Hardwood Hustle

Our friends at PGC Basketball recently released their new online shooting course led by their Director of Player Development, Tyler Coston. Tyler is a world-class player development coach and brings our listeners incredible insight in this episode, which is centered around a recent post he shared about why 10 toes toward the rim is not […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include...

In this episode Adam, TJ, and Sam Allen bring you their numerous years of experience and perspective on balancing empathy and standards. In addition to discussing the empathy and standards balancing act, the guys also share their thoughts on being a quote unquote soft coach, and if getting softer really means getting smarter. They also […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include...

In today’s episode Adam, TJ, and Sam Allen discuss the importance of every staff member and player being on the same page when it comes to building a world-class team culture. The episode also covers the importance of being a good follower, and the negative impact that comes from coaches being unwilling to do things […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In this episode, TJ Rosene and Sam Allen give your team five defensive hacks to help you win more games this upcoming season. Through Key5 Coaching, TJ and Sam share these defensive hacks, must-use practice drills, and a Q&A with coaches to finish the episode. For more information about the content shared in this episode, […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your conta...

After the recent news of fall and winter sport seasons already being canceled in some counties, this episode poses the question, “Are high school sports essential?” Adam and TJ bring you their perspective as coaches who’ve worked with thousands of athletes at the high school and college level. After you listen, we’d love your response […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include y...

In today’s episode we tackle the relationship between ego and humility. Your team success depends on the ability to balance this relationship. During the episode we share tangible ways to check your ego at the door, as well as three major pitfalls you may fall into if you have an unhealthy ego. Make sure to […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Adam and TJ talk all things NBA bubble, along with their predictions on this new style of basketball and playoffs. Tweet us @hardwood_hustle with your predictions to how the end of the NBA season will go! Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Today we welcome Jake Rosen to the show. Jake is a former Maryland high school basketball player that Adam worked with though Lead ‘Em Up, and also runs a basketball blog called Jake in the Paint. In this episode Jake shares some of the incredible wisdom he has around the game of basketball, specifically sharing […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In today’s episode we jump into a discussion about a skill that is critical for coaches to have, with that skill being the ability to read the room well. Coaches must be able to feel and interpret the energy and emotion of their team in order to connect and lead them well. Along with sharing […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Today we are joined by Micah Hayes for an incredibly important conversation. A former player on TJ’s team and PGC Basketball Director, Micah is a part of the Hardwood Hustle family, and one of the wisest voices in the coaching community. He brings our listeners a perspective on the current state of social justice and […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In the finale episode of our coverage on The Last Dance documentary, we continue turning entertainment into education with PGC Basketball’s Sam Allen. This episode dives into the 1998 championship victory, as well as some of the comments made by former Bulls since the documentary has aired. Adam, TJ, and Sam also share some of […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your cont...

Today we bring you an interview with Brooklyn Nets guard Theo Pinson. We dive into Theo’s approach to being a great teammate, leading North Carolina to a championship, and his advice for coaches based on his experience with coaches at the highest level. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In Episode 349 we bring you a special interview with CEO of the Premier Lacrosse League, Mike Rabil. Mike shares incredible insight for our listeners on hustling to start a new sports league, creating a work environment of transparency and communication, and why team members should be encouraged to act like an owner. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In today’s episode we continue our breakdown of The Last Dance documentary, Episodes 7 & 8. PGC Basketball’s Sam Allen joins Adam and TJ to bring coaches and players the key takeaways and teachable moments. This episode specifically dives into Michael Jordan’s transition in to and out of baseball, as well as his highly debated leadership style. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply,...

We are joined by John Beckham and Jimmy Jenkins, Director’s of ‘Basketball County: In The Water’, to give you a behind the scenes look into their upcoming production. This documentary, Executive Produced by Kevin Durant and his team, highlights the basketball hotbed that is Prince George’s County (MD). Since 2000, with a population of under […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, inc...

Through Adam's work with Lead 'Em Up, a recent topic of conversation that has continually come up is that of accountability. Coaches want to know how teammates can better hold each other accountable, as well as how to create a culture of accountability throughout their entire program. Today, Adam and TJ introduce a new, powerful thought process when approaching accountability that you ma...

We’re back with another breakdown of The Last Dance documentary, Episodes 5 and 6, as we try to take the episodes from a place of entertainment to educational. PGC Basketball’s Sam Allen joins us to share what we can learn and the teachable moments you can use with your team. Competitiveness, gambling, and branding are […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info...

We continue our series with PGC Basketball’s Sam Allen, breaking down episodes three and four of The Last Dance documentary. The story lines surrounding Dennis Rodman, the Bulls perseverance through the Pistons, and the addition of Phil Jackson are topics we go in-depth on in this episode with the goal of creating teachable moments for […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include...

In addition to producing the Hardwood Hustle podcast, Tucker Herzberg (@tuckerherzberg) is also a certified athletic performance coach. During this time of quarantine, Tucker put out a free at-home training program for teams. The program requires no equipment, and each week builds off of the previous week to make sure your players are progressing. This […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us t...

What does it take to be a great coach? This can be a very daunting question for most. To help provide clarity and a roadmap, Key5 Coaching has outlined 125 things sorted into 5 categories that coaches need to be proficient in to be a great coach. We hope this behind the scenes episode into […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

You’ve heard the phrase before. You’ve probably said those words before. And you absolutely know what it means. Coaches speak a language that is very unique and essentially exclusive to the coaching community. It’s filled with sayings and phrases and things that coaches echo to their teams over and over. Much of the coach talk […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your cont...

We are excited to begin a series that will be shared each week after the newest episodes of The Last Dance documentary. Adam, TJ, and Sam Allen will be breaking down the major takeaways for coaches, and the things coaches can communicate to their players through this incredible learning opportunity. Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

If you’re like most people, you’re fascinated by learning from the best of the best. Today’s guest, Phil Beckner, basketball consultant and coach, is one of those individuals. He is one of the best basketball coaches in the country, working most notably with Damian Lillard, dating back to his years at Weber State. Phil drops […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contac...

As we sit distant from our teams, unsure of when sports will resume, it’s understandable to want to just wait this out. However, should coaches and leaders be doing more? If so, what should they be doing? Adam and TJ discuss this and share tools and resources that coaches and players can be taking advantage […] Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

What do coaches do in this unprecedented, uncharted territory that we are currently in? How can we respond as coaches? Adam and TJ share how the coronavirus is impacting their coaching world’s, as well as how coaches can better lead their teams through this difficult time.  Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.