In this week's basketball coaching conversation, NBA Player Development manager Cherokee Parks joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on athletes transitioning, communication and self-discovery.

After retiring from playing, Parks transitioned into significant roles within NBA infrastructure. He became a pivotal figure in NBA Player Development, working directly in the league office to create programs, strategies, and developmental pathways for emerging players.

His work in the NBA office focused on:

• Designing player transition and development programs
• Creating educational initiatives for rookies
• Developing strategies to support player growth beyond on-court performance
• Bridging communication between players, teams, and league management

Parks' role in basketball operations leveraged his playing experience and administrative expertise to shape the next generation of basketball professionals. He remains connected to the game through various advisory and developmental roles.

Parks played college basketball at Duke University under coach Mike Krzyzewski and won the 1992 national title during his freshman year. During his collegiate tenure from 1990-1994, Parks was a critical component of Duke's basketball success.

Drafted 11th overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Parks played for nine seasons for multiple NBA franchises including the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, sports performance coach John Bloom joins The Basketball Podcast to discuss strength in numbers.

John Bloom has worked as a sports performance coach at Abilene Christian University, Weber State, Texas Tech, and Oral Roberts before founding Elevated Athlete Development LLC. John's mission is to provide holistic development for athletes while creating platforms for coaches to learn, connect, and build.

At Oral Roberts University, he served as the Director of the Sports Performance Department and Head of Men's Basketball. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball at Texas Tech University. John also contributed as the Director of Sports Performance for Men's and Women's Basketball at Weber State University. His journey began at Abilene Christian University, where he was the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, responsible for Women's Basketball, Indoor/Beach Volleyball, and Men's Golf, while also assisting with Men's Basketball, Football, and Tennis.

Bloom’s book, "Strength In Numbers: An Encyclopedia of Authentic Coaching Wisdom", uncovers career-defining insights from over 100 elite coaches across all levels, from high school to professional sports. Strength In Numbers is your essential guide to building a successful, impactful coaching career.

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, performance psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach joins The Basketball Podcast to share ideas on how to perform at your best.

Dr. Alex Auerbach has spent his career exploring how high performers, from athletes to business leaders, deliver superlative results and make meaningful progress toward achieving their full potential. Called to Greatness unveils the secrets he’s discovered about how to perform at your best when it matters most. 

Auerbach is a licensed counseling and sport psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and board-certified coach working in professional sports. He has worked with elite teams and performers from a range of domains, including the NBA and NFL, Olympians, Army Special Forces, Fortune 5 Companies, and Venture-Backed Startups.

Dr. Auerbach earned his doctoral degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in sport and performance psychology from the University of North Texas. He received a Master’s in Business Administration from Salve Regina University and a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. Dr. Auerbach is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Division 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology) and Division 17 (Counseling Psychology), as well as the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Dr. Auerbach is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, a Licensed Psychologist, and a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Seton Hall Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Angelo Gingerelli joins The Basketball Podcast to discuss how to compete, thrive and win in College athletics.

Gingerelli is the author of The Next Four Years: Compete, Win & Thrive in College Athletics that provides a comprehensive look at the transition from high school to college athletics, offering student-athletes an essential blueprint to compete, win and thrive at the next level. Over the years he has helped thousands of student-athletes compete at the highest level of Division 1 athletics.

As the Strength & Conditioning Coach at Seton Hall University since 2005 he regularly works with hundreds of men & women each year from a variety of sports and has been a key factor in the Pirates’ success in the extremely competitive Big East Conference. He has held similar positions at Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as training numerous elite high school athletes each year.

In addition to his duties in the weight room, Gingerelli is an adjunct professor (SHU’s 2024 Adjunct Professor of the Year), winner of Seton Hall’s prestigious Most Valuable Pirate Award (2011), published author, frequent podcast guest, state/regional conference presenter and has served as the New Jersey State Director of the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Gingerelli also co-authored with Richard Boergers the book, Finish Strong: Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, former St. Joseph's head coach Phil Martelli joins The Basketball Podcast to share ideas on better coaching for growth and development.

