Hardwood Hustle

This week we have part 2 of Ideas and tips to improve your defense. In this episode TJ and Sam discuss the pros and cons of switching screens, the benefit of having erasers on on your team, and how and when to add a curve ball to your defensive system. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam discuss how you can take your team's defense to the next level for the upcoming season. Listening to this episode you'll get tips for enhancing your team's defensive communication, as well as teaching points and ideas for all positions on the floor. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, Sam and Lisa dive into the topic of what makes a true competitor on the court. There's a lot of different opinions and maybe even myths out there about what a competitor looks and acts like, but how do we know? In this episode you'll hear about to address your own biases as a coach and the importance of defining competitiveness for your team and players. Send us a Message. If...

This week TJ, Sam, and PGC Basketball Director Kyle Koszuta discuss  whether or not it's important for your players to like you as a coach and to ultimately have fun in your program. In this episode you'll hear how you can create a fun environment and team culture while also holding high standards and work even more productively towards your goals as a team. Send us a Message. If you&#39...

Special guest, Head Coach Molly Miller from Grand Canyon University joins the podcast this week. Molly spent six years as the head coach for her alma mater, Drury University, averaging 30 wins before taking over at GCU in 2020. She's a 2 time Division II WBCA Coach of the Year, she holds the highest career winning percentage out of any men's or women's NCAA basketball coach and in t...

This week TJ and Sam are joined by Eric Duft, Associate Head Coach at Weber State University and they talk all things offense - how to implement a read & react system, the importance of prioritizing player development, and helping to grow the leadership of guys like Damian Lillard during their time at Weber State. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Distractions are everywhere. This week TJ and Lisa discuss how distractions in coaching can derail us from keeping our focus on what's most important. Both on and off the court it's easy to get sidetracked. Listen now to better identify things that may be hindering your coaching and start preparing yourself and your players for distractions next season. Send us a Message. If you'd li...

This week we dive into another 4 quarter episode where we cover how you should approach leading a team that may be lacking in talent, height, heart, or resources. There's not a one-size-fits-all answer, but TJ, Sam and Lisa share the best strategies to take back to your team in each of the four areas. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Lisa are joined by Graham Maxwell, Associate Head Coach at Emmanuel College to discuss staff dynamics and how to address the gaps that exist between assistant coaches and their head coach. In this episode we share what makes for a great assistant and how to create an environment for everyone to thrive in. Tune in to ensure you max out in your role and better serve your program. Se...

This week we're joined by Kirsten Moore, 2021 NAIA National Championship Head Coach at Westmont College. She just completed her 16th season and has guided the program to two NAIA National Championships and is a two-time NAIA Coach of the Year. In this episode she shares how her team has battled through adversity to achieve their biggest successes, what gives them a 10-point advantage come tou...

This week we're joined by Matt Lewis, Head Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In his first year as the interim head coach, Matt Lewis led his team to a DIII National Championship. In this episode he shares how they win on the court with their systems and strategies, how they maintain championship standards, and he utilizes a 'menu' in their player development. There are s...

This week TJ & Sam discuss the role of set plays within a team's offense. Should your offense be entirely made up of set plays, or should you put your energy and effort into a continuity offense that focuses on teaching reads and develops decision-making? Whatever your philosophy is, this episode will help you create a well thought out approach to knowing why, when, and how you want to us...

This week we're joined by Head Coach, Steve Gomez. With over 30 years of experience Coach Gomez is headed into his 19th season as head coach at Lubbock Christian University. They recently transitioned from the NAIA to the NCAA Div. II level and in their 6 seasons of being eligible for postseason, they've won 3 National Championships. They're also the first Division II program to hav...

This week we have a special guest, Head Coach Tony Bennett. He’s a 3-time National Coach of the Year and is entering his 16th season as a head coach. In 2019, Coach Bennett led Virginia to their first Final Four and rebounded from a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the year […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Bo Hanson, Founder and Director of Athlete Assessments. He’s a four time Olympian, medaling three times with the Australian National Rowing Team. For the past 20 years he’s worked with countless coaches, athletes, and businesses helping leaders and teams work together and reach peak performance. In this episode, Bo shares […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to rep...

In today’s episode TJ and Sam talk about the danger of having “sometimes” players or being a “sometimes” coach. How do we strike the right balance? How do we handle frustration and fatigue? Can we or our players have a bad day or take a day off? After listening to this conversation you’ll have a […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, Kiesha Brown shares how she’s used her experience as an accomplished player, which includes 10 years of professional basketball overseas and in the WNBA to build a successful high school program. She was a standout for Georgia women’s basketball, competing in a Final Four, and after her playing career she’s now a head […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your co...

This week Nick Pasqua, head coach at Southern Wesleyan University openly shares his successes and failures with coaches. In 2020, Nick’s second season at Southern Wesleyan, his team was the most improved in NCAA Division II and went 20-11. In that historic season, they also won the university’s first ever Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship. Hear […] Send us a Message. If you'd like u...

For a head coach, building a staff may be the most important thing you do for your program. In this episode TJ, Sam, and Lisa discuss how coaches can go about selecting their staff and prioritizing the most important things for them and their program. Everyone needs to decide what their non negotiables are whether […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week, Josh Merkel, head coach at Randolph-Macon joins TJ and Sam to discuss what its like to takeover a program, implement systems and strategies, and build and sustain a culture of excellence. Josh shares from his 10 years of head coaching experience and is no stranger to success. His program has gone 67-6 over […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

TJ & Sam discuss Xs and Os from this year’s NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four matchups. There’s always a lot to learn from watching the systems and strategies of teams who are winning at the highest level. This episode will help you start thinking about what’s going to help you win next season and […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In Part 2, TJ and Sam share how parents and players can navigate youth basketball, player development, and finding teachable moments and learning opportunities. It’s a discussion about stepping back and seeing the big picture within the game and ensuring we all contribute to a positive sport experience in whatever role we’re in. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contac...

This week we’re starting a two-part series about how to run better programs and grow the game of basketball. Referees, coaches, players, and parents all factor into our basketball experience. Our next two episodes will help you understand these four roles better especially when it comes to creating the right competitive environment for your program. […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to r...

Players today have more choices than ever and it’s becoming all too common for players to transfer to another team for a variety of reasons. In order to equip ourselves as coaches to better serve our players and programs, TJ and Sam discuss how we can do both. Listen to this episode to hear where […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

How do we help our players build their confidence? Too often it feels like trial and error as balancing the right amount of encouragement and challenge for each player can be difficult. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss the best approaches coaches can take to help players earn and develop their confidence. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.