The Basketball Podcast

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Radford head coach Zach Chu joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on winning in the margins.Zach Chu is in his first year as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Radford University. Currently the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, Zach Chu brings nine years of experience in the NBA and a deep analytical background. Chu capitalizes on a deep analytical background, uniquely positioning him to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of college basketball with an end-to-end application of analytics from portal management, roster composition, and individual player development to game strategy.After accompanying Coach Rick Carlisle to Indiana to manage game strategy, following five years in the Dallas Mavericks’ organization, Chu helped the Pacers leverage a data-driven approach to engineer one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA and an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals by their third year.Recognizing the potential impact of this differentiated strategy in the NIL era, Chu accepted the role as Chief Strategist at SMU last year, where he implemented the same conceptual approach proven at the NBA level, producing the 20th ranked offense in the country while being one of only two schools in the nation to have six players average double figures. The Mustangs posted a 24-11 record, including a 13-7 finish in their inaugural season in the ACC.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Frank Bennett joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on inbound philosophy and high school coaching.Frank Bennett has established himself as one of Missouri’s premier high school basketball coaches, leading Chaminade College Preparatory to sustained excellence in the state’s top class. Since taking over the program in 2013, Bennett has guided the Red Devils to a Missouri State Championship, two state runner‑up finishes, eight Final Four appearances, multiple Metro Catholic Conference titles, and several district championships.His leadership has produced a remarkable career record of 248 wins against just 72 losses, cementing Chaminade’s reputation as one of the most consistent programs in the regionBennett has coached and developed some of the most significant basketball talents to come out of Missouri, including:• Jayson Tatum — NBA All‑Star and 2024 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics• Bradley Beal — Three‑time NBA All‑Star and Olympic gold medalist• Tyler Cook — Former NBA forward and standout at Iowa• David Lee — NBA All‑Star and two‑time NBA championBennett’s impact extends beyond Chaminade. He has served as a head coach for USA Basketball at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit, leading the USA Men’s team against the World Team of top international players. He has also been an assistant coach at previous Nike Hoop Summits (2023, 2024) and contributed to USA Basketball Junior National Team camps. His involvement underscores his reputation as one of the nation’s most respected high school coaches.

In this conversation, Adam Pike, an NBA film analyst specializing in the Memphis Grizzlies, delves into the innovative Noah LaRoche offense. He breaks down core concepts like spacing and the critical pass-cut-and-fill trigger. Adam contrasts NBA and Division III movement, highlighting the impact on player roles. The discussion includes Miami's adaptation of the offense, player empowerment, and the five-out principles. With insights into coaching strategies and player development, Adam sheds light on how these modern tactics enhance basketball flow.

Gerard Hillier, a progressive coach educator at Knox Basketball in Melbourne, dives into modern player-centered coaching. He shares insights on the 'season of proof,' where filming and analytics reveal coaching effectiveness. Hillier emphasizes ecological dynamics, allowing players to learn through self-discovery and game-like tasks. He discusses tracking decision-making metrics and using constraints to teach defense. With a fresh approach to coaching, he highlights the importance of player interviews for understanding and confidence, and the value of live coaching observation.

