Brandon Rosenthal on Career Management and High School Coaching (EP373)

May 21, 2025

Brandon Rosenthal, Head Coach at CIA Bella Vista College Prep, has transformed his program from a struggling team to a championship contender in just one year. He discusses the importance of adaptability in coaching, balancing player development with competitive pressures, and fostering a strong team dynamic. Rosenthal also emphasizes integrating real gameplay into conditioning practices and navigating career management in coaching. With his title as the 2024-25 EYBL Scholastic Coach of the Year, he shares valuable insights on continuous learning and collaboration in basketball.

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ANECDOTE

NBA Shaped Rosenthal's Adaptability

Brandon Rosenthal learned adaptability from watching NBA assistant coaches tailor strategies to their personnel and opponents.
He adjusts how much he shares his opinion based on what best supports the head coach and team success.

ANECDOTE

Applying Pro Concepts to High School

In his first high school head coaching job, Rosenthal discovered many NBA and college concepts apply well at the scholastic level.
He worked through growing pains, relying on his staff to keep him focused on what matters most.

ADVICE

Teach Offense Before Defense

Focus on offense first to build player confidence and understanding before layering defense.
Use defensive principles to let players learn and solve problems, gradually adding complexity over the season.

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In this week's coaching conversation, CIA Bella Vista College Prep Brandon Rosenthal joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on career management and high school coaching.

Rosenthal brings a wealth of experience to his coaching career, encompassing six years of professional experience, nine years at the collegiate level, and one year in high school.

In his inaugural year as head coach at CIA Bella Vista College Prep, Rosenthal revitalized the basketball program, transforming it into a championship contender, and was named the 2024-25 EYBL Scholastic Coach of the Year. Bella Vista College Prep competes in the EYBL Scholastic Conference, widely recognized as one of the most competitive leagues in high school basketball.

Prior to Rosenthal's arrival, the program had struggled, holding a one-and-eleven conference record. Under his leadership, the team achieved a remarkable turnaround, finishing with a nine-and-two record in conference play. This success earned them the title of regular season co-champions and an invitation to Chipotle Nationals in his debut season, spanning from 2024 to 2025.

During the 2024-25 season, CIA Bella Vista College Prep achieved a twenty-and-four overall regular season record. The team reached rankings as high as number two by MaxPreps, number four by Slam, and number five by ESPN. Notably, the team secured the most top ten wins and the most top twenty-five wins of any team in the nation, and played what was considered the toughest schedule in the country. The program received an invitation to the 2025 Chipotle Nationals. Additionally, the team became the first from Arizona in forty-two years to win the Beach Ball Classic. Rosenthal also oversees an academy of seventy boys and girls, which has produced two All-Americans.

Brandon Rosenthal's extensive assistant coaching experience includes roles at various levels. He served as an Assistant Coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors (2023-2024), where he contributed to the team's G-League Franchise of the Year title, Winter Showcase Semi-Finals appearance, and G-League Playoffs Quarter-Finals appearance, while also seeing five players called up to the NBA. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach, Director of Scouting & Player Development at Arizona State University (2019-2023), supporting the team in various capacities and contributing to a 2023 NCAA Tournament appearance. His experience also includes positions as Video/Player Development Coordinator for the Phoenix Suns (2017-2019), Assistant Coach for the Northern Arizona Suns (2016-2017), Video Assistant for the Houston Rockets (2015-2016), and Interim Assistant Coach/Director of Basketball Operations at Santa Clara University (2012-2015), where he was part of the 2013 CBI National Championship team.