Phil Martelli is a seasoned college basketball coaching veteran, renowned for his exceptional leadership and strategic acumen. Over his illustrious 24-year tenure at Saint Joseph's University, Martelli built a powerhouse basketball program that left an indelible mark on the college basketball landscape.

During his time at Saint Joseph's, Martelli amassed an impressive 444 career wins, ranking him second all-time in the program's history. Under his guidance, the Hawks secured seven Atlantic 10 regular season or divisional titles and claimed four Atlantic 10 Tournament championships. Martelli's teams made 16 postseason appearances, with eight NCAA tournament berths and eight NIT selections. His tenure was highlighted by two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 1997 and 2004, and the school's third Elite Eight appearance in 2004.

Martelli's coaching prowess earned him numerous accolades, including the 2004 National Coach of the year, four Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in 1997, 2001, 2004, and 2005. He was also named USBWA District Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2004 and received Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year honors four times. Throughout his career, Martelli mentored several notable players who went on to successful professional careers, including NBA players Jameer Nelson (2004), Delonte West (2004), and DeAndre' Bembry (2016).

Martelli most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan, supporting former head coach Juwan Howard in all aspects of the program. At Michigan, Martelli served as both associate head coach and interim head coach at various times.

Phil Martelli's legacy extends beyond his impressive coaching record and accolades. His ability to connect with players, instill a winning mindset, and adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball has solidified his reputation as one of the game's most respected and influential coaches. His dedication to the sport and his commitment to developing well-rounded athletes continue to inspire those within the basketball community.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, NBA Skills coach and Columbus High School head coach Andrew Moran shares ideas on coaching EYBL, high school and training players.

Andrew Moran is a highly successful EYBL and high school coach, an NBA Skills Coach, an International clinician, and the Miami Hoop School Founder. He has won an unprecedented three-straight EYBL Championships with Nightrydas Elite in the U15, U16, and U17 divisions. At the high school level, he has won four state championships including three in a row at Columbus High School, and one at Miami Christian High School.

Founded in 2012 by Moran, the Miami Hoop School has grown to become the authority on basketball elite skill development and certification in South Florida. His experience serves him well, as he works with players at the NBA, international, collegiate, and high school levels. Andrew has trained NBA players such as Tim Hardaway Jr, Tyler Herro, James Johnson, James Wiseman, Cole Anthony, and many more.

Andrew travels around the Globe training athletes of all levels and because he is fluent in Spanish he has been granted many opportunities to train in places like Argentina, many different cities in Spain (Canary Islands, Huelva, Vinaros, Barcelona, Tenerife, Las Palmas), Panama, Chile, and Puerto Rico to name a few. MHS also hosts international groups and clients who come to Miami, Florida just to train with MHS. Clients from Japan, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, Russia, the Caribbean, Ecuador, China, France, and Dubai have all come to train with the best.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, former NBA player and NBA/WNBA head coach Derek Fisher joins The Basketball Podcast to share lessons from a champion.

Fisher played in the NBA for 18 seasons and won five NBA championships with the Lakers. Fisher, often considered one of the greatest role players of all time, was part of a three-peat Los Angeles Lakers championship squad with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal from 2000-02 and then again with Bryant and Pau Gasol in 2009 and 2010.

Fisher coached the New York Knicks from 2014-2016 and the WNBA Sparks from 2019-2022.

NBA Coaching Career

New York Knicks: Fisher was hired as the head coach of the New York Knicks in 2014 by then-president Phil Jackson. Despite facing challenges, he brought a wealth of NBA experience to the sidelines, emphasizing teamwork and resilience. His tenure with the Knicks was marked by a focus on player development and fostering a competitive environment.

WNBA Coaching Career

Los Angeles Sparks: In 2019, Fisher took on the role of head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. His leadership was instrumental in guiding the team through the competitive landscape of the WNBA.

Crespi Carmelite High School (2023–Present)

On August 7, 2023, Fisher embraced a new challenge by becoming the head basketball coach at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California. This role allows him to impart his extensive basketball knowledge and leadership experience to young athletes, fostering the next generation of talent.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Blair Academy head coach Joe Mantegna shares his insights on teaching the game and radical transparency.

