The Jump Around with Blake DuDonis

Arizona head coach Adia Barnes hops on the podcast with me to talk about her program and the rebuilding process. I ask her why the program has struggled since she left as a player and what needs to happen to get them competing again.

We also talk about how she averaged over 17 PPG in her career yet only hit three three-pointers.

Dawn Staley of South Carolina and Team USA joined me. 'Nuff said.

Today I was joined by Jody Wynn, second-year head coach of the Washington Huskies. We talked about her time as a head coach at Long Beach State before taking the UW job and what some of the challenges have been, including leaving a winning program to take over a rebuild job.

We also discussed her past as an assistant coach in the PAC-12, the prospects of her team moving forward and one time when she took a team to her parent's house where there were photos of a young Jody with big hair.

Joining me for this episode is Utah head coach Lynne Roberts. We discussed her super competitive nature and how she once missed spring workouts during her playing career due to injury but still played in an intramural soccer game. The outcome wasn't great.

We also talk about her career as a coach in which she has been tasked with rebuilding three programs and if that was something she ever expected. We also talk about her team this season and what their expectations are.

California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb joined me as she heads into her 8th season as the Golden Bears head coach. We talk about her wedding this summer (hooray!)as well as some of her childhood.

We then get into her time at Cal and if she feels like her team's run to the Final Four in her second season set expectations at a lofty level moving forward. We also get into her team and the expectations this season with the top 3 leading scorers all returning.

LSU head coach Nikki Fargas joined me to discuss her journey from a player at Tennesee all the way to head coach at LSU. On the brink of career win number 200, Nikki tells me about the transition from UCLA to LSU, her team's history of outperforming expectations and what to expect going forward.

She also talks about Fourth Quarter Fridays, a unique training that her team went through this summer.

Joni Taylor, head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, becomes the first two time guest on The Jump Around! We talk about her background a bit, what got her into college coaching and why Athens, Georgia is such a special place.

We also talk about her team's successful run last season that ended much earlier than they expected it to. What led to that and what will need to happen this season to make it last longer were both discussed as well.

Joining me for this episode is Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors. After leading Washington to Final Four and Sweet Sixteen appearances, Neighbors took his dream job back at his alma mater. His journey to get there, though, wasn't so simple.

A heart attack at 29, then another one several years later, help lead Neighbors down a path that led him back to Fayetteville. We also discuss his love of music and how he ended up playing on a stage with the SEC Network's and women's basketball coaching legend Nell Fortner the day before the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell joined me to talk about his surprising journey to his current position. A man with dreams of being a principal and coach at the youth level, a chance to serve on Pat Summit's staff at Tennessee changed all of that.

We also talk about his Kentucky team failing to make the postseason for the first time in his 11-season tenure and why he is so optimistic going forward.

Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer joined me to discuss his incredible run in Starkville. We talk about the pieces his team has lost but what we can expect from his still talented roster. I also ask him if he ever expected his program to reach the heights that it has.

We also talk about his love of fishing and golf, plus what his plans are once his coaching days are finished.