The Strength In Numbers Podcast

In this episode, Justin Lovvorn shares his approach to basketball skill acquisition and how he builds long-term development pathways for athletes. He dives into driving skill through simplicity, discusses the overlooked positives of AAU basketball, and gives his perspective on how strength and conditioning can best support skill development.

Justin is the Owner of Shooters HQ in Dallas, TX, and was recently named Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Fort Worth Southwest Christian School.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

02:26 Transitioning to Head Coach

03:49 Philosophy of Coaching and Player Development

05:49 Understanding Individual Players

07:56 The Entrepreneurial Journey of Shooters HQ

10:10 The Importance of Ownership in Coaching

11:30 The Journey of Developing Shooters

17:09 Cutting the Fluff in Training

21:18 Developing Skills Independently

23:41 Understanding Game Context and Personal Development

26:45 The Balance of Skill Development and Autonomy

27:11 Pathways to Long-Term Player Development

30:42 Defining Roles in Player Development

31:58 Scaling Development for Different Skill Levels

33:57 The Role of Strength Training in Basketball

35:50 Navigating the AAU Landscape

40:14 Creating Diverse Learning Environments

40:51 Closing the Skill Gap

43:23 Influential Figures in Coaching

45:33 The Importance of Dependence and Identity

Kansas State Men’s Basketball Strength Coach Phil Baier shares practical, high-impact insight on developing interns, career progression, and separating yourself in the interview process. Whether you're just starting out or further along in your career, this episode is packed with lessons you can use right away.

Phil has been the driving force behind the physical preparation of two programs that made back-to-back Elite Eight runs — first with Miami in 2022, then with Kansas State in 2023.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

03:48 Value Beyond Physical Development

06:18 Recruiting and Evaluating Potential Players

10:39 Career Decisions and Job Transitions

13:57 Common Traits of Successful Coaches

18:30 Building Relationships and Communication

21:36 Individualized Training Approaches

24:06 Interview Strategies for Coaches

29:34 Effective Communication in Coaching

32:22 Developing Interns and Young Professionals

36:25 Building Coaching Philosophy and Experience

40:04 The Importance of Reps and Real-World Experience

45:47 Closing the Skill Gap

49:12 Influential Mentors in Coaching

51:28 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

Miranda Holder shares her journey from Athlete to Collegiate Coach to Entrepreneur. As a coach now to executives, coaches, and people from all types of professions, Miranda focuses heavily on helping clients during periods of career transition—including myself!

We dive deep into understanding when it's time to make a move and how to actually do it. So many people think about making a change...yet don't know where to begin, stopping them from ever doing it. If that's you, LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE!

Miranda is the Founder of Holder Leadership after leaving collegiate athletics as the Head Rowing Coach at Georgetown University.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:39 Celebrating Wins

05:39 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach to Entrepreneur

07:21 Empathy in Coaching Relationships

09:07 Navigating Career Transitions

11:48 Understanding Self-Awareness in Business

14:58 Decision-Making in Uncertain Times

17:27 Evaluating Decisions and Reflecting on Outcomes

23:45 Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

29:51 The Importance of Support for Coaches

37:08 Recognizing and Closing Skill Gaps

40:11 Understanding Intuition and Biology in Coaching

Connor Schoepp dives into his transition from Collegiate Athletics to starting his own business, the importance of creating a vision of what success looks like for you, and how the Return to Play process can significantly improve across the industry.

Connor is the Owner of Rebuild Performance & Rehab in Pittsburgh, PA.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and His Journey

04:24 Transitioning from the Team Setting to Private Sector

07:33 Defining Success and Personal Fulfillment

10:34 Building a Foundation for Future Success

13:32 The Balance of Ownership and Responsibility

16:40 The Importance of Passion in Coaching

19:34 Nurturing a Personal Brand and Niche

22:40 Navigating the Challenges of Return to Play

25:20 Common Pitfalls in Rehabilitation Processes

30:26 Understanding Injury Diagnosis and Recovery Expectations

33:13 The Importance of a Structured Rehabilitation Plan

36:09 Involving Athletes in Their Recovery Process

39:12 Creating a Criterion-Based Rehabilitation System

41:28 The Art of Communication in Rehabilitation

44:14 Integrating Performance and Rehabilitation

45:55 Skill Acquisition and Personal Growth

49:05 Enduring the Unknown in Business and Rehabilitation

51:43 Influential Figures in Career Development

Tim Doyle lays out an incredible framework for finding the right staff and players that fit his program. We also dive into the Assistant Coach Development Guide he created and how he mentors each of his staff members differently based on their goals and experience.

Tim is the Head Volleyball Coach at VCU, where he led the program to the most conference wins in school history in the 2024 season.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

07:43 Coaching Philosophy and Staff Development

14:48 Recruiting Strategies and Cultural Fit

20:55 Work-Life Balance and Personal Boundaries

27:45 Challenges of Head Coaching and Leadership

31:59 Leading with Intentionality

34:57 Fueling the Fire: Learning from Loss

42:01 Understanding the Demands of Volleyball

48:24 Bridging Knowledge Gaps

53:24 Impactful Mentorship and Experiences

Dave Nedbalek shares insights into his current transition from Division I Men's Basketball Assistant Coach to High School Head Coach. We also discuss his focus on building a program centered around purpose, impact, and family — rather than solely chasing wins or fleeting success.

Dave recently accepted the Head Boys' Basketball Coach position at Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas, after serving as Assistant Coach, Director of Player Development, and Video Coordinator with Oral Roberts University Men's Basketball.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Coaching

07:18 Transitioning and Reflecting on Coaching

20:47 Embracing Change and New Beginnings

28:44 Balancing Family and Coaching

34:33 Intentional Coaching and Life Lessons

40:32 Balancing Work and Rest

44:26 The Importance of Prioritization

50:44 Transitioning Back to High School Coaching

59:14 Developing Character Skills in Coaching

01:04:59 The Journey of Self-Improvement

01:16:20 Reflecting on Failures and People

Connor Agnew joins the show to break down how daily self-audits and chasing feedback are game-changers for personal and career development. Learn simple strategies to get honest with yourself, welcome tough feedback, and fast-track your growth.

Connor is currently the Director of Men's and Women's Basketball Performance at Appalachian State University, while also hosting the Samson Strength Coach Collective Podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Coaching Journey

04:50 The Impact of Social Media and Podcasting

07:43 Career Evolution and Future Aspirations

10:46 Self-Auditing Thoughts and Mindset

13:47 Learning from Feedback and Growth

16:44 Struggles at Texas Tech and Overcoming Challenges

25:02 Navigating Self-Doubt in Coaching

30:13 The Importance of Seeking Guidance

34:31 Embracing Ownership and Accountability

37:05 Preparing for Challenges with Confidence

41:54 Influential Figures in Coaching

44:50 Closing the Skill Gap

46:26 The Value of Genuine Relationships

In the inaugural episode of The Strength in Numbers Podcast, host John Bloom discusses his motivation to create this podcast as a follow-up to his book Strength In Numbers.

He shares the vision behind the show, the value of mentorship, and what listeners can expect from upcoming conversations with elite coaches chasing growth, purpose, and sustainable success.