Coaching Connections with Marcus Alvarado

On this episode I had the opportunity to sit and speak with Dave Klatsky, an assistant coach at Colgate University, and Mike Jordan who has been recently hired as an assistant coach at Drexel University. Both of these coaches have played a vital role in the recent success at Colgate University. They both played at Penn alongside the head coach at Colgate, Matt Langel. We spoke on the strong bond o...

Coaching Connections: Episode 26 - Jason Ludwig Jason Ludwig grew up in East Los Angeles and is currently an assistant coach for Santa Clara University. We discussed his childhood, his coaching journey which includes some time at UCLA and two trips to the Final Four, the Young Coaches Social he co-founded, the Latino Association of Basketball Coaches that he also co-founded, his JL Hoops camps he...

On this player edition I had a chance to talk to a friend of mine, Mr. Orlando Mendez-Valdez. He is a hero in the Latino basketball community in San Antonio. We talked about his childhood growing up on the Westside of San Antonio, his journey through his basketball career, what it means to give back through his camp, how amazing his experience has been with the Mexican National Team, the obstacles...

On Episode 24, I had a chance to talk to two friends of mine. Coach Norris has been in the profession for over 30 years, and is now coaching at Dripping Springs High School in Dripping Springs, Texas. Coach Phillips is currently coaching at John Marshall High School in San Antonio, Texas. Coach Norris also served as a mentor for Coach Phillips during their time together at San Marcos when Norris w...

Player Edition: On episode 23, I had a chance to catch up to two San Antonio legends!!! Both Chris Ross and Ben Uzoh played their high school ball in San Antonio. Chris Ross played his high school ball at John Jay and won a state championship off of a half court buzzer beater that was nominated and almost won an ESPY. He was a Division 1 level quarterback, but went and played Division 1 basketball...

On episode 22 I had to honor to speak with a couple of coaches who have never met each other but share the same passion for the kids they coach and for the game of basketball. Trovocie just completed his second year as the head coach of Centennial HS in Burleson, Texas. Herb Jackson recently announced his retirement after a 36 year career, 31 of which have been at Burbank HS in San Antonio, Texas....

On episode 22 I had to honor to speak with a couple of coaches who have never met each other but share the same passion for the kids they coach and for the game of basketball. Trovocie just completed his second year as the head coach of Centennial HS in Burleson, Texas. Herb Jackson recently announced his retirement after a 36 year career, 31 of which have been at Burbank HS in San Antonio, Texas....

What a fun episode!!! Coach Taplin and Coach Nowlin both received news they got their very first HEAD COACHING JOB about a week prior to recording this episode!!! I am extremely happy for them! Coach Taplin is now the head boys basketball coach at Lee HS in San Antonio and Coach Nowlin is now the head boys coach at Seguin HS in Seguin, TX. They shared stories about their long journeys as assistant...

On this episode I had a chance to speak with two coaches from the Hill Country in the great stat of Texas. Stan Leech was a long time coach in Boerne ISD, and is now the current Athletic Director for the district. Coach Leech has over 800 wins under his belt as a head coach!!! Brian young has been coaching over 30 years and spent 24 of those years at Kerrville Tivy as their head coach. He literall...

On this episode I got a chance to have a great conversation with Ian Mahinmi of the Washington Wizards. Ian is absolutely one of the best people you will ever come across on this planet. He is a very humble, genuine, and caring person. We had a chance to sit and talk about his childhood, how his parents served as amazing inspirations, his passion for giving back, coaches along his journey that hav...

Coach Lou Torres is now retired, but spent several years serving the basketball community in the San Antonio area and had an amazing career. Coach John Valenzuela is having a great career of his own and has been in the profession well over 20 years. He is currently at San Antonio Christian. These two powerful leaders give great insight into their childhood, careers, inspirations, and tell so many...

Coach Cuevas and Coach Zaragoza both live on the outskirts of Los Angeles, California. Coach Cuevas has been coaching for 30 years, and is currently the head boys coach at Charter Oak. Coach "Zee" has served as Coach Cuevas' assistant as well as spending some time in the professional leagues in Mexico as an assistant coach. We had a great time talking about life and hoops. It does not matter if yo...

