Alicia Komaki on the 5 Ships before a Championship (EP396)

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Sierra Canyon head coach Alicia Komaki joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their five ships before a championship.Alicia Komaki is set to enter her fourteenth season as Head Coach of the Sierra Canyon Girls Basketball team in 2025–2026, where she has established one of the nation's most dominant high school programs. Her tenure is highlighted by leading her teams to five California State Championships and securing an ESPN National Championship in 2023, finishing the season ranked number one in the country. Coach Komaki boasts an overall career record of over 350 wins at Sierra Canyon, maintaining an exceptional win percentage above 85% over 13 years.Beyond the banners, Coach Komaki is renowned for developing elite, collegiate-ready talent. Her program has served as a pipeline for top NCAA programs, featuring standout athletes like Juju Watkins (USC), Kennedy Burke (WNBA ), and Vanessa De Jesus (Duke). This proven ability to consistently prepare players for the highest level of competition underscores the effectiveness of her coaching system and development focus.Her success has garnered national recognition and numerous accolades. In 2022, Komaki was named the WBCA Pat Summit National Coach of the Year, and she was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year in 2023. Other honors include the LA Times Coach of the Year and Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year in 2019. Her standing among elite coaches is further recognized by USA Basketball, where she made her bench coaching debut as an assistant at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit and previously served as a court coach for the USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team trials in 2017. With a personal resume reflecting 7 State Championship rings and 2 National Championships, Komaki is a proven winner and a powerhouse in high school basketball development.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Husson University head coach Warren Caruso joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching with core values, perspective and gratitude.Warren Caruso is a coaching fixture in New England basketball, having served as the head coach for the Husson men's basketball program since 1994. Throughout his remarkable 35-year tenure as both a head and assistant coach for the Eagles, Caruso has built one of the most consistently successful programs in the region, currently ranking second in New England in wins by an active coach and top 10 nationally in NCAA Division III wins.Caruso's record is defined by dominance in conference play and postseason consistency. He has led the Eagles to an astounding 17 Conference Regular Season Championships and 16 Conference Tournament Championships, posting a formidable 16-4 record in championship games. Overall, his teams have secured 16 total NAIA/NCAA National Tournament appearances (10 NCAA, 6 NAIA). His sustained excellence is further highlighted by guiding his teams to 15 seasons with 20 or more wins, including a five-year streak from 2012-13 to 2016-17.The winningest coach in North Atlantic Conference history, Caruso's success has earned him numerous personal accolades, including seven Conference Coach of the Year honors (most recently in 2025) and three Maine State Coach of the Year titles. He was inducted into the Husson Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. As a former four-year letter-winner and team captain for the Eagles, Caruso has maintained a strong pipeline of talent, having recruited 23 of the 55 1,000-point scorers in program history since taking over.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Liberty University head coach Ritchie McKay joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on conceptual coaching, packline and the value of mentors.Ritchie McKay is the head coach of Liberty University’s men’s basketball program, where he has led the Flames to unprecedented success since returning in 2015. In his second stint at Liberty, McKay has guided the team to seven 20-plus win seasons, including a school-record 30 victories in 2019–20. Under his leadership, Liberty captured three ASUN Tournament titles, four regular season championships, and earned its first NCAA Tournament win in program history in 2019. Over the past six seasons, Liberty has won 149 games—eighth most in the nation during that span.Before returning to Liberty, McKay spent six seasons as associate head coach at the University of Virginia under Tony Bennett. During his tenure, the Cavaliers posted a 136–64 record, won the ACC Championship in 2014, and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. McKay’s head coaching career spans over two decades, with previous stops at New Mexico, Oregon State, Colorado State, and Portland State. At New Mexico, he led the Lobos to an 82–69 record over five seasons, including a Mountain West Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2005. At Colorado State, McKay posted a 37–23 record and guided the Rams to the NIT quarterfinals in 1999. His tenure at Portland State marked the revival of a dormant program, earning national recognition and a Clair Bee Award finalist nod for innovation in coaching.In total, McKay has amassed over 400 career wins and holds the highest winning percentage in Liberty program history. His coaching accolades include multiple Coach of the Year honors, national recognition for leadership, and a reputation for building programs that compete with integrity and purpose.