EP109: From Assistant to Associate: Chris Fowler’s Path to Coaching Excellence

In this episode, George welcomes Chris Fowler, Associate Head Coach at Western Michigan University and the all-time assist leader at Central Michigan University. Chris discusses his journey from an assistant to an associate head coach, emphasizing his application of evidence-based ideas such as the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). He shares insights on practice design, player development, building trust, and balancing team strategies with individual growth. Chris also touches on integrating cross-disciplinary collaboration in coaching and reflects on how adopting a player-centered approach can transform both coaching effectiveness and players' adaptability on and off the court.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Importance of Player Understanding
01:08 - Introduction to Evidence-Based Coaching
02:06 - Early Experiences with Evidence-Based Practices
03:38 - Building Trust with Players
06:21 - Core Ideas of the CLA Approach
10:11 - Refining Practice Design for Efficiency
14:55 - Creating Decision-Making Environments
18:46 - Embracing Messiness in Practice
22:00 - Balancing Skill Development and Team Strategy
26:20 - Challenges of Implementing the CLA
30:43 - Preparing for Game Situations
34:45 - Transformative Tip: It's Not About You

Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book:

https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7

Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources:

https://transformingbball.com/products/ 

Links:

Website: http://transformingbball.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball