The Basketball Podcast

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Charlotte Hornets Assistant Coach DJ Bakker joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on offensive concepts vs. switching.DJ Bakker is the Head Coach of the Greensboro Swarm and an Assistant Coach with the Charlotte Hornets, bringing over a decade of NBA coaching experience and a proven track record in player development and team success. In the 2024–25 season, Bakker led the Swarm to their first playoff appearance in franchise history, finishing with a 31–19 record—best in team history and fourth overall in the G League. Under his leadership, the Swarm ranked third in Defensive Rating, top five in Net Rating, and first in both Clutch Net Rating and Offensive Rating. His dual role with the Hornets included overseeing the development of young NBA talent, including 2024 sixth overall draft pick Tidjane Salaun.Before joining the Hornets organization, Bakker served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023–24 season. He played a key role in shaping the team’s offensive identity to maximize the strengths of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, while also working individually with Khris Middleton and Malik Beasley. That season, the Bucks finished fifth in Offensive Rating and Bakker was part of the coaching staff for both the 2024 NBA All-Star Game and the playoffs. His G League success began with the Motor City Cruise, where he led the team to a 31–15 record in its inaugural season and a playoff berth, while developing five future NBA players.Bakker’s coaching journey includes player development roles with the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks, where he worked with emerging stars like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby. He also served as an advance scout for the Orlando Magic and began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. His foundation in skill development was shaped at ATTACK Athletics under Tim Grover, where he trained over 35 NBA players. Known for his adaptability, communication, and tactical clarity, Bakker continues to build competitive, development-focused environments at both the NBA and G League levels.

Sundance Wicks, Head Coach at Wyoming and the 2023-24 Horizon League Coach of the Year, shares his transformative coaching insights. He discusses his 'teach and reach' philosophy, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with players. Wicks delves into advanced strategies to exploit defensive weaknesses and the balance of structured play with player creativity. He also highlights six championship factors crucial for success, particularly in lower divisions, and the role of analytics in modern coaching.

Dive into the fascinating world of basketball coaching where knowledge sharing and analytics redefine player performance. Explore how experiential learning promotes active engagement over traditional methods, enhancing decision-making on the court. Discover the importance of bridging practice with game dynamics to empower players. Learn about the flexibility needed in training, emphasizing personalized techniques rather than repetitive drills. Finally, uncover the role of individuality and supportive coaching in fostering young talent's growth and adaptability.

Kyle Milling, head coach of the Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan’s B.League, dives into the art of adaptive coaching. He compares coaching styles between France and Japan, highlighting the importance of team cohesion. Milling shares insights on building a strong defensive culture and emphasizes tailored strategies based on player strengths. He discusses fostering a positive team atmosphere and the significance of communication and relationships in coaching. Finally, he navigates the evolving strategies necessary for different player age groups and the complexities of modern basketball.

Charlie Henry, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Georgia Southern, brings over a decade of coaching experience, including stints with the Chicago Bulls and Iowa State. He shares his journey through basketball, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and authentic coaching. Henry discusses the evolution of coaching strategies, balancing offense and defense, and the role of analytics in roster management. He also highlights the challenges of building team dynamics and the significance of continuous learning for success.

Chris Holm, head coach of the Ibaraki Robots in Japan’s B.League, shares his insights on transforming team culture and enhancing performance. He emphasizes the importance of player engagement and realistic goal-setting, especially in overcoming season challenges. Holm discusses the role of effective communication in team development, particularly in a diverse environment. The conversation also covers strategic defensive techniques, the significance of player development for creating scoring opportunities, and the exciting rise of basketball culture in Japan.

In this week's coaching conversation, University of Tennessee at Chattonooga head coach Dan Earl joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on his see, share, shoot and compete philosophy.Since taking over as head coach of the Chattanooga Mocs in 2022, Earl has transformed the team into a force in the Southern Conference. His tenure has been marked by sustained progress, culminating in a standout 2024-25 season in which Chattanooga secured a 29-9 overall record and a 15-3 conference record to claim the Southern Conference regular-season championship. His guidance propelled the Mocs to an impressive run in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), where they emerged as champions after an overtime victory against UC Irvine. His coaching excellence was recognized as he earned his second Southern Conference Coach of the Year award in 2025.Earl began his head coaching journey at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 2015, where he led the program for seven seasons. Though faced with challenges, he guided VMI to notable success, including a 12-11 record in the 2020-21 season that earned him Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors. His leadership culminated in a postseason berth when VMI reached the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2022.Before becoming a head coach, Earl gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Penn State from 2006 to 2011, followed by a stint as associate head coach at Navy from 2011 to 2015. His years in assistant roles helped shape his coaching philosophy, emphasizing player development, tactical execution, and resilience.With two Southern Conference Coach of the Year awards to his name and a proven track record of success, Dan Earl continues to solidify his reputation as a top-tier leader in college basketball.

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.