In this milestone reflection, Chris Oliver shares insights from 400 episodes, emphasizing the importance of making practice representative of the game. He discusses impactful quotes from diverse guests, the value of player ownership, and innovative coaching methods like game-based practices. Key topics include integrating mental training, the significance of accountability, and embracing freedom in player development. The conversation highlights the global coaching community's growth and collaboration, celebrating the podcast's lasting legacy in basketball education.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Daemen University head coach Mike McDonald joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching backwards with success.A fixture in the college basketball coaching fraternity, Mike MacDonald is entering his 29th season as a collegiate head coach. He was named the ECC, NABC District and BCANY Division II Coach of the Year last season after leading Daemen to a 28-1 record. He was also the recipient of the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Award given to the top coach in all of Division II basketball by collegeinsiders.com. MacDonald has led Daemen to a 232-84 record over his first 11 seasons, including eight 20-win seasons and five NCAA tournament berths. He enters the regular season just 11 wins shy of 500 for his career.Mike MacDonald has led Daemen University through one of the most successful stretches in program history. Under his leadership, Daemen has emerged as a power in the NCAA Division II. The Wildcats are coming off the most successful season in program history when they posted a 28-1 overall record, won the ECC regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fifth time. Daemen rattled off 28 straight victories to start the season, earning the distinction of being the last remaining unbeaten team across all three levels of NCAA basketball. Along the way, they ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll for the first time in program history.With previous stops at Canisius University and Medaille University, MacDonald has worked across all three NCAA divisions. Before arriving at Daemen University, Mike MacDonald spent eight transformative years as head coach at Medaille College (2006–2014), where he turned a struggling NCAA Division III program into a regional powerhouse. Inheriting a team that had gone just 4–46 over the previous two seasons, MacDonald led the Mavericks to an average of 18 wins per year and six postseason appearances. His final five seasons were especially dominant—Medaille recorded 101 wins, the most of any Division III program in New York State during that span, and ranked 17th nationally in total victories. He was named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year four times and left as the school’s all-time leader in wins (149) and winning percentage (.671).Prior to Medaille, MacDonald spent 18 years at Canisius College, including nine seasons as head coach (1997–2006), where he guided the Golden Griffins to 108 wins and earned BCANY Division I Co-Coach of the Year honors in 2000–01. He also served as a longtime assistant at Canisius, helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances under head coach John Beilein.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Babson College head coach Stephen Brennan joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on culture, clarity and consistency.Stephen Brennan has served as the head coach of Babson College men's basketball for over three decades, building one of the most consistent and respected programs in Division III. With more than 560 career wins to his name, Brennan ranks among the top 25 active coaches in total victories across the D3 landscape. His tenure is defined by sustained excellence, highlighted by 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, multiple NEWMAC championships, and a national title in 2017—the first in program history.A nine-time conference coach of the year and the 2016–17 NABC National Coach of the Year, Brennan has guided Babson through eras of transformation while maintaining a culture rooted in discipline, development, and competitive integrity. His teams have reached the NCAA Tournament Sectional Semifinals multiple times, including a Final Four run in 2015 and a dramatic national championship win in 2017, where the Beavers overcame a 25-point deficit in the semifinals before edging Augustana (Ill.) in the title game.Brennan’s legacy is not only measured in wins and banners but in the program’s identity: a relentless commitment to excellence, player growth, and team-first basketball. Under his leadership, Babson has become a perennial contender and a model of long-term success in Division III athletics.

Matt Fletcher, an accomplished head coach at Concordia-St. Paul, shares his journey to building a successful basketball program. He discusses his innovative up-tempo offensive strategy, emphasizing a blend of pace and smart shot selection. Fletcher explains his unique shot classification system, the importance of spacing for players, and using practice scoring to reinforce good decisions. He also highlights the challenges of playing fast and the need for flexibility in coaching methods to adapt to team dynamics.

Alicia Komaki, the head coach of Sierra Canyon girls basketball, shares her secrets to success after multiple championships. She emphasizes that 'better people make better players,' highlighting character development alongside athletic skill. Alicia introduces the concept of five ships—leadership, ownership, membership, warship, and craftsmanship—as essential for team cohesion. She also discusses unique communication strategies like Sierra Slang to foster clarity and ownership, alongside balancing modern coaching with traditional values to prepare players for elite competition.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Husson University head coach Warren Caruso joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching with core values, perspective and gratitude.Warren Caruso is a coaching fixture in New England basketball, having served as the head coach for the Husson men's basketball program since 1994. Throughout his remarkable 35-year tenure as both a head and assistant coach for the Eagles, Caruso has built one of the most consistently successful programs in the region, currently ranking second in New England in wins by an active coach and top 10 nationally in NCAA Division III wins.Caruso's record is defined by dominance in conference play and postseason consistency. He has led the Eagles to an astounding 17 Conference Regular Season Championships and 16 Conference Tournament Championships, posting a formidable 16-4 record in championship games. Overall, his teams have secured 16 total NAIA/NCAA National Tournament appearances (10 NCAA, 6 NAIA). His sustained excellence is further highlighted by guiding his teams to 15 seasons with 20 or more wins, including a five-year streak from 2012-13 to 2016-17.The winningest coach in North Atlantic Conference history, Caruso's success has earned him numerous personal accolades, including seven Conference Coach of the Year honors (most recently in 2025) and three Maine State Coach of the Year titles. He was inducted into the Husson Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. As a former four-year letter-winner and team captain for the Eagles, Caruso has maintained a strong pipeline of talent, having recruited 23 of the 55 1,000-point scorers in program history since taking over.