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, UNC Greensboro head coach Mike Jones joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their defensive identity.Mike Jones is the head coach at UNC Greensboro, where he has continued his winning tradition with three consecutive 20-win seasons. Prior to joining UNCG in 2021, Jones spent a decade as the head coach at Radford University, leading the Highlanders to 174 wins, two Big South regular season championships in 2019 and 2020, and a Big South tournament title in 2018. That same season, he guided Radford to its third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and was named both Big South Coach of the Year and NABC District 3 Coach of the Year. He earned a second Big South Coach of the Year honor in 2020 and was a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award in 2019.Under Jones, Radford made postseason appearances in the College Basketball Invitational in 2014 and 2015, and recorded five seasons with at least 20 wins. His teams earned notable victories over programs such as Northwestern, Richmond, Notre Dame, and Texas. Before his head coaching tenure, Jones served as an assistant at VCU under Shaka Smart, helping the Rams reach the Final Four and compiling 55 wins over two seasons—the most in any two-year span in program history.Earlier in his career, Jones was an assistant coach at Georgia under Dennis Felton, where he contributed to the Bulldogs’ 2008 SEC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. His coaching journey also includes assistant roles at West Virginia, Richmond, Furman, and Howard, as well as a head coaching stint at Sidwell Friends School. With an overall record of 252–199, Jones has built a reputation for competitive success, player development, and leadership rooted in integrity. His mentors include George Felton and Shaka Smart, both of whom helped shape his approach to coaching at the highest level.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Samford head coach Matt Wise joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on taking over as a first year head coach.Matt Wise enters the 2025–26 season as the head women’s basketball coach at Samford University, continuing to build on a coaching career defined by player development, tactical innovation, and program elevation. After being officially introduced as head coach in April 2025, Wise took the reins following two seasons as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs, where he was deeply involved in all aspects of the program.Prior to his time at Samford, Wise served as the director of video and creative content for Alabama’s women’s basketball team during the 2021–22 season. His coaching journey also includes extensive experience on the men’s side, with assistant coaching roles at East Tennessee State, Little Rock, and two separate stints at the University of Wyoming. At Wyoming, he helped guide the Cowboys to a Mountain West Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2015, contributing to the development of NBA forward Larry Nance Jr.Wise began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, where he supported the Gators during back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.A former four-year letter winner at Transylvania University, he led the Pioneers to a 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament appearance and earned his master’s degree in sport management from Florida in 2013.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on energy, skill and no skipping steps.Tammi Reiss has led the University of Rhode Island women's basketball program to unprecedented success since becoming head coach. In the 2022–23 season, she guided the Rams to a program-record 26 wins and their first-ever Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship. The year prior, Rhode Island posted 22 wins, marking the first time in program history the team achieved back-to-back 20-win seasons. Under her leadership, the Rams advanced to the WNIT Super 16 in 2023, earning two postseason victories for the first time.Reiss was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in both 2020–21 and 2022–23. She was also recognized nationally as ESPNW Coach of the Week on February 14, 2022, and again on February 6, 2023.Before arriving at Rhode Island, Reiss served as an assistant coach at Syracuse, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State and Virginia, contributing to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles. Her professional coaching experience includes roles with the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars and Utah Starzz, as well as her alma mater, the University of Virginia.In addition to her collegiate achievements, Reiss was an assistant coach for Team USA’s 3x3 squads, helping lead them to a Bronze Medal at the Olympics and a Gold Medal at the World Championships.She was a four-year starter for the Cavaliers, earning All-American honors in1992. She led UVA to three ACC regular-season titles, two league tournament championships, and three Final Four appearances. Reiss earned All-Conference honors three times in her career and was named to the All-ACC TournamentTeam twice. She ended her collegiate career ranked first in school history in 3-point field goals made (139) and 3-point field goal percentage (.416) and was second in points (1,842) and free throws made (437).Reiss was the fifth overall pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft by the Starzz. She played two seasons for Utah, serving as team captain.