The Basketball Podcast

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.

Dan Earl, head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, shares his journey of transforming the Mocs into Southern Conference champions. He discusses his philosophy of see, share, shoot, and compete, emphasizing team resilience during their NIT championship run. Earl also dives into strategic insights for late-game decisions and the importance of empowering players for real-time decision-making. His experience in coaching highlights the impact of analytics and adaptable strategies in modern 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.

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.