The Basketball Teacher Podcast

Being a coach who can adjust is vital in the game of basketball and that's why we were so happy to bring on Coach Kurnitsky to discuss how he does it. Coach shares his insights on his base offense and defense, when he recognizes changes need to be made and how to identify when to switch things up. We also discuss late game situations, mental composure and how to balance coaching versus letting players work through situations on their own. Enjoy this episode and get ready to make adjustments in your game!

Taking over a program without a history of success can be difficult, but this was the situation Coach Arnold found himself in. In this episode he shares his journey of going from zero wins to building up a contending program. He discusses what he did on day one, how he built the program in his image and what he did on the court to find success. Coach also shares what culture pieces he brought in to make sure a winning culture was had. Be inspired by this story and use it to take your program to the next level regardless of its history!

Need to speed up your player's internal clock and speed at which they make decisions? We have some great ideas in this episode with Coach Krebs who shares just that. Coach shares the ways he gets his team ready to make quick decisions and how it fits into his overall offensive scheme. We discuss philosophy, how to improve basketball IQ and how to use practices to get players playing with a faster pace. Use this episode and get your team crisper and more decisive on the court!

We dive into the topic of causing havoc in this episode with Coach Gaff. Coach shares his defensive philosophy, why it works for him and how he gets his guys up for playing defense. We talk about the drills and skills he works on to get the most out of his team. Coach also shares his tips on defensive buy-in, how to stay disciplined and refining the press. We also talk about aspects of player development and much more. If you live and breathe defense you'll be sure to get some great ideas out of this conversation!

Many players want to play in college but how can a coach make sure their players are ready for the next level? This is what we discuss with Coach Brown as he talks about the work he does with his players both on the court and off of it. Coach shares some of the offensive and defensive principles that matter most to him, how he gets players ready for any system as well as training basketball IQ. Additionally, Coach shares his insights on recruitment and how players can build their profile. Get players college ready with this episode!

We are so happy to welcome back Coach Carpentier (Carp) as a guest on the show. Coach has taken over a new program since we last talked to him and he comes on to share his journey of starting over and building a new program. Coach shares what he has learned on his previous journeys that he is applying to this one, the systems that will stay the same and how he plans on hitting the ground running to have success. We also discuss X's and O's along with his success criteria. Enjoy catching up with Coach Carp in this great episode!

Are you familiar with the Princeton Offense? Learn more about it and its implementation with Coach Jason Baker. Coach shares how he gets his players to buy into this offense, the way he installs it and how he creates shot opportunities out of it. We discuss installing the different series involved in it, how he practices it and how he gauges success out of the offense. We also discuss decision making and working on non-negotiable skills like screening and cutting. Learn more about this tried and tested offense here!

What are your program's values? How do you demonstrate them on the court? We asked this very question to Coach Shane Bryant and received his insights. He shares how he instills his values in all aspects of his program with advice on finding your values, having them reflected in your practices and player accountability. We also discuss how to modify and adjust your practices while still holding true to those values. Learn more on how to blend great culture and great practices with this impact conversation!

We discuss strategy and game planning in this episode with Coach Steve Allen. Coach shares how he plans and takes away his opponent's best option. Coach shares his defensive scheme, how he goes about scouting and the way he practices to take away what a team wants to do on offense. We also discuss defensive principles and how to stat and track if the game plan was a success. If you love defense and strategy then this is the episode for you!

In this episode we have Coach David Stein on to discuss how he took over and built a program from the ground up. Coach shares his story on what Whittier Tech was upon arrival, how he went about creating a strong culture and, then, his process of putting in X’s and O’s. Coach shares his philosophies and insights on program building, how to build practices and other challenges he had to overcome along the way. Additionally, we discuss skill development and advice for coaches on how to make the most impactful decisions when taking over a program. Be inspired and invigorated with these great stories and insights!