The United Basketball+ Coaching and Leadership Podcast, presented by United Basketball Plus, will bring you some of the best coaches, trainers, leaders and culture builders in basketball. Our goal is that you will grow as a leader and a coach through this podcast series.
The difference between a good big man and a great one is not height. It is IQ, patience, and the willingness to ask the right questions. Elmhurst assistant coach Jonathan Zapinski reveals the modern post play blueprint that helps bigs thrive in a perimeter-centric game - and why the best coaches are building players who can think, not just score. Jacob Durdan and co-host Jeremy sit down with…
In this episode, Jacob Durdan interviews Tony Holler, a veteran coach and creator of the Feed the Cats program. They discuss Holler's journey as a coach, the evolution of his coaching philosophy, and the principles behind Feed the Cats, which emphasizes enjoyable and effective training methods for athletes. Holler shares insights on creating a positive practice environment, the importance of…
Host Jacob Durdan sits down with newly hired Northern Illinois head coach Matt Majkrzak to unpack how he’s approaching a major rebuild in DeKalb. Majkrzak shares why he leans into scripted structure on offense, how he evaluates players for fit and winning DNA, and what it takes to build a culture fast when you inherit a program that has struggled for years. In this episode, the conversation…
In this episode, host Jacob Durdan interviews Coach Kellen Fernetti - Women's Basketball coach at Carl Sandburg College. They discuss Coach Fernetti's coaching journey, his philosophy on player development, and the importance of maintaining energy and positivity throughout the season. Coach Fernetti shares insights on practice structure, flexibility in scheduling, and the significance of team…
In this episode, Coach Jason Tucker shares his journey from high school coaching to becoming the head coach at Harper College. He discusses building a winning culture, adapting practice strategies for college, and his vision for success at the junior college level.Key topics Coaching journey from high school to college Building team culture and buy-in Practice design and adaptation for college…
In this insightful interview, Luke Gromer, founder of RYG Athletics and host of Better Coaching Podcast, shares his expertise on restoring joy in youth sports, redefining success, and coaching with purpose. Luke dives into practical strategies for coaches and parents to create positive, development-focused sports experiences that foster lifelong love for the game.Key topics include: Restoring joy…
This interview with Coach Ryan Davis (Roanoke-Benson, IL) explores how he turned around a high school basketball program in a year, focusing on relationship-building, community engagement, and innovative practice strategies. After listening, you will gain insights into effective coaching techniques, player recruitment, and fostering a positive team culture. Coaches! Plan some personal time and…
This is the fifth episode of a series dedicated to helping coaches build their program. This episode focuses on creating practice plans that match your play style or system, flows from drill to drill or segment to segment, keeps players fresh while maintaining competitiveness, and tracks player progress. Coaches! Plan some personal time and personal development this offseason. Plan to attend the…
This is the fourth episode of a series dedicated to helping coaches build their program. This episode provides focuses on playing a style that matches your personnel, how to identify components that will build your system of play, combining your culture to match your system, and then living your system every day. No matter what you do, you have to believe in it and it must be simple. Coaches! Plan…
This is the third episode of a series dedicated to helping coaches build their program. This episode provides insight to player development, focusing on identifying player needs and building an individual player development plan. The episode then shifts to designing team workouts that incorporate player development plans as well as developing your entire roster and tracking player development.…
This is the second episode of a series to help coaches build their program. This episode provides insight on how to build and structure an offseason program. The key point is that offseason plans are not cookie cutter, coaches need to build one that works for their program. A good offseason program provides structure and overall player development. Key Topics The importance of having structure…
This is the first episode of a series to help coaches build their program. This episode provides a comprehensive 30-day blueprint for basketball coaches to optimize their off-season. It emphasizes the importance of reflection, evaluation, and strategic planning to build a successful program for the upcoming season. Key Topics Off-season evaluation and reflection Player development and individual…
