.

Brennan’s legacy is not only measured in wins and banners but in the program’s identity: a relentless commitment to excellence, player growth, and team-first basketball. Under his leadership, Babson has become a perennial contender and a model of long-term success in Division III athletics.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Concordia-St. Paul head coach Matt Fletcher joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on playing fast and conceptual.

Matt Fletcher enters his sixth season as head men's basketball coach at Concordia-St. Paul in 2025-26, where he has quickly become the program's most successful leader. Culminating in the 2024-25 season, he guided the Golden Bears to their first-ever NSIC regular season title, first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance, and first NCAA Tournament win—all in the same year—earning him the 2024-25 NSIC Coach of the Year honor.

Prior to Concordia, Fletcher spent four highly successful seasons as head coach at Bethany Lutheran College, where he compiled a 76–33 record, won the 2017-18 UMAC Coach of the Year award, and led the team to two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. His overall career head coaching record stands at 120–118 across nine seasons.

Fletcher's extensive assistant coaching experience includes stints at Concordia-Moorhead (2008–09), Kentucky Wesleyan College (2011–12), and three years at Upper Iowa University (where he was promoted to associate head coach). He holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Southwest Minnesota State and a master’s degree in education from Upper Iowa.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Sierra Canyon head coach Alicia Komaki joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their five ships before a championship.

Alicia Komaki is set to enter her fourteenth season as Head Coach of the Sierra Canyon Girls Basketball team in 2025–2026, where she has established one of the nation's most dominant high school programs. Her tenure is highlighted by leading her teams to five California State Championships and securing an ESPN National Championship in 2023, finishing the season ranked number one in the country. Coach Komaki boasts an overall career record of over 350 wins at Sierra Canyon, maintaining an exceptional win percentage above 85% over 13 years.

Beyond the banners, Coach Komaki is renowned for developing elite, collegiate-ready talent. Her program has served as a pipeline for top NCAA programs, featuring standout athletes like Juju Watkins (USC), Kennedy Burke (WNBA ), and Vanessa De Jesus (Duke). This proven ability to consistently prepare players for the highest level of competition underscores the effectiveness of her coaching system and development focus.

Her success has garnered national recognition and numerous accolades. In 2022, Komaki was named the WBCA Pat Summit National Coach of the Year, and she was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year in 2023. Other honors include the LA Times Coach of the Year and Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year in 2019. Her standing among elite coaches is further recognized by USA Basketball, where she made her bench coaching debut as an assistant at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit and previously served as a court coach for the USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team trials in 2017. With a personal resume reflecting 7 State Championship rings and 2 National Championships, Komaki is a proven winner and a powerhouse in high school basketball development.