The Basketball Podcast

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Yale head coach James Jones joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on Yale's basketball culture and success.Jones is Yale's all-time winning coach and the longest tenured coach in the Ivy League. He has led Yale to seven Ivy League titles, three Ivy League Tournament championships and five NCAA tournament appearances.Jones has an impressive career record of 418-319 (.567). His championship pedigree includes seven Ivy League regular season titles (2002, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025) and four Ivy League tournament championships (2019, 2022, 2024, 2025). He has been at the helm for the two NCAA Tournament victories in school history - upsets of Baylor in 2016 and Auburn in 2024. He has guided Yale to multiple postseason appearances, compiling a 2-5 record in NCAA Division I Tournament play, a 1-2 mark in the NIT, and a 4-2 record in the CIT.His coaching excellence has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Hugh Durham Award in 2016 and the Ben Jobe Award in 2019. Jones has also been named Ivy League Coach of the Year four times (2015, 2016, 2020, 2023), cementing his status as one of the conference's most accomplished coaches. Five assistant coaches who worked under Jones went on to become head coaches - Rob Senderoff (Kent State), Isaiah Cavaco (Oberlin), Mark Sembrowich (Academy of Arts University), Mark Gilbride (Clarkson) and Ted Hotaling (New Haven).Jones has enjoyed remarkable success against major conference opponents. In 2008-09, Yale knocked off Oregon State, the school’s first win ever over a Pac-12 opponent. The Bulldogs also beat Cal in the Pac-12 China Game in Shanghai in 2018. In addition, Jones has enjoyed victories over schools from the ACC (Miami, Clemson twice, Boston College), Big 12 (Baylor) Big East (Rutgers), Big Ten (Penn State) Atlantic 10 (Rhode Island), WCC (Santa Clara) during his tenure.Jones has gained experience with USA Basketball in his time at Yale as well. He served as an assistant coach for the United States team that captured the gold medal at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup for men in Riga, Latvia. He also was as an assistant coach to Villanova’s Jay Wright for the 2007 USA Basketball Men’s Pan American Games Team, helping tutor Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert, Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel and Indiana’s D.J. White. In 2006, Jones was selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, as a court coach for the 2006 USA Men’s U18 National Team Trials.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, New York Liberty Director of Player Development and Unrivaled Laces head coach Andrew Wade joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching lessons from Unrivaled 3-on-3.Andrew Wade is currently the Director of Player Development for the New York Liberty, the reigning WNBA champions. In 2024, Wade took on the role of head coach for the Laces in Unrivaled, the professional 3-on-3 women's basketball league.The team finished the regular season standings in third place.In 2019, Wade joined the Washington Wizards' G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, as a video coordinator. His role expanded to include player development responsibilities with the Washington Mystics, where he served as a player development assistant coach. During his tenure, he was instrumental in implementing "vitamins," a practice routine focusing on intentional skill development.Wade's journey in basketball began at the Catholic University of America, where he played collegiate basketball. His passion for the game led him to establish Prism Basketball, a consulting firm aimed at simplifying basketball analytics for teams and players. He also contributed as a sports blogger, analyzing NBA strategies and trades.If you have not had the opportunity yet be sure to check Coach Wade’s excellent masterclass excerpt presentation available on our Basketball Immersion YouTube channel called “Using Video for Basketball Teaching Success with Andrew Wade.” The full video is available on demand to all members of our community inside the membership portal.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Stephanie Gaitley joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on FDU's success, the wheel of defense and captains.Stephanie Gaitley is one of the most accomplished figures in NCAA Division I history. With an impressive career record of 684-393 (.635), Coach Gaitley ranks as the 12th winningest active head coach in Division I basketball. Her legacy includes 20 postseason bids, 11 WNIT appearances, and nine NCAA tournament appearances, showcasing her ability to lead teams to success at the highest levels.Under Coach Gaitley's leadership, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights have experienced an incredible transformation during her first two years with the team. In her inaugural season (2023–24), the Knights finished 14–17 overall, with a strong 11–5 Northeast Conference record, landing them in 3rd place. The following season (2024–25) marked a historic leap, as the team finished with an outstanding 29–4 record, an undefeated 16–0 conference run, and a berth in the NCAA First Round—a testament to her ability to elevate programs to new heights.Prior to joining FDU, Coach Gaitley also led programs at Fordham (2011-2022), Richmond (1985–1991), Saint Joseph’s (1991–2001), Long Island (2002–2008), and Monmouth (2008–2011), further solidifying her reputation as one of the most successful and versatile head coaches in women's basketball.