The Jump Around with Blake DuDonis

On the last day of Autism Awareness Month, LSU assistant women's basketball coach Aaron Kallhoff joins me in part 1 of a 2 part mini-series on women's basketball coaches who have a child with autism.

We talk about how his son, Caylix, first was diagnosed with autism and the whole family's journey through that. We also talk about some of the misconceptions about autism, some of the positives that have come from it, and how far Caylix has come.

Fresh off a 28-3 season and an America East championship (and a new contract extension), Stony Brook head coach Carolina McCombs joined me on the pod.

We talked about her journey as a standout player for Youngstown State to college coach, and all the people she worked for before taking over the Seawolves. We also talked about her team's historic season that was cut short.

Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee (Coach Mac) joined me today in a really episode.

We talked all about her team's 20 win season and 4th place finish in the ACC, their best finish since 2004-05 and how last season's end was a jumping off point for them.

We also discuss her very long, winding, interesting journey, from playing D2, to winning a national championship as an assistant, to getting out of coaching for four years, to... well, you should just listen to her tell it.

After taking seven years away from coaching, Nell Fortner took over a Georgia Tech program and exceeded all expectations in year one.

The former Team USA gold medal-winning head coach and I discuss her coaching career that saw her learn from some of the legends of our game, to being burnt out and taking the TV route, to the job that made sense.

We also discuss her love of music, her pets, and much more.

Kent State head coach Todd Starkey joined me to talk all about his journey from an NAIA player and coach, to building a D2 powerhouse, to being an assistant in the Big Ten, to now building a program in arguably the best mid-major conference in the country.

We also share some old stories, talk about how he's navigating the current times, and how being the first choice isn't the most important thing.

Rider head coach Lynn Milligan joins me to talk about building her alma mater into one of the top teams in the MAAC and what it took to get there.

We also discuss her college career as a duel athlete, how her stops as an assistant prepared her for her current position, what culture means to her, and how her team has dealt with the sudden end to their season.

After going 25-6 (19-1) and making it to the Big Sky Conference tournament championship game, Montana State saw their season come to a sudden stop due to the coronavirus. I talk to head coach Tricia Binford about a special season having such a strange end.

We also discuss her standout career at Boise State as a student-athlete, her time playing in the WNBA and in Australia, how they came about having NBA legend John Stockton on their coaching staff for a season, and what simple thing she always messes up.

Fresh off another 20+ win season, Fordham head coach Stephanie Gaitley joined me on the pod.

We talk all about her journey from playing at Villanova under Harry Perretta to becoming a head coach at 25-years-old. Then we go into how she's been able to build so many programs at the mid-major level so many times.

We also discuss a great story involving the recruitment of Rebecca Lobo, how her three sons have followed in her footsteps, and a story about my wife.

Samford head coach Carley Kuhns joins me to talk all about her team's incredible season, her first at the school. After winning 10 games a season ago, this season the Bulldogs won 18 games, split the regular season SOCON title, and won the conference tournament.

We also talk about her time as a standout D2 player and her first head coaching job at her alma mater.

We also discuss her fear of needles, her love of a certain TV series, and how her team handled not getting the chance to play in the NCAA tournament.

Samford head coach Carley Kuhns joins me on the pod to talk all about her team's incredible first season, going from 10 wins last year to 18 wins and a conference championship this year.

We talk about her journey from a standout player at the D2 level and successful run as a head coach at her alma mater.

We also discuss her fear of needles, her love of a certain TV show, and how her team handled missing out on playing in the NCAA tournament.