The Basketball Podcast

Guest: David Hixon, Former Amherst College Head Coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame InducteeFormer Amherst College head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, David Hixon, joins the Basketball Podcast to share lessons and stories from a hall-of-fame career.David Hixon, who was head men's basketball coach at Amherst College for 42 years, was named as one of the 12 inductees in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2023. Hixon, an Andover native and former Amherst player, took over as the program's head coach in 1977, just two years after he graduated college.Before retiring in 2020, Hixon racked up 826 wins and became just the third coach in NCAA Division III men's college basketball history to surpass the 800-win mark when he did so in 2018. Hixon coached the Mammoths to two NCAA Division III national championships (2007, '13), seven Final Four appearances (2004, '06-08, '13-14, '16) and 20 Division III national tournaments.Hixon was twice named Division III Coach of the Year, the national title years of 2007 and 2013, by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Under Hixon, Amherst College played in 18 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championships from 2001 through 2019 and won eight titles (2001-02, '05'06, '12-14, '19).Breakdown1:00 - Basketball Hall of Fame5:00 - Best Practices8:00 - Firm with the Players10:00 - Love Problem Solving15:00 - Practice is not a Game21:30 - Valuing 5-on-525:00 - Young Assistant28:48 - 29:29 - B.I. Immersion ADS29:30 - Brief Talk32:00 - Value of Humor34:00 - Intentional with Drills37:00 - Value Possibilities39:00 - Rote memory41:00 - Shooting into Practice45:00 - Free Throws48:00 - Personnel is the key55:00 - Coach Like PopDavid Hixon’s Bio:Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_HixonBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Dusty May, Florida Atlantic Head CoachFlorida Atlantic head coach Dusty May joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss coaching a team to the Final Four.Dusty May led Florida Atlantic to its greatest season in school history in the 2022-23 campaign. May guided his Owls to the Final Four while posting a program-best 35-4 record. Prior to this season, the Owls had one previous appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but this year, May led the Owls to not just their first win in the NCAA Tournament, but all the way to the Final Four in Houston.The May resume is well-decorated, as he was named the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year, as well as the NABC All-District 17 Coach of the Year and Conference USA Coach of the Year this season. May is the Owls’ all-time leader in coaching wins with a record of 101-60, despite having only been on the FAU sidelines for five seasons. FAU has not had a losing season in the five years of the May era. The Owls also captured the Conference USA Tournament and Regular Season Championships, both for the first time in school history.Under May's guidance, the 2022-23 Owls have the most wins in school history, the most conference wins in school & C-USA history (18) the longest winning streak in school history & had the third-longest streak in C-USA history (20 games).Breakdown1:00 - Final Four4:00 - Battling the Temptation6:30 - Keeping Players10:30 - Win13:30 - Handling Distractions16:00 - Humble Mindset20:00 - Defense24:00 - Value of Space27:00 - Modern Leadership29:16 - 29:51 - B.I. Ads January30:30 - Level of Success35:00 - Preparation39:00 - Experience at FAU41:00 - Continue Improving43:00 - Communicate Openly46:00 - ConclusionDusty May’s Bio:Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusty_MayTwitter: https://twitter.com/CoachDustyMayBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: David Herbert, Basketball Australia CoachBasketball Australia coach David Herbert joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss the player and team development approach at the Centre of Excellence.David Herbert is the current head Coach Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence - Woman’s Program. He has over 25 years of experience within the Basketball Australia pathways having coached in the NBL1, WNBL, National Junior Championships and as a national team’s Head Coach. David is the current head coach of the Ballarat Miners NBL1 women’s team. He has received numerous coaching accolades including WNBL Coach of the Year, Coach of the Year Victoria and Queensland and the SEABL coach of the year.Breakdown1:00 - Daily and Weekly Schedule9:00 - Basketball Australia10:30 - Shooting Philosophy15:00 - Shooting Commonalities19:00 - Kinetic Flow22:00 - Active Receiver24:00 - Shoot First Mentality27:00 - Team Defense Philosophy3042 - 31:23 - Immersion Videos AD 202331:30 - Conceptual Offense36:00 - Rebound King39:00 - Evaluating Assistants45:00 - What's Next Mentality49:00 - Trapping Challenge51:00 - Slow Learning55:00 - ConclusionDavid Herbert’s Bio:Bio: https://www.basketballvictoria.com.au/news/david-herbert-appointed-as-head-coach-womens-program-at-the-coeTwitter: https://twitter.com/herbiehoopsBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Doug Lemov, International Best-Selling AuthorInternational best-selling author, Doug Lemov joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss game coaching and video as a learning tool.Doug Lemov last appeared on EP153 of the Basketball Podcast and we are grateful to be able to follow up with him on many of the topics that have appeared after he connected with so many coaches after he published The Coach's Guide to Teaching.Doug Lemov is a former teacher and school principal. He helped found Uncommon Schools, a network of high-performing schools in under-served communities. His books on teaching, which include Teach Like a Champion (now Teach Like a Champion 2.0) have been translated into a dozen languages.Breakdown1:00 - Better Teaching2:30 - In-Game Coaching5:30 - Actual Coaching14:30 - Red Wagon15:30 - Game Feedback21:00 - Journaling 25:00 - Video as a Learning Tool31:00 - Video Sessions31:00 - 31:41 - BI AD Jan 202339:00 - Value of Video40:30 - Complex Circumstances42:00 - Ideas for a Good Film Session45:30 - Random Practice51:00 - Direct Instruction53:00 - Effective Watching55:00 - ConclusionDoug Lemov’s Bio:Bio: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/doug-lemov/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Doug_LemovBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Jamie Smith, Founder, and Head Sport Preparation Coach of The U of StrengthFounder and head sports preparation coach of The U of Strength Jamie Smith joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on the athletic and human development approaches.Jamie Smith is passionate about guiding his athletes through their developmental process and discovering unique ways that blend physical preparation and skill adaptation. As a former college basketball player at Merrimack College, he graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine and a concentration in Exercise Physiology. He has had the opportunity to coach under some of the most knowledgeable and experienced coaches in the industry.Jamie has coached a variety of athletes from novice to elite skill levels, some of which include current NHL, NBA, and MLS players and the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champion UConn Huskies. Through adaptive, creative and experienced based program design, Jamie assists his athletes in reaching their full potential on and off the ice, court, and field.Breakdown1:00 - The U of Strength6:00 - Human Performance10:00 - Athletic Development Field19:00 - Enjoyment Factor24:00 - Traditional Approach to Coaching31:00 - Dynamic Warm Up38:00 - Ecological Approach42:00 - Basketball Immersion ADS44:00 - Common Constraint Manipulation54:00 - Creating Space59:30 - Need for Specificity1:02:30 - Game of Bursts1:06:00 - ConclusionJamie Smith’s Bio:Bio: https://simplifaster.com/articles/author/jamiesmith/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheUofStrengthWebsite: https://www.theuofstrength.com/Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: John Rillie, Perth Wildcats Head CoachPerth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on a storied franchise, a top offense, and coaching experiences that have shaped his philosophy.John Rillie played 16 seasons in the NBL between 1995 and 2010 before embarking on a coaching career in the United States college system. Rillie has also been an assistant coach for the Australian Boomers, helping guide the Boomers to the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. In 481 NBL games, Rillie averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. From 1997 to 2004, Rillie was a member of the Australian Boomers. He represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics.Rillie played his college basketball at Gonzaga and joined Boise State head coach Leon Rice's staff in 2010. In 2017, he was hired as an assistant coach for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. After his first season with the Gauchos, he was promoted to associate head coach.Breakdown1:00 - Points Per Possession3:00 - Scaling6:00 - Cues on Rolls9:00 - Pro System12:00 - Watching Film13:30 - Low Turnovers and High Assists16:00 - Ball Reversal19:30 - Making the Decision to Cut23:00 - Ideal Preference25:04 - 25:39 - BI AD Jan 202327:30 - Game Wraps30:00 - Recruiting College Players to Pro33:00 - Evaluations35:00 - Interactive Conversations38:00 - Development Plans41:00 - Tokyo Olympics Highlights44:00 - Type of Interactions45:30 - Concept of a Routine49:30 - Improving this Off-SeasonJohn Rillie’s Bio:Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_RillieTwitter: https://twitter.com/johnrillieBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Stefan Weissenboeck, Brose Bamberg Player Development CoachBrose Bamberg player development coach Stefan Weissenboeck joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on how the work, the trust and the patience drive player development. Stefan Weissenboeck has been the Head of player development at nine-time German champion Brose Bamberg since 2010. Under his guidance players like