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Houston Christian University head coach Craig Doty joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on adapting to change.Doty arrived at Houston Christian University as a three-time national champion head coach and three-time national coach of the year, with 12 years of head college coaching experience and a 259-126 career record which includes a 31-10 mark in postseason play.Doty spent six seasons as head men’s basketball coach at Emporia State University in Kansas. Known as a program-builder, Doty improved the Emporia State program from an inherited 9-19 record (4-15 MIAA) to a 23-9 record (15-7 MIAA) in 2022-23. In each of his final three seasons at ESU, Doty’s teams appeared in the NABC Division II national polls while being ranked in the top 25 for six weeks in 2022-23 and as high as #15 in 2023-24.Prior to his arrival in Emporia, Doty led Graceland University to national prominence. In just two seasons at Graceland, Doty’s program had a 49-22 record and won the 2018 NAIA Division I National Championship in the school's first trip to the national tournament. Along the way Doty earned NAIA National Coach of the Year and the 2018 Don Meyer Award. Upon winning the 2018 national championship, Doty had led his teams to the National Championship game four out of the previous five seasons.Doty began his head coaching career as the head men's basketball coach at Rock Valley College. In his four years he built a national powerhouse. When Doty took over the program in 2012, Rock Valley was ranked last in Region IV preseason poll. Over the next four years, Doty would lead the Golden Eagles to four consecutive national tournaments including three straight national title games. Rock Valley was crowned National Champions in 2014 and in 2016, the first and second national championships in the 50-year program history.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on a championship season. Sandy Brondello is a two-time WNBA Champion head coach, and holds an overall regular season record of 244-164 (.598) over her 12 combined seasons at the helm of the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars - making her the sixth-winningest coach in WNBA history.In 2014, Brondello  was named the WNBA Coach of the Year after she led Phoenix to a WNBA regular season-record 29 wins and capped the season with a WNBA Championship. In 2023, Brondello led the Liberty to the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and first WNBA Finals appearance since 2002. Brondello made history in 2024 after leading the New York Liberty to its first WNBA Championship in franchise history and the city's first professional basketball championship since 1973.A 20-year veteran of the WNBA coaching ranks, Brondello has been affiliated with the league for 25 of its 28 seasons, including her time as a player. A proven winner internationally and in the WNBA, her 20 total years as an assistant coach and head coach have featured 17 playoff appearances, highlighted by a perfect 12-for-12 in postseason berths as a head coach.Brondello also became the coach of the Australian Women's national team, the Opals in 2017.At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Australian team won the bronze medal, the team's first Olympic medal since a bronze in 2012.

In this week's coaching conversation, mindset and mental performance coach Lindsey Wilson joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss belief as a skill.Lindsey Wilson is a mindset and mental performance coach best known as The Sports Hypnotist™. With a professional basketball career spanning close to a decade, Lindsey took her knowledge of the mental game to work with collegiate athletes, professional athletes from Olympians and players in the NFL and WNBA, all the way to youth athletes. She is the founder of Positive Performance™ and The Mindset Coach Academy™ where she helps aspiring mental performance coaches start their dream business and impact lives. She’s also the author of the upcoming book Think Like an Athlete which teaches the critical and undertrained skill of belief and how to build it to be successful on the playing field and off. Lindsey’s exposure to mental performance came at age 16 and completely changed her perspective on how to navigate physical training with her mental barriers. She also learned the power of belief and importance of consistently training it to achieve the highest goals. Despite a successful career, she did fall short of her ultimate athletic goals but is using that experience and message to create and surpass her professional goals! Her mission is to teach mental performance tools so that coaches can have a massive impact on athletes’ performance, enjoyment of competing and life.