Coach Chatman is the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Steele High School and Coach Hastings is the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Wagner High School in San Antonio, Texas. Both coaches have had a tremendous amount of success in their careers and do an amazing job running their programs. On this episode we talked about adjusting to COVID, childhood, influences in their lives, The Last Dance, the grea...

Coach Art Gonzales is an amazing person and had an outstanding career as a coach and assistant Athletic Director in San Antonio. His is now retired and heading the San Antonio Area Association of Basketball Coaches and is doing a great job of growing the profession. His son, Mike Gonzales, is currently an assistant coach at San Antonio Veterans Memorial, but spent some time as a head coach in Lare...

Charlie Boggess is the All-Time wins leader in the greater San Antonio area with 915 career wins. He has since retired, but was convinced out of retirement to be an assistant coach for one of his former assistants. He was inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Joe Fabian, from the great basketball state of Indiana. He has resided near the border of Indiana and Illinoi...

Coaching Connections: Episode 12 - Dwayne Gerlich & John Hirst

Coaching Connections: Episode 11 - Brad Lacey & Bryan Penna Brad Lacey is the head boys basketball coach at Churchill HS in San Antonio, Texas, and Bryan Penna leads the Boys program at Somerset HS in Somerset, TX. Both guys have been in the profession over 20 years and have great insight. I hope you enjoy this episode!!! Chase Shannon also stopped by to film a segment for the local news sports sh...

Coaching Connections: Episode 10 - Steve Sylestine & Ray Carroll WOW!!! How lucky was I to be able to have a conversation with Steve Sylestine & Ray Carroll. With almost 70 years of combined experience, they have so much to offer. This was an amazing conversation that you don’t want to miss!!! Original Air Date: May 11, 2020 via YouTube

Coaching Connections: Episode 9 Jaime Boswell & Brandon Bourg Outstanding men and amazing coaches!!! What a great conversation we had!!! We touched on everything from their coaching journeys, to the best game they’ve ever been a part of, to the importance of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, to the best player they have ever seen play live or coached against, and much much more!!!! You...

I had an opportunity to talk to two guys who not only know about winning, but more importantly know about working with and molding the lives of young men. David President of Shadow Creek HS & Jarvin Hall of Harlan HS touched on their recent seasons, their journeys in the profession, Dream Team or Redeem Team, and much much more!!! There are so many take aways for young coaches on their journey in...

Chris Adamek & Eric De Los Santos “Rivalries & Friendships” I had a chance to talk to two coaches I have had the pleasure of going to battle with several times in so many epic rivalry games in the McCollum / Harlandale Frontier Classic. Through that rivalry we developed friendships just as all of the players have throughout the years. Definitely one of the greatest rivalries in TEXAS!!! You won’t...

Basketball has given these two coaches the opportunity to travel the world. The experience and perspective the game has provided them is priceless. On this episode, Coach Luke Mackay and Coach Clifton Ellis talk about their journey. We discuss impactful moments in their career, a final four experience, a new job, working through adversity, how to develop mentally tough players, coaching current NB...

On this episode we have an amazing conversation with Coach Perez and Coach Hubbard. We talked about Covid-19 lockdown hobbies, building better young people through athletics, starting their coaching careers at the middle school level and working their way up to the varsity level, The Last Dance documentary, and much much more!!!! Episode originally aired on April 29, 2020 via YouTube.

On this episode I got a chance to talk to a great friend of mine, Reggie Ollendieck and a young man I consider family, Mr. Jordan Burns!!! I owe Coach Ollendieck a lot in my career and I’m grateful for our friendship. Jordan Burns has done some amazing things in his career at Colgate University. This episode is highly beneficial to coaches and players alike!!! We sit and talk about their relations...

On this episode we visit with Coach Joseph Martinez of Lanier HS and Coach Rudy Bernal of Antonian. Bernal also spent 30+ years running the Lanier basketball program during his Hall of Fame career! Coach Martinez played for Bernal (Lanier ‘02) and was his assistant for 6 years before taking over the program. I had a great time catching up with these 2 outstanding coaches! Episode originally aired...