Hardwood Hustle

This week special guest, Joni Taylor, Head Coach for Georgia Women’s Basketball join us on the podcast. With almost 20 years of coaching experience Joni is racking up the honors as a head coach. Just this season she was named Coach of the Year in the SEC Conference and took Georgia to the SEC Tournament […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In the spirit of March Madness we dive into how and why championship habits make for special teams and special achievements this time of year. Every coach wants to win and be successful and one thing that can separate us from our competition, are the little things we invest in every day. In this episode, […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we take on four quick topics in our “4 Quarters” episode. TJ, Sam, and Lisa discuss how coaches may approach each topic and what could shift late in the season. – Is there ever a good reason to quit? How do the best teams get late season wins? Can transition offense win you […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In honor of Black History Month, we invited special guest, Ken Friedman on the podcast to share the untold story of how Willie Cooper broke the color line at the University of North Carolina in 1964. Ken worked behind the scenes under legendary coaches Frank McGuire and Dean Smith, and in this episode he sets […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Choosing your defensive system and strategy is critical to your success. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss the importance of understanding why you would choose a man or zone defense as your primary system and the factors that guide a coach’s decision. In part one, they cover player development implications and appropriate age and […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your...

Identifying and clarifying player roles is critical. In this episode, TJ and Sam are joined by Tyler Coston, Director of Player Development and PGC+ for PGC Basketball to discuss where coaches may be missing opportunities in this area. Hear ideas and strategies for creating an objective system so you can bring more clarity and inspiration […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, inclu...

TJ and Sam dive into the critical topic of player leadership. They provide tips for mentoring your players into leadership roles that are best for them and the team. Equip yourself and your players with the right expectations so you can answer the question, does your best player have to be your best leader? Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

ESPN Analyst, Debbie Antonelli joins us on the Hardwood Hustle to talk about the coaching “IT” factor, keys to being great at situational basketball, and what loses games. Debbie shares her basketball insights from over 33 years of experience giving coaches a checklist of ideas and strategies to take back to their teams. Debbie was […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your...

Leading and navigating through a season of unknown is challenging. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss practice tips and approaches for coaches to make the most of this season. With so much out of our control, we need our leadership to have a positive impact on our players and program. Tune in to this […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Best-selling author, Doug Lemov has recently released his book for coaches, The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. In this episode TJ, Sam and Lisa interview Doug and dive into some of his best tips on how to give feedback, use terminology, and teach decision-making. If you’re interested in becoming a master teacher or want to know […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact...

TJ welcomes Sam as the new co-host in their first official episode together. As former teammates in college, the two of them have a long history and in this episode they both share basketball and life lessons they’ve learned along the way to help you reflect on your own coaching journey. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Episode 375 marks the final episode for co-host Adam Bradley. The episode begins with a conversation with Adam, TJ, and our new co-host discussing a thought process that is sure to help you start 2021 off in a powerful way. The episode finishes with a reflection on the journey of the Hardwood Hustle podcast as […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In the first half of today’s episode, Adam shares a powerful word shift he was recently introduced to that is sure to give coaches great perspective, especially considering the struggles many have faced in 2020. Adam and TJ round out the second half by introducing the new co-host of the Hardwood Hustle. We know you’ll […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

We bring back the shoot-a-round format with a 4 quarter episode. First, the guys cover the James Harden drama in Houston. Quarter two features a discussion around South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley’s comments following her teams recent loss. In the third quarter, Adam and TJ share their thoughts on Kyrie Irving’s recent […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, in...

In today’s episode, Adam and TJ share a big announcement about upcoming changes for the Hardwood Hustle podcast. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This episode features a Q&A between our co-hosts centered around TJ’s recent game with his Division 2 team taking on a Division 1 opponent. TJ shared his mindset when preparing his team for a tough game, how his players maintained their composure throughout the game, along with a behind the scenes look into his halftime […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact...

Today we are joined for a special episode by former Hardwood Hustle guest, Coach Randi Henderson. Randi is a former PGC Basketball Director and current head women’s basketball coach at Washington University in St. Louis. Recently, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing regular treatments. In this episode, Randi opens up to […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to re...

Adam and TJ have an important discussion for coaches centering around self awareness, thoughts, and priorities. The episode features several exercises to help coaches assess what they consider first thoughts compared to after thoughts. They present this first thought, after thought idea in a new light that is sure to encourage you to challenge your […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to re...

Today we are joined by Paige Tonz, former Division 1 athlete who is now an athlete mindset mentor in Phoenix, Arizona. Since Paige finished her college career, she has found an incredible passion to help female athletes develop healthier and stronger mindsets. This episode covers strategies and techniques to help female athletes be more confident, […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to rep...

In this episode, Adam and TJ tackle the tough question facing coaches across the country. How do you lead a team knowing there may not even be a season? The episode covers how much coaches can lead, push, and motivate their teams through this uncertainty. We hope this episode helps you begin to navigate your […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Shortly after Steve Nash took the Brooklyn Nets job, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant made headlines during a podcast episode where they discussed the collaborative coaching style the Nets will be using. The superstars referenced how they feel like they don’t even have a head coach, and that they each could essentially take turns being […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include you...

What does it take from an environment standpoint to allow players to be open and honest with each other? This conversation stems from the many comments by Jimmy Butler’s teammates about his open and honest leadership style, and how effective it has been for the Miami Heat. As we’ve seen, this style doesn’t work in […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Superteams have defined the last decade of the NBA finals. This year we see two LA superstars facing off with an incredibly balanced Heat team that has six players averaging double figure points during these playoffs. With the Heat making the finals lacking a 1st or 2nd All-NBA Team player, we ask the question, “Is […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In today’s episode we introduce a new concept you may not have considered before. We know the positive impact coaches can have on their players when they celebrate them both publicly and privately, but are there also potential negative ramifications the celebration process can have if not done correctly? Adam shares an example of this […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include y...

A surprise to most in the basketball community was the recent hiring of Steve Nash to the Brooklyn Nets, one of the most talented teams in the NBA when healthy. Adam and TJ share their perspective on the fit that Steve Nash will be with this team, the impact superstar players hiring coaches they are […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.