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Hernando Planells shares lessons from Hollywood sets and global coaching. With over two decades of experience spanning professional and collegiate basketball, as well as film and TV, Hernando Planells is a dynamic coach, film and tv sports coordinator, and leadership consultant. As the Technical Director of the NBA Basketball School in Dubai, he combines his passion for basketball with a mission to inspire the next generation of athletes across the UAE.Hernando's coaching career includes:Duke University (Associate Head Women’s Basketball Coach): Led the team to an ACC Championship, two Elite Eights, and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Recruited, coached and developed 11 future WNBA players, including Las Vegas Aces and Team USA guard Chelsea Gray, while maintaining a 100% graduation rate.Maine Red Claws (NBA G-League): Worked with the Boston Celtics affiliate alongside current Celtics Assistant GM Austin Ainge, developing players such as 12-year NBA veteran Avery Bradley and Mario West.International Coaching: Served as the Head Coach for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Japan and the University of the East in the Philippines, as well as the head coach for the New Zealand Junior National Team.William Jessup University (Head Women’s Basketball Coach): Guided the team to their first GSAC championship, earning Coach of the Year honors and an NAIA national tournament appearance.University of Illinois and UNLV: Gained valuable experience under former NBA Assistant Coach Bill Bayno.Beyond coaching, Hernando has made significant contributions to film and TV as a part owner and sports coordinator/choreographer for Game Changing Films on major projects like 'Coach Carter,' 'The Longest Yard,' 'Swagger’, 'The Crossover,' and the newly released “Running Point’ starring Kate Hudson on Netflix. ”bringing authentic basketball action to the screen. He is also the founder of Be Contagious Leadership a consulting company dedicated to empowering teams and organizations through courage, communication, and connection.A proud father, Hernando’s son Preston Planells, who is in his first year as the assistant women's basketball coach at New Mexico State, and Gabrielle Planells, is a senior theatre student at Chico State University. Driven by a passion for storytelling, leadership, and basketball, Hernando’s goal is to empower athletes both on and off the court.

Exploring the real impact of Basketball Immersion on elite youth coaching with a coach who has completely transformed his approach to the game. Klein Collins High School head coach Scott Harmatuk discusses his journey since joining Basketball Immersion—how shifting away from traditional drills and embracing game-based learning has reshaped his coaching philosophy. Learn how these changes have elevated his players’ enjoyment of practice and games, while also improving their decision-making, skill development, and overall basketball IQ, leading to noticeable growth in both individual and team performance.Beyond Scott’s personal evolution, this episode is packed with insights for all youth coaches looking to modernize their approach. What are the biggest challenges when making the shift? What are the most impactful takeaways that any coach—regardless of level—can apply? And ultimately, what does it take to develop players who truly understand the game?Coach Harmatuk, born and raised in Spring, TX, played basketball at Fordham University from 1996-2000. He went on to play professionally for the Brooklyn Kings (USBL) and REYNOSA UAT (Mexico-LNBP). After retiring, he began his coaching career at Spring Woods HS, followed by Nimitz HS with mentor Randy Gilmer. In 2008, he became the head coach at Klein Collins HS, where he remains today.Since joining Basketball Immersion in 2020, Coach Harmatuk has led his team to 3 district titles and earned Coach of the Year honors 3 times. Known as a "player's coach," he builds strong relationships with his players through respect and honesty.If you’re a coach who wants to maximize your players' potential while making practices more engaging, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Let’s get started!

David Rebibo, head coach at Harvard-Westlake, has built a national powerhouse, leading his team to multiple CIF championships. He discusses innovative coaching strategies that prioritize both discipline and character, while emphasizing holistic player development. Rebibo also addresses the challenges of balancing demanding travel schedules with academic responsibilities and the importance of supporting student-athletes’ well-being. His insights on fostering teamwork and adapting training to meet individual needs highlight a modern approach to high school basketball excellence.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, NBA Player Development manager Cherokee Parks joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on athletes transitioning, communication and self-discovery.After retiring from playing, Parks transitioned into significant roles within NBA infrastructure. He became a pivotal figure in NBA Player Development, working directly in the league office to create programs, strategies, and developmental pathways for emerging players.His work in the NBA office focused on:Designing player transition and development programsCreating educational initiatives for rookiesDeveloping strategies to support player growth beyond on-court performanceBridging communication between players, teams, and league managementParks' role in basketball operations leveraged his playing experience and administrative expertise to shape the next generation of basketball professionals. He remains connected to the game through various advisory and developmental roles.Parks played college basketball at Duke University under coach Mike Krzyzewski and won the 1992 national title during his freshman year. During his collegiate tenure from 1990-1994, Parks was a critical component of Duke's basketball success.Drafted 11th overall in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Parks played for nine seasons for multiple NBA franchises including the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers.