The Rising Coaches Podcast

Alex Sarama, Founder of Transforming Basketball, has vast experience in player and coaching development across the globe. He emphasizes innovative coaching strategies, focusing on research-based methods that adapt to various contexts. The discussion dives into the constraints-led approach, enhancing player performance through small-sided games, while advocating for creativity in practice design. Sarama also highlights the significance of decision-making in training and building authentic relationships in the coaching community to foster a supportive environment.

Kevin Sutton is the Technical Director of Basketball at IMG Academy. Coach Sutton has an extensive coaching background ranging from High School to the Division 1 level. Coach Sutton has made a variety of stops in his 38 year coaching career including various roles at James Madison, Montverde Academy, George Washington University, Georgetown University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island, Florida Gulf Coast University, Kansas State and his current role at IMG Academy. As a head coach at the high school level, Coach Sutton has posted a 489-102 overall head coaching record for an 83% win ratio and has worked as a head and assistant coach for USA basketball for nearly 8 years.

Danny Reese is the current Assistant Coach at Youngstown State University. Coach Reese is a young coach on the rise who had a stellar playing career at YSU and following his playing career, Danny would become the Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Jerrod Calhoun for 6 years. Most recently Coach Reese was appointed as the assistant coach for the previous two years and he has been an integral part of the Penguins successes during their five straight winning seasons for the first time in YSU Division 1 history and helped the penguins break numerous 20 win seasons. We are excited to chat with a young coach on the rise!

Today, on the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are continuing the second half of our previous conversation with a long time NBA assistant and most recent assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, so please welcome back coach Dan Burke.

Dan Burke is a long time NBA coach and former assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons. Coach Burke has been coaching in the NBA for 35 years and has held coaching stints including a Video Coordinator role for the Portland Trailblazers and Assistant positions for the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and most recently, the Detroit Pistons. Coach Burke has worked along legendary coaches such as Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers and Monty Williams. We are excited to hear more about his strong NBA background and what helped him grow in the industry. This episode had a ton of good content so we had to cut it into 2 parts.

Chris Holguin is the current Player Development and G League Liaison for the LA Clippers. Coach Holguin has made a tremendous growth in the industry starting his career as a Student Manager at the University of Texas at San Antonio and working up the ranks in various roles at Maret School, Reno Bighorns in the G League, Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, and where he stands now and for the past 8 years, with the LA Clippers. Coach Holguin has held various roles with the LA Clippers including Assistant Video Coordinator, Head Video Coordinator, Coaching Associate, Player Development/Video/ACC Liaison, and his current position as the Player Development and G-League Liaison. We are excited to learn from a coach with a wide range of experiences.

John Shulman is an established coach in the industry as he is the head coach at Central Arkansas. Coach Shulman started his coaching career as an assistant at University School of Nashville which led him into assistant roles at Wofford, East Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga, ultimately leading into his first head coaching position at Chattanooga and leading into McCallie School, Alabama-Huntsville and Central Arkansas all in the head coaching position. Coach Shulman has posted a winning record from the High School to college ranks, holding a 58% win percentage in College and a 76% win ratio in High School all as a head coach.

Joanne Aluka-White is the current Women’s Assistant Coach at the University of North Carolina. Coach White had a stellar playing career at Middle Tennessee which led her into representing her country in the Olympics as well as a stint with the Dallas Fury in the NWBL. Following her playing career, she was led into her first assistant coaching role with Florida International University and then Charlotte as an assistant and shortly after becoming the Associate Head Coach at Charlotte. Following Charlotte, Joanne would then take a position where she now stands for the past 6 years, as the current Assistant Women’s Coach at the University of North Carolina.

Dave Fedor is the newly appointed first year head coach at Georgian Court University. Coach Fedor started his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Rutgers University which helped lead him into Georgian Court as an assistant and landed a position with division 1 Robert Morris University, where he stood for 6 years also as an Assistant Coach. Coach Fedor most recently landed his first head coaching position back to where it all started, Georgian Court University. Coach Fedor was also a pivotal piece working with The Hoop Group as an assistant director and director of team tournaments. We are excited to learn from a new head coach and a coach on the rise himself.

Karen Lange is a tremendous coach in the industry and the current Assistant Women’s Coach for Duke University. Coach Lange started her coaching career following her standout playing career at The University of Iowa. Lange has a great coaching resume making stops at Virginia Tech, Kansas, Charlotte, Georgia and Duke in support staff roles while holding a head coaching title at MidAmerica Nazarene University. Lange has a strong reputation for her ability to develop guards, while helping to grow strong defensive teams as well. Lange tends to be a frequent visitor in the postseason and NCAA tournaments no matter where she is at. We are excited to learn more from a great coach!