P.J. Tucker or Daniel Theis managed to make their way to the NBA. Stefan has also been part of the Brooklyn Nets coaches staff and works with the NBPA and the Czech Federation, and trains separately with high-level clients of all ages.He is an international expert and a secret weapon when it comes to NBA players like Jarret Allen, Caris LeVert or Jakob Poeltl taking the next step in their career. Or when European greats like Nikos Zisis, Nicolo Melli or Tomas Satoransky want to optimize their game.Breakdown1:00 - Three Things for Player Development5:30 - Trust10:00 - Brose Bamberg Player Development13:30 - Comfort and Confidence17:30 - Finding Solutions21:00 - Parts of  Practice23:40 - 24:21 - Immersion Videos AD Jan 202325:00 - Individual Differences27:30 - Importance of Feet34:30 - Emotional Regulation37:00 - Mistakes40:00 - Feedback on Misses44:30 - How to be Better Coaches46:00 - ConclusionStefan Weissenboeck’s Bio:Bio: https://stefan-weissenboeck.com/Website: https://basketball.eurobasket.com/coach/Stefan-Weissenboeck/13220Basketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Adam Forde, Cairns Taipans Head CoachCairns Taipans head coach Adam Forde joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on game models and tactical periodization.Between 2013 and 2019, Forde was an assistant coach with the Perth Wildcats and won four NBL championships. After a season as an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings in 2019–20, he served as their head coach during the 2020–21 season. He was appointed head coach of the Taipans in 2021, and in 2023 he was named the NBL Coach of the Year.Breakdown1:00 - Team Accountability4:30 - Freedom7:00 - Ignition Drills13:00 - Clips Applied in a Game15:00 - Tactical Periodization25:00 - Game Model28:52 - 29:26 - Basketball Immersion AD Jan 202329:30 - Tactical Dimension35:00 - Coaching Philosophy38:00 - Providing Guidance45:00 - Creating Trust48:00 - Make Mistakes51:00 - Putting Players in Best Situation55:00 - Ways to Manipulate Intensity59:00 - Building Program1:00:00 - ConclusionAdam Forde’s Bio:Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_FordeBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Jacob Jackomas, Illawarra Hawks Head CoachIllawarra Hawks head coach Jacob Jackomas joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on assistant and head coaching and the 5-Out spread offense.Jacob Jackomas previously acted as Australia coaching legend Brian Goorjian's assistant coach for more than a decade, his extensive coaching resume includes stints in the NBL, China, and the Australian Boomers program over the past 6 years. Jackomas was recently made the International Scouting Coordinator for the Australian national basketball team, the Boomers.His assistant coaching resume includes stints with the Sydney Kings (2006-2009), Dongguan Leopards (2009-2015), Sydney Kings (2015-2016), and the Shanghai Sharks (2016-2017).Breakdown1:00 - Takeaways Working with Brian Goorjian9:00 - Scouting12:00 - Competition with Coaches14:30 - Olympic Learning18:00 - Pick and Roll22:00 - Flow31:00 - Running a First-Team33:03 - 33:45 - Immersion Videos ADS33:30 - Best Spots36:30 - The Spread Offense39:00 - Catch Attack Matchups43:00 - Penetration Reaction47:00 - Cuts52:00 - Creating Space55:00 - Shot Clock59:00 - Advice to Assistant CoachesJacob Jackomas’ Bio:Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-jackomas-68608669Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobjackomasBasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com

Guest: Mike Prada, NBA Staff Editor for The Athletic and AuthorNBA Staff Editor for The Athletic and author Mike Prada joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on how spacing and the three-point shot changed how we coach.Mike Prada is an NBA analyst, writer, and editor who specializes in writing about dense topics like Xs and Os in a way all fans can understand. He currently works for The Athletic after spending 10 years running SB Nation's NBA coverage. He is the author of Spaced Out: How the NBA’s Three-Point Revolution Changed Everything You Thought You Knew About Basketball, published by Triumph Books.Breakdown1:00 - Spaced Out Book4:30 - Importance of Space8:00 - Shooting the Three13:00 - Three-Point Revolution17:30 - Humans Playing Humans25:00 - Off The Ball Actions27:39 - 28:14 - BAsketball Immersion AD January 202328:30 - Analytics30:00 - Position Less vs. Defining Positions36:00 - Giving Freedom38:00 - Big Team Talk40:00 - Predefined Role43:00 - Notice Progress46:00 - Impact on Offense and Space Created51:00 - Evolution in Coaching54:30 - Curiosity55:30 - ConclusionMike Prada’s Bio:Bio: https://theathletic.com/author/mike-prada/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikePradaNBABasketball ImmersionWebsite: http://basketballimmersion.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bballimmersion?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/basketballimmersionFacebook: https://facebook.com/basketballimmersionImmersion Videos:Check out all our all-access practice and specialty clinics: https://www.immersionvideos.com