The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Ryan Pedon, Head Coach of Illinois State. Pedon began his career as a graduate assistant at Miami (OH) before moving into full-time roles at Kent State and Toledo. He then spent time at Illinois as Director of Basketball Operations, gaining valuable Big Ten experience. Pedon later served as an assistant at Butler, helping guide the Bulldogs to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. From there, he joined Chris Holtmann’s staff at Ohio State, where he helped recruit nationally ranked classes and compete at the highest level. In 2022, Pedon was named head coach at Illinois State, taking on the challenge of rebuilding the program. In his first three seasons, he has focused on culture, player development, and implementing an up-tempo offensive system. His leadership has sparked excitement within the program and positioned Illinois State for future success. In this episode we discuss how his early coaching struggles shaped him, how he has changed the program in three years, and the core values he instills in his team.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Nolan Wilson, Assistant Coach for TCU Women’s Basketball. Wilson began his career as a graduate assistant at Prairie View A&M while earning his MBA. He then moved to Rice University, serving as Recruiting Director and later Assistant Coach, helping the program to titles and a WNIT championship. From there, he worked with the Dallas Mavericks as a Player Development Assistant, training NBA talent and utilizing analytics. Wilson later joined Washington as Director of Analytics and Scouting before being promoted to Assistant Coach. At Washington, he contributed to top recruiting classes and key wins over ranked teams. In 2024, he brought his experience across the NBA, WNBA, and Division I levels to TCU. He’s known for expertise in scouting, analytics, and player development. In this episode we discuss his prep process before big games, ways to keep practices competitive, and what he has noticed in terms of personal growth as a young coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Jacey Brooks, the Head Women’s Basketball Coach of Northern Illinois University. Coach Brooks has built an impressive coaching résumé, starting as an assistant at St. Bonaventure, where she helped guide the program to multiple postseason appearances, including an NCAA Sweet 16 run. She later served as an assistant coach at Canisius College, Bowling Green, University of Buffalo before taking the helm as head coach at NIU. Before NIU she did have prior head coaching experience at State University of New York College at Cortland. Coach Brooks is known for her ability to develop players and build strong team culture, Brooks has created a reputation as a program builder and leader who emphasizes growth on and off the court. In this episode, we discuss the first 90 days stepping into a Division I head coaching role, how to instill confidence in your players as a head coach, and unique preseason team-building exercises to help strengthen team camaraderie.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Da’Sean Butler, Assistant Coach with the Boston Celtics and one of the most accomplished players to come out of West Virginia University. A 2010 All-American and the winningest player in WVU history, Butler led the Mountaineers to a Big East Championship and a Final Four appearance under Head Coach Bob Huggins. Butler was drafted by the Miami Heat and spent time learning from Erik Spoelstra and the famed Heat culture before going on to a successful professional career overseas in France, Germany, Jerusalem, Latvia, Belgium, and Israel. Following his playing days, Butler transitioned into coaching with stops at Wheeling University, College Park Skyhawks, West Virginia University and the New York Knicks before joining the Celtics staff. Known for his resilience, leadership, and ability to connect with players at every level, Butler has brought his championship experience and player development expertise to Boston’s bench. In this episode we discuss how his coaches helped him navigate a major injury in his playing career, a snippet of the Miami Heat culture book from his playing days with Erik Spoelstra, and how the Celtics staff approached keeping everyone focused the next season after winning the NBA Championship.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Desma Thomas-Bateast, Assistant Coach at Florida State University and one of the most respected voices in women’s basketball. A standout at the University of Miami, she finished her career as one of the program’s all-time greats before playing professionally overseas in Italy, Sweden, Turkey and with the Birmingham Power. After her playing career had ended, she moved to the collegiate level with stops at Dillard University, Rhode Island, New York Liberty, Florida International, St Thomas, University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic, Cleveland State and Florida State. Along the way, she has helped guide teams to conference championships, NCAA Tournament runs, and player development success stories. Known for her recruiting expertise and ability to build winning cultures, coach Thomas-Bateast has become a leader both on and off the court. Her diverse experience gives her a rare perspective on what it takes to succeed in the game long-term. In this episode we discuss what she learned after her collegiate and professional playing career that helped her pursue coaching, certain patterns she has noticed in programs that succeed long term versus those that struggle, and advice for coaches and players on preparing for life beyond playing basketball.