Ep. 323 Ryan Bernardi, Prolific Prep

This week Coach Brendan Suhr sits down with Ryan Bernardi, head coach of Prolific Prep, to dig into what it really takes to coach elite talent—and build a program that develops players and people. Bernardi shares how relationships and accountability are the foundation for coaching great players, why humility and owning mistakes earns trust with today’s athletes, and how his staff designs practices to maximize focus, decision-making, and energy (including a heavy dose of live 5-on-5). They also talk about Prolific’s unique “AP basketball” model, the move to Fort Lauderdale, and what it looks like to run a high-performance program with a deep, stable staff—plus Bernardi’s firsthand perspective on coaching top prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson and helping them handle growth, pressure, and preparation.All that and more on episode 323 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.More about today's guest: Ryan Bernardi is the Head Coach and Director of Basketball at Prolific Prep, where he has built one of the premier prep programs in the country. With a career winning percentage over 85%, Bernardi has led nationally ranked teams, won multiple Grind Session championships, and coached seven McDonald’s All-Americans, numerous five-star prospects, and current NBA players. He has orchestrated high-profile NIL partnerships with Nike and Adidas for top-ranked prospects AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, while also overseeing Prolific Prep’s relocation to Fort Lauderdale and the development of a state-of-the-art $3 million training facility. Bernardi has already established himself as one of the nation's top prep coaches and is a forward-thinking leader in the evolving landscape of high school and NIL-era basketball who has a bright future in the coaching profession.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🏀 Work on Your Game this Offseason with Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 Enjoy EARLY BIRD SAVINGS on Coaching U Live 2026... Register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

This week Coach Brendan Suhr continues the conversation with David Thorpe—widely regarded as the “Godfather of Player Development”—and the two dive even deeper into what it actually takes to help players grow and succeed at every level.Thorpe breaks down the daily habits that separate real developers from drill collectors, why ball handling is non-negotiable for every position, and the simple truths young players must embrace to earn trust. He also shares his blueprint for what an NBA player development staff should look like, why so many programs miss the mark, and how great coaches keep players grounded—especially when they’re struggling.The conversation closes with powerful insight on the assistant coach role. This episode is truly a masterclass in building players—and building a staff that actually develops them.All that and more on episode 322 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Learn more about David's PTC Virtual programNoah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🏀 Work on Your Game with Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

This week Coach Brendan Suhr is joined by the godfather of player development, David Thorpe for part 1 of a special 2 part conversation.So sit back and enjoy episode 321 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠🏀 Work on Your Game as a Coach at Anytime on Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

In this week’s episode Coach Brendan Suhr emphasizes the importance of focusing on a single guiding principle for the year, inspired by John Gordon's concept of 'One Word.' He also provides practical coaching tips for managing teams during league play, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a neutral mindset after wins and losses, the significance of body language, the importance of player development throughout the season, as well as a list of nine essential traits for outstanding coaching.All that and more on episode 320 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠⁠🏀 Work on Your Game as a Coach at Anytime on Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

In this episode we're taking a look back at one of our top episodes from 2025 to tip off 2026. Hear an excerpt from Coach Brendan Suhr's conversation with NBA skills coach & bestselling author Drew Hanlen.We hope you enjoy episode 319 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

In this episode, Coach Brendan Suhr is joined by Scott Whitaker of Impact for Living. Scott has lived a very impactful life himself as he has served as an attorney, professor, performance coach, and a pastor while inspiring people in all walks of life. In this conversation he shares a special message for coaches and leaders on how to maximize your purpose, potential, passion, and platform.All that and more on episode 318 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SAVE 50& OFF Your Annual Subscription to Coaching U+ Access our entire library of over 500+ coaching clinic videos for our lowest price ever of only $49 per year... ⁠CLICK HERE to Sign Up⁠Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

In this episode, Coach Brendan Suhr is joined by Dr. Dayna Charbonneau, Director of Wellness for the Toronto Raptors for a timely conversation on the “people part” of coaching—mental performance, mental health, and the daily habits that help athletes perform with consistency.Charbonneau shares her path from clinical psychology to becoming a full-time performance professional, and explains how she and the raptors take a Holistic approach to her work with the team and creating an environment where players feel supported and empowered. She and Coach Suhr dig into practical coaching challenges that apply at every level—how to handle mistakes in real time, how to deliver consistent postgame messaging after wins and losses, and why process-over-outcome only works when coaches truly model it.They also discuss loneliness and connection in today’s sports world, working with Gen Z athletes, setting boundaries around outside noise, and the value of simply noticing, checking in, and listening. This is a valuable episode for coaches who want to lead better, communicate better, and help players thrive on and off the court.All that and more on episode 317 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah BasketballNoah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GIVEAWAYS!Coaching U's Annual 12 Days of Christmas Video GiveawayWe are in our final days of our annual promotion where we are giving away some of our favorite videos from the 2025 clinic season... CLICK HERE to Sign UpWant plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!CLICK HERE to sign up🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠CLICK HERE to learn more

In this episode, Coach Brendan Suhr is joined by NBA player development coach Phil Beckner—longtime performance coach to Damian Lillard and co-creator of the Formula Zero camp—for a conversation on how great players are actually developed. Beckner took no shortcuts along his path from Buckeye High School as a PE teacher/JV coach, to an unpaid role at Weber State, to now being one of the top player development coaches in the world. He shares what he’s learned studying elite programs and teams, why relationships and trust outlast titles, and how humility and standards—not hype—unlock growth.Beckner also breaks down how he customizes development for veterans versus rookies, what real alignment in player development looks like, and the habits behind players he’s worked with—stories from Lillard to Anfernee Simons, Mikal Bridges, and NBA champion Giannis’s Antetokounmpo. All that and more on episode 316 of the Coaching U Podcast.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Offers!🏀 The Full Video Sets from the recent OHSBCA Clinic, BCAT Clinic, Larry Shyatt's Annual Coaching Clinic & Coaching U Live 2025 are Now Available on Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 We're trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered! CLICK HERE to learn morePodcast production services by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wayfare Recording Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this week’s episode Coach Brendan Suhr remembers some of basketball's legendary figures that we have sadly lost in recent weeks, current NBA storylines, surprise teams in the league, and observations from the first few weeks of the college basketball season. All that and more on episode 315 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Offers!🏀 Save 25% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code BLACKFRIDAY at checkoutNow’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Register NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coachingulive.com/blackfriday

In this week’s episode Coach Brendan Suhr is joined by Juli Fulks, head coach of the Marshall women’s basketball team. A Ph.D. in leadership and 2023 NCAA Division III National Champion at Transylvania University, Fulks led her teams to a 91–2 record and a 64-game winning streak before taking over at Marshall—one of the most impressive coaching runs in college basketball.The two discuss her transition to Division I, the modern challenges of roster management and NIL, and how her scientific mindset shapes her approach to coaching. Fulks breaks down the principles behind her elite zone defense, the value of simplicity in teaching, and why she builds culture through service, trust, and adaptability. She also shares insights from her research in neuroscience and leadership—explaining how communication, clarity, and curiosity help teams reach peak performance.All that and more on episode 314 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Noah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Offers!🏀 The Full Video Sets from the recent OHSBCA Clinic, BCAT Clinic, Larry Shyatt's Annual Coaching Clinic & Coaching U Live 2025 are Now Available on Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkoutPodcast production services by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wayfare Recording Company⁠⁠⁠⁠.