Since arriving at Blair in 1999, Mantegna has transformed the school into a national prep basketball powerhouse. Under his leadership, Blair boasts an impressive record of 464-159, securing 16 Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) titles and 21 trips to the NJ prep “A” state finals, with state championships in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2019, and 2024.

Blair’s program has produced six NBA players, including Luol Deng ’03 and Charlie Villanueva ’03, who both played in the 2003 McDonald’s All-American Game. Additionally, nine Blair alums have participated in the NCAA Final Four, with three winning National Championships. Over 80 players have moved on to Division I rosters, while ten have played professionally overseas. Many former players also coach at the NBA, NCAA, and prep school levels.

Before Blair, Coach Mantegna was an assistant coach at four colleges, including Boston University and Lehigh University. His extensive coaching experience also includes international success. In 2023, he helped lead the South Sudan Men's National Team to three wins at the World Cup in Manila, a historic achievement for African basketball, qualifying them for the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the Olympics, South Sudan became the second African nation to ever win a basketball game.

Mantegna’s international coaching accolades include guiding the USA team at the 2022 NIKE Hoop Summit to victory and assisting South Sudan to a fifth-place finish at the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket. He also played a key role in South Sudan’s qualification for the 2023 FIBA World Championships in Asia. Additionally, Mantegna served as the defensive coordinator for the U.S.-Select U-18 team at the Albert Schweitzer Games in Germany in 2014 and 2016, later becoming the head coach in 2018.

Awesome to welcome legendary Canadian college basketball coach and current Senior Director Sr. Director of Basketball CEBL

Joe Raso is Senior Director of Basketball Operations for the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He leads the league's player procurement program both domestically and internationally, oversees the CEBL Draft, directs team and player compliance issues, supervises officiating, and plays a key role in the CEBL's relationships with FIBA, Canada Basketball, other basketball organizations, and player agents.

As a college coach, Raso is the all-time winningest coach in McMaster University history and one of the most successful coaches in Canadian University Sports history, with a record of 389 wins against only 155 losses (a .715 winning percentage) over 18 seasons, including 17 seasons with 20 or more wins. 

Raso's basketball resume includes four OUA titles, 12 CIS National Championship tournament appearances resulting in four Silver medals, and six OUA Coach of the Year awards. He has produced five All Canadian players and two National Player of the Year winners while leading McMaster.

Raso has been a national and international consultant, clinician, committee member, speaker, and basketball analyst for the past 25 years. A former National team assistant coach, he has coached in World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, working with some of Canada's greatest players, including NBA two-time Most Valuable Player and Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash. He has also served as Head Scout with the Canadian Men's National team and is an advance scout with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Denver Nuggets.

Raso has been instrumental in developing basketball at the grassroots level in Canada and has served in various roles, including Technical Director with the World International Children's Games, where his Hamilton teams won international Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. As a high school teacher for 32 years, he coached St. Mary's high school in Hamilton to an OFSAA championship in 1991 and represented Canada at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, NIKE Academy Director Sam Jones joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on mindset, coaching adaptability and embracing growth.

Jones has served as the Nike Camp Director and is presently engaged in various initiatives aimed at the development of coaches and players in support of the EYBL

Before joining Nike, Jones served as an assistant coach at Colorado State for two seasons. He also spent two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the role of player development coordinator. Prior to these positions, he was part of the coaching staff for the Cleveland Charge in the NBA G-League for three seasons from 2016 to 2019, concluding his tenure there as the associate head coach.

Jones started his coaching career in The Netherlands, working with Den Bosch Eiffel Towers for three years as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach of Den Bosch SPM Shoeters (club changed names). With SPM Shoeters, he led his team to the Dutch Basketball League and NBB Cup crowns in 2014-15 and Dutch Basketball Supercup title in 2015-16. He also spent his final three years in the Netherlands as the associate head coach with the Dutch Men's National Team.

Prior to coaching, Jones played 10 seasons in Europe, including playing in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Spain and Cyprus. During his time playing, he won two titles with Den Bosch Eiffel Towers and appeared in multiple All-Star games.