The Basketball Podcast

William and Mary head coach Brian Earl discussed his coaching philosophy and approach, sharing his background playing and coaching at Princeton under coaches Pete Carril and Bill Carmody, explaining how he evolved from the traditional Princeton offense to a faster, more up-tempo style that still incorporates backdoor cuts and passing. Earl discussed his offensive principles of getting good shots,...

University of Michigan women's basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico, discussed her philosophy of building "the hardest working team in America" through practice analytics that track intangible aspects like communication, diving for balls, and taking charges, while maintaining a balance between hard work and fun. She explained her defensive principles focusing on physicality, pressure, and keepin...

Cal State East Bay head basketball coach Bryan Rooney discussing his team's historic 33-1 season and their connecting style of play. Rooney explained how his team implemented the "tagging up" system where all five players engage in defensive rebounding immediately after shots go up, creating pressure defense and transition opportunities. He detailed how the system connects full-court and half-cour...

Before becoming the head coach of the Portland Fire, Alex Sarama was a Basketball Immersion member learning, questioning, and exploring a games approach to coaching with Basketball Immersion founder Chris Oliver. In this revisited 2018 episode of The Basketball Podcast, Alex asks Chris deep questions about: Constraint-led coaching Ecological dynamics Small-sided games Decision-making in basketball...

Duke Associate Head Coach Chris Carrawell, where he discussed his coaching philosophy, offensive and defensive systems, and player development approaches at Duke University. Carrawell explained how Duke's offense is built around creating spacing and advantages through a 5-out system similar to NBA concepts, with coaches breaking down plays into smaller groups to teach players to read and react in...

USA Basketball and former NBA head coach Stephen Silas, where he discussed his experiences coaching in short international qualifying windows for FIBA competitions. Silas shared insights about preparing teams with limited time, explaining that USA Basketball teams typically have only six practices before playing two games against other national teams in challenging international venues. Silas deta...

My notebook overflowed after 6 months with coaches at every level—hoops lessons from London, Paris, NBA weekends, youth basketball, messing around with my coaching, and the NCAA trenches. Having been incredibly fortunate to talk hoops with coaches at every level of the game over the last six months, I’ve synthesized a collection of insights I believe can move the needle for your program. Shared id...

Dive into the principles of conceptual defense in basketball with Charles Klask, a highly respected NBA coach and champion who served on the Denver Nuggets’ staff during their historic 2023 NBA Championship run. With decades of experience across the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic, Klask shares how conceptual defense serves as the essential counter to modern offen...

St. Joseph's head coach Steve Donahue discussing his coaching philosophy and recent success. Donahue shared how he adapted his passing-oriented offense when taking over as head coach at St. Joseph's, modifying his approach to better suit his roster's strengths and the A-10 conference's physicality. He emphasized the importance of teaching players to make good decisions, particularly in ball moveme...

National champion head coach Easton Bazzoli discusses Gannon University's 2025-26 national championship-winning season and their approach to the Crutchfield basketball system. Easton explained how they built the program from a 3-win team to a 34-3 national champion, emphasizing the importance of constant pressure defense, decision-making development through game-like practice situations, and indiv...

Greg Tonagel, one of college basketball's most accomplished coaches, discussing his coaching philosophy centered around habits and fearlessness. Be sure to check out his All Access coaching video series available at gregtonagelbasketball.com and immersionvideos.com , offering an inside look into championship-level program building. Greg Tonagel shared how he transformed his approach from focusing...

Arthur Moreira discussed his successful 2025-26 season where his team won 29 games, including the Big Sky regular season and tournament championships, earning an NCAA tournament berth for the first time in a decade. As the first Brazilian head coach in NCAA Division I basketball, Arthur shared his coaching philosophy focusing on relationship-building with players, individualized development throug...

Samford women's basketball head coach Matt Wise reflecting on his first year as head coach and the team's remarkable turnaround season. Wise discussed the challenges of starting with a difficult non-conference schedule that included five Power 5 opponents, leading to an early 1-6 conference start. He explained how the team's confidence and belief improved throughout the season, culminating in winn...

Tony Irons discussed his coaching philosophy and experiences across various basketball levels. Irons shared his approach to coaching at high school, junior college, and EYBL levels, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with players and creating competitive environments through standards-based accountability. He discussed his defensive philosophy centered around man-to-man defense,...

Zach O'Brien, assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks and former head coach of Mist BC in the Unrivaled Basketball League, discusses his approach to player development and coaching methodology. He explained his focus on decision-making, creativity, and empowering players rather than controlling their actions. He discusses the importance of establishing team principles and creating an environmen...

This conversation was an opportunity to bring a typically offline discussion I have with coaches online to share with you. In it, Jared Mocaby from Kansas Select got to ask me a bunch of questions about youth basketball coaching strategies. We discussed solution-based coaching approaches, emphasizing the importance of letting players figure out problems rather than giving direct instructions, and...

In this episode of the Basketball Podcast, Coach Roneeka Hodges discussed her experience as the associate head coach for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA and her role as head coach of the Phantom BC and Unrivaled Basketball League. She reflected on her coaching journey, emphasizing the importance of player development, building trust with players, and adapting to the evolving game. Coach Hodges sha...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Jamill Jones joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on running an elite youth program. Jamill Jones serves as a Director with Team Takeover, one of the premier programs on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he provides leadership across elite player development, program structure, and national representation. He articulates a development‑first phi...

Coach Bret Burchard discussed his work with Championship Shift, a mindset training company that helps coaches and athletes compete and lead with confidence, resilience, and humility. Bret shared his experience as a former NBA and college basketball coach, emphasizing the importance of leading for impact rather than validation. He explained how coaches can maintain their passion and effectiveness b...

Jim Haverstrom, a youth hockey director and coach developer with USA Hockey, joined the Basketball Podcast to discuss coaching methodologies and player development across both sports. The conversation explored various coaching strategies, including the importance of making practices fun and engaging, as well as the integration of constraints-led approaches in coach education programs. Jim emphasiz...

Mike Neighbors, assistant coach for the LA Sparks, shared his insights on transitioning from college to professional coaching, emphasizing the importance of pace, player development, and feedback loops in the WNBA. Neighbors discussed his philosophy on assistant coaching, highlighting the need for clear communication and alignment with players' roles. He also touched on the challenges and opportun...

Ryan Cottingham, the head coach of Spring Arbor University's men's basketball program, shared insights into his approach to building and sustaining a successful small college basketball program. He discussed the importance of creating a strong team culture based on core values of integrity, toughness, and unity, and highlighted various initiatives such as "Fun Week," leadership teams, and individu...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Thompson joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on integrating science, skill, and human connection Clayton Thompson serves as the Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he sits at the cutting edge of professional sports science and pl...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Vietnam Men’s National Team head coach Matt Van Pelt joins the Basketball Podcast to share his defensive shift from packline to forcing left. Matt Van Pelt is currently the Head Coach of the Vietnam Men’s National Team, as well as the Hanoi Buffaloes, the reigning champions of the Vietnam Basketball Association. He now has basketball experience in 2...

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, By Any Means Basketball founder Coleman Ayers joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on reengineering player development. Coleman Ayers is the founder of By Any Means Basketball, a global training and media organization dedicated to player development. Launching the brand as a high schooler in Washington, D.C., Coleman turned his passion for...