The Basketball Podcast

Nicki Collen, the dynamic head coach of Baylor University's women's basketball team and former WNBA Coach of the Year, shares her journey from pro coaching to college basketball. She discusses the importance of mentorship and building trust with players, while highlighting innovative strategies for fostering meaningful connections. Collen dives into mastering game situations, including the two-for-one strategy, and explores the evolving tactics of timeout management. Her insights reveal the complexities of decision-making in elite coaching and the impact of relationships on player development.

Patrick Crarey, head coach at Grambling State University, shares his journey shifting from Florida A&M to a focus on relationships in basketball. He discusses how building personal connections can lead to team success and describes effective coaching strategies drawn from the Spurs' influence. With insights on discipline and tailored approaches, Crarey emphasizes the balance between transactional and transformational relationships. His experiences highlight the importance of adaptability and continuous growth in creating a winning culture on and off the court.

Coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history, Gayle Fulks is entering her ninth season at the helm of the Davidson College women’s basketball program.Fulks has guided the Wildcats to 123 wins and two postseason appearances, including the 2025 WBIT. In addition to ranking second on Davidson’s all-time wins list, Fulks has coached 15 all-conference performers, while leading her club to a number of record-setting performances along the way.  Along with 18 conference games for the first time in A-10 play, the 2024-25 campaign yet again featured one of the nation’s toughest non-conference slates. The Wildcats rose to the challenge posting 19 victories, their most under Fulks, and a program-best 13 league wins en route to a third-place finish, their highest since joining the league in 2014.Davidson’s 13 wins in Atlantic 10 play weren’t the only standard set last season. The Wildcats proved to be one of the most efficient and productive teams from the outside making a school-record 241 highlighted by eight games with at least 10 made 3-pointers. They also ranked among national leaders in 3-pointer differential (5th), 3-point defense (1st) and assists per game against (1st). In conference play, no team was better in blocks, points allowed, field-goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense.Before arriving at Davidson, Fulks gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University, where she worked under Jen Hoover for five seasons, helping to shape the program and refine her coaching philosophy. Prior to her tenure at Wake Forest, she spent a season at UNC Greensboro, contributing to player development and game planning. Her coaching journey began at Longwood University, where she was on staff from 2007 to 2011.Fulks’ basketball roots extend beyond the collegiate level. She started her career with the WNBA’s New York Liberty in 2007, serving as the Assistant Video Coordinator.

In this week's coaching conversation, George Mason head coach Tony Skinn shares insights on defensive identity and competitive spirit.A key starter on the 2006 George Mason Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history, Skinn returned to his alma mater after nearly a decade of work as a collegiate assistant coach.The 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Skinn has put together arguably the best start to a coaching career in school history. He set new program bests for overall wins (47), league wins (24), overall winning percentage (.691) and league winning percentage (.667) for a Patriot coach over his first two campaigns. What's more, Skinn's 66.7 A-10 winning percentage is first amongst active league coaches over their first two seasons in the conference.This season, Skinn guided the Patriots to the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Patriots earned a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, tallied the program's first NIT victory since 2004 and notched a school record-tying 27 overall victories. The Green & Gold set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.George Mason tallied a school-record 18 home victories in 2024-25. The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time ever and won five-straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from Jan. 8-Feb. 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time and was just the fourth 10+ game winning streak in school history.Prior to becoming the head coach of his alma mater, Skinn guided three different programs to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Maryland, Ohio State, and Seton Hall.

In this week's coaching conversation, American University head coach Duane Simpkins shares insights on reflecting on a championship season.Simpkins has made a significant impact as the head coach of American, leading the program to new heights in the Patriot League. Over his tenure, he has compiled an impressive 38–29. In just his second year, Simpkins led the Eagles to a historic season, winning the 2024-25 Patriot League Championship and earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. American finished 22-13 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League, matching the program’s all-time record for league wins in a season.Simpkins joined American after eight seasons on the coaching staff at George Mason, where he helped guide the Patriots to multiple program bests within the Atlantic 10, including an 11-win A-10 campaign and a 20-13 overall finish in 2022-23.His coaching career also includes stints at UNC Greensboro, Towson, and on the high school level at St. Albans, Sidwell Friends, and Bishop O’Connell. In 2020, he was named one of the country’s Top 50 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants by Silverwaves Media and has been invited to numerous national leadership and coaching development programs.A DMV basketball legend, Simpkins earned McDonald’s High School All-America honors at DeMatha Catholic under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten. He was a three-time All-ACC Honorable Mention selection at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16 runs.

In this week's coaching conversation, South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez joins the Basketball Podcast.to share insights on zone offense, relationships and practice.Fernandez has carved out a 25-year head coaching career at South Florida with multiple accolades. He is the program’s all-time winningest coach, has claimed American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors twice in 2018 and 2021, and has led the Bulls to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and secured four Conference Championships, including two Conference Tournament Championships (2020-21 & 2024-25) and two Regular Season Titles (2020-21 & 2022-23). Fernandez's influence extends beyond his program, as he is set to become the WBCA President from 2025-27. His coaching has produced nine WNBA Draft Picks and Signees, and twenty-four of his former players are competing professionally worldwide.Fernandez has also demonstrated success against top-tier competition, with twenty wins against top 25-ranked teams. He has also achieved considerable consistency, with fourteen straight nineteen-win seasons and twelve twenty-win seasons. During the 2024-25 season, he recorded his 485th career victory. Under his leadership, South Florida won the 2008-09 WNIT Championship, defeating the Kansas Jayhawks.Throughout his career, Fernandez has recruited and coached over forty all-conference players, two Associated Press Honorable Mention All-Americans, three members of the USF Athletics Hall of Fame, two AAC Players of the Year, two AAC Newcomers of the Year, four AAC Freshmen of the Year, one AAC Defensive Player of the Year, one AAC Most Improved Player, and seven WNBA draft picks. His contributions to the sport were further recognized with his induction into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay's Hall of Fame on June 8, 2022.This year Fernandez will return to USA Basketball for his second assistant coaching stint with USA Basketball as an assistant for the 2025 Women's U19 National Team. He previously served in the role for the 2024 Women's U18 National Team and was also a court coach at the 2018 USA Women’s U18 National Team Trials.

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.

Donny Lind is the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mount St. Mary's University, known for leading an impressive season turnaround. He discusses how overcoming expectations transformed the team's dynamics. The conversation touches on innovative recruitment strategies and mental techniques to motivate players. Lind also dives into offensive evolution, emphasizing efficient play and unique practice methods. Plus, he shares insights on defensive philosophy's importance, illustrating how strong defense can uplift a team, especially during challenging games.

Steve Smiley, head coach at Northern Colorado and 2024 Big Sky Co-Coach of the Year, dives into his groundbreaking 'Over Ourself' philosophy. He emphasizes teamwork and personal growth, using basketball to teach valuable life lessons. Smiley discusses the power of analytics in coaching decisions and player evaluations. He shares insights on mastering offensive strategies and the complexities of player development in the face of the transfer portal. The conversation also highlights the importance of flexibility in defensive strategies and nurturing a collaborative team culture.

Ryan Pedon, head coach of Illinois State basketball, shares his transformative journey since taking the reins in 2022. He emphasizes building an 'All In' culture to boost team cohesion and performance. Pedon reflects on shaping a winning program through intentional recruitment and long-term strategies. He discusses empowering players by recognizing their unique strengths and adapting game plans accordingly. The conversation also touches on celebrating small victories and the emotional challenges of coaching, all while fostering personal growth and mentorship.