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Joe David, the highly respected Head Coach at Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Coach David has built one of the premier high school basketball programs in Pennsylvania, leading his teams to numerous playoff appearances, deep postseason runs, and a reputation for discipline and excellence. His coaching journey has included developing countless players who have gone on to succeed at the collegiate level. Known for his ability to adapt and innovate, Coach David has sustained success in an ever-changing basketball landscape. Beyond the high school sidelines, he’s recently expanded his impact internationally, becoming the owner of an Italian professional basketball team. His unique blend of high school leadership and global basketball perspective makes his story one of a kind. In this episode we discuss growing and sustaining success at the high school level as a head coach, different tactics he has developed to help his teams grow after each practice and what the first two weeks looked like as the owner of an Italian professional basketball team.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Vance Catlin, Senior Vice President of Pro Scouting with the Indiana Pacers. Coach Catlin’s career in basketball spans decades, starting with the Pacers before making the transition into college with the Michigan State Women’s program. He would then take a video coordinator role back with the Pacers and working his way up the program serving in multiple scouting and front office roles while also holding a stint with the Indiana Fever. Over the years, he has built a reputation for his sharp eye for talent, his ability to identify players who fit a system, and his commitment to long-term development. Catlin has been a key part of assembling competitive rosters, evaluating both domestic and international talent, and collaborating with coaches and executives to build winning teams. His experience covers every facet of scouting, from early identification to final roster decisions, giving him rare insight into what it takes to succeed at the highest level. In this episode we discuss best practices for growing in an NBA program over the years, a breakdown of the process once talent is identified in an NBA organization and how to separate box score stats from knowing if a player will be good in your system.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Patty Medina, former coach and current Associate Athletic Director at American University. Medina’s career in athletics began on the court, where she coached at multiple levels, including successful stints in both high school and collegiate basketball. She later transitioned into athletic administration, bringing her coaching perspective to leadership roles that have impacted student-athletes and programs across the board. At American University, Medina has been instrumental in overseeing key areas of operations, compliance, and program development. Her unique blend of coaching experience and administrative expertise allows her to bridge the gap between what happens on the floor and what drives success behind the scenes. She has developed a reputation for building strong cultures, guiding coaches, and fostering environments where athletes can thrive. In this episode we talk about the top things an athletic department might be looking for in the hiring process of a potential head coaching candidate, a full breakdown of how a hiring process works at the collegiate level and some great questions to ask in an interview including proper ways to follow up with the department post-interview.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Uzoh, Pro Personnel Scout for the Toronto Raptors. Uzoh enjoyed an impressive playing career, starring at the University of Tulsa where he finished as one of the program’s all-time leaders in points, assists, and steals. He went on to play in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors, including recording a triple-double in his final NBA game. His professional journey also took him overseas, competing in top leagues in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as representing Nigeria in the Olympics. After transitioning from player to evaluator, Uzoh brought his deep understanding of the game to the Raptors’ front office, where he now focuses on pro personnel scouting and player evaluation. His experience spans both the court and the boardroom, giving him a unique perspective on talent identification and development. In this episode we discuss the coaches from his past who have made a lasting impact on his career, the different scouting roles in the NBA and what each entails, some green and red flags to watch for when scouting a player as well as how to incorporate data and analytics into your scouting process.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Mazarei, the Associate Head Coach at the University of California. Coach Mazarei’s coaching journey began with Impact Basketball which would lead him into Moorpark College, where he served as an assistant before making the leap to the NBA as a player development coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. During his time in Memphis, he worked with and helped develop some of the league’s top talent. Coach Maz then transitioned back to the college ranks, serving as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt University before joining Cal’s staff. Known for his expertise in skill development, recruiting, and program building, Mazarei has built a reputation as a detail-oriented coach who connects deeply with his players. His diverse experience across the NBA, Division I, and junior college levels has shaped his unique perspective on the game. In this episode we discuss what the key moments or relationships that helped open those doors for him to jump from the community college to NBA level, how pivotal fundraising is for a program in today’s era of basketball, and the most underrated skill young coaches should develop early in their careers.