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Chris Holguin joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on NBA Defense and Using CLA.Chris Holguin is entering his 10th season with the LA Clippers, where he currently serves as an Assistant Coach. A native of El Paso, Texas, Holguin’s path began as a student manager at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He went on to coach high school basketball at the Maret School in Washington D.C., served as Operations Assistant at his alma mater UTSA, and worked with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League before joining the Clippers in 2016. Since then, he has advanced through roles including Video Coordinator, Player Development Coach, and Two-Way Coach, steadily building his reputation within the organization.Over the past decade, Holguin has worked extensively with rookies, two-way players, and NBA veterans while also traveling globally to train Clippers All-Stars. Known for his defensive focus and passion for player development, Holguin has become a trusted voice who thrives on growth, connection, and teaching, making him a valued part of the organization for nearly a decade.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Canisius head coach Jim Christian joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their offensive DNA.Jim Christian brings nearly two decades of NCAA Division I head coaching experience to Canisius, with a proven track record of success across multiple programs. He owns over 300 career wins and is recognized as one of the most accomplished coaches in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history, holding the league’s highest winning percentage (.700) and earning MAC Coach of the Year honors twice.Christian led Kent State to five postseason appearances from 2002–08, including two NCAA Tournament berths and three NIT bids. He later guided Ohio University to a 49–22 record in two seasons, winning a regular-season MAC title and earning NABC District Coach of the Year honors. At Boston College, he oversaw the program’s most successful season in nearly a decade, highlighted by a win over No. 1 Duke and a postseason return in 2017–18.He also served as head coach at TCU and held assistant roles at Kent State, Pittsburgh, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky, and St. Francis (Pa.). Most recently, Christian was part of Kent State’s staff during back-to-back MAC Championship game appearances and a 2023 NCAA Tournament berth.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, ShootXP founder and skill acquisition expert Mark Upton joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on better coaching and skill development.Mark Upton is a globally respected coaching and skill acquisition expert with over two decades of experience shaping youth sport and learning design. His career began in Australia, sparked by a childhood passion for basketball and a deep curiosity about how people learn. That early interest evolved into a professional journey spanning sport science, coaching, performance analysis, and applied research.Throughout the 2000s, Mark worked with professional teams, national sporting organizations, and institutes of sport, helping coaches build game-like learning environments and understand athlete development through performance systems and skill acquisition science. His early writing and speaking engagements positioned him as a thoughtful contributor to the emerging online dialogue around coaching and learning.In the 2010s, Mark’s influence grew through thought leadership and blogging, where he challenged traditional coaching methods and advocated for nonlinear pedagogy, deliberate play, and practices that foster decision-making and adaptability. His work encouraged coaches to move beyond isolated drills and embrace complexity in training design.By the late 2010s, Mark embraced a neo-generalist philosophy, expanding his focus beyond sport to include systems thinking, organizational development, and human learning. His writing at markupton.life reflects this broader perspective, offering insights that bridge disciplines and help people navigate complexity in learning environments.In the 2020s, Mark founded ShootXP, a basketball development platform that integrates skill acquisition science, technology, and analytics to support youth players, coaches, and families. ShootXP emphasizes long-term growth over short-term success, helping users understand that real development comes through challenge, struggle, and meaningful engagement—not trophies or shortcuts.Today, Mark continues to influence the global coaching community through ShootXP, his writing, and consulting. His work consistently promotes optimal challenge, exposure to higher levels of play, and the value of creativity and adaptability in sport. He remains a leading voice in rethinking how athletes learn and how coaches can design environments that truly foster development.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Utah Jazz assistant coach Mike Williams joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on after action offensive concepts.Mike Williams joined the Utah Jazz as an assistant coach in 2023, serving under head coach Will Hardy. His rise to the NBA coaching ranks followed a standout tenure as head coach of the Capital City Go-Go, the G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards. During the 2022–23 season, Williams led the Go-Go to a franchise-best 25–7 record, establishing the team as one of the top-performing units in the league. His leadership helped the Go-Go finish with one of the most efficient offenses in the G League, despite operating with a roster that lacked consistent perimeter shooting. Williams emphasized pace, spacing, and decision-making, and his teams were known for their ability to execute in late-game situations and adapt to personnel strengths.Williams began his coaching career with the Washington Wizards organization in 2018 as a player development assistant, where he worked closely with NBA players returning from injury and helped guide on-court rehab and skill development. He later served as an assistant coach and director of player development for the Go-Go before being promoted to head coach in 2021.