Hardwood Hustle

This week, Chad Warner, assistant coach at the University of Minnesota joins TJ and Sam to discuss all things coaching. In this conversation they touch on the pressures and anxieties of coaching, what Chad's learned throughout his long and successful coaching journey, and what wins on the court.Show Notes:• Working through the stress of coaching• Being transformationally driven• Applying talent and people skills to your coaching• Learnings from various coaches• Changing offensive systems and why• Staying ahead of the curve• Being creative without overcomplicating it• The value of having core values• Being respected and liked• Great teammates and great competitors• The value of shot selection• Being a set defense• Playing fast• Offensive rebounding philosophiesSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

There's a ton of strategic decisions coaches have to make. This week TJ and Sam go through four of them to uncover things you should be thinking about to put your team in the best place to be successful. Depending on your age and stage, there's likely enough games that get decided in the last minute of a game, and all four of these decisions have implications for late-game execution. Show Notes:• Who should inbound the ball?• Where, who and when... personnel-based decisions• System implications• The skill of inbounding• Practicing end of game situations• Building basketball IQ• Practicing situations versus plays• Do overs• When to pull the goalie• Changing strategies when you're down• How many defenses should you play• Variety, adjustments, and creativity• Having a change up• Having too manySend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Building teamwork has never been more challenging in today's culture. But if you can get individual players to buy-in to the importance of team and sacrifice for the greater good, it's quite a rewarding endeavor. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss the challenges and practical ways you can overcome individualism and emphasize team throughout your season.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Blindspots are inevitable. We all have them. And how we find them and work through them can make or break our coaching careers. Having a growth mindset is part of the process, but in this episode TJ and Sam discuss the importance of figuring out both your strengths and your weaknesses as a coach.Show Notes:Blindspots for coachesFirst step is acknowledging your blindspotsIt’s called a blindspot for a reason Growth mindset and humilityAre you in pursuit of “mastery”?Blindspots hold you back from becoming greatKnowing your strengths and weaknessesTo grow others you must grow yourself The work is the fulfillment Don’t let blindspots be your downfall this seasonSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam discuss 10 quotes from or about legendary UCLA coach, John Wooden and how we can apply wisdom that has stood the test of time and apply it to our own coaching.Show Notes:• Learning about yourself• Growing through adversity• Intensity with transformation• John Wooden's 3 rules• "Ability is a poor man's wealth."• "Listen if you want to be heard."• Leading by example• "Basketball is played between the ears..."• "Happiness begins where selfishness ends."• Person over playerSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.If you believe your impact should go beyond wins and losses, take the Be a Light Pledge.It’s a free commitment to lead with purpose, build character, and shape lives—on and off the court.Plus, when you do, you’ll unlock 21 days of free tools and coaching support.Just head to PGCcoaching.com/BeALight—an

This week TJ and Sam discuss pros and cons of different defensive decisions you’ll have to make for your team. This season, don't get caught without a process that allows you to identify the strength and weaknesses of your defense and knowing ahead of time where you'll need to invest more time.Show Notes:• Current trends• To pressure or not to pressure• What comes with pressuring the ball• Have a process that allows you to be great at what you do• Personnel factors• More pressure may equal more opportunities• 5 to the glass?• Why to send 5 to the glass• Winning the margin• Can't be in limbo• When to punt on it• Switch everything?• Double the post?• Inbounds Underneath Defense?• Forcing to a side?• Trap or under on ball screen D?• Transition D - press or sprint back?• 1 Type of closeout or personnel driven?• Positioning of backside helpSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.If you believe your impact should go beyond wins and losses, take the Be a Light Pledg

To kick off the Be A Light Pledge and we want to give you the opportunity to join like-minded transformational coaches, learn the L.I.G.H.T. framework to put your values into practice and receive free resources for coaching beyond the game. In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss what that looks like with the 4 must-wins to sustain success.Winning on the court and off the court The quadruple win Leaders put themselves last The impact of coaching on your body and health The value of boundaries Evidence of excellence in the quadruple win Planning and executing Being great at the process The power of consistency Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam talk all about offensive actions and what personnel they’re good for to give you ideas for building and enhancing your offensive strategy.Show Notes:• Figuring out the best offensive actions for your personnel• Learning from what we're seeing in the NBA• Best players and role players in their best spots• 1, 2, and 3 player actions and hammering out pros and cons• Reads, counters, & adjustments• Maintaining pace within your actions• What gives defenses the most trouble• Implement specific actions for specific personnel• Getting every player to be dangerous• Having good terminology and making it simple for your playersSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

Like your X’s and O’s, but not sure what’s missing? - This week TJ and Sam explore what it looks like to up your conditioning level and get your players to give max effort in practices and games. It might just be the x-factor you need for next season. Show Notes:• Defining max effort reps and rethinking conditioning• Why this is important• What’s good conditioning• Physical and mental fatigue• Sharing past experiences• Comparing to pick-up basketball• Fighting human nature• Coach effort• Giving players specifics• Practice ideas• Going to the players for individual buy-in• Rewarding max effort possessions• What effort can achieve for a team• Improving both physically and mentally• Boost in confidence• Focusing on the right thingsSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Justin Joyner, Assistant Coach at Michigan to first breakdown all things ball screen defense. Then we dive into culture, leadership, and what he’s learned in his coaching journey. Justin Joyner spent 7 seasons at Saint Mary’s College under Head Coach Randy Bennett and this past season joined the staff Coach Dusty May’s staff at the University of Michigan. Last year they finished second in the Big Ten and reached the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.Show Notes:• Where ball screen defense starts – Knowing who you are• Having two types of coverages• The Why and personnel considerations• Guarding the 3• Contingency plans and switching• What offenses are doing• Matchups, switching, and must do’s of ball screen D• Flat/middle ball screens• Rebounding teaching points• Being aggressive against unorthodox ball screen offense• Weakside rules / zone – helping on ball v. the roll• Culture of joy and flexibility in leadership & coaching• Learning your team in the summer• Having an approac

This week we discuss various ways and give tangible ideas for training leaders in your program. And coaches, if you want to go deeper on this topic with PGC Coaching staff and members there is an upcoming leadership track to help you master this facet of your coaching. Go to PGCCoaching.com to learn more.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam jump into the topic of player development and the 4 steps you need to take to ensure your players are improving for next season.Show Notes:Nick Saban quoteGetting talent v. developing talentWhen development is your only optionGetting to actionWhat if you focused on development over systems & strategiesEvaluating the quality of your player developmentVarious facets of player developmentHaving a shared vision & creating a planFocusing on strengths or weaknessesGood coaches are problem solversDeveloping the mental aspectMaking it tangible and measurableSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam are joined by Head Coach Andre Cook from St. Edward’s University. With over 400 collegiate wins and 20 years of coaching experience Coach Cook shares how he coaches the offensive side of the ball - specifically looking at their pace, shot selection, player development and more.Show Notes:• Setting his offensive foundation & keeping the ball moving• Implementing sets & constant pressure on the defense• Defining shot selection for your team• Developing pace in practice• What are the hardest actions to guard & paint pressure• What translates from player development• How his coaching has evolved and finding the path• Know thy self• Adapting to zone defenses• Offensive rebound philosophy• Marrying the offense to the defense• Find what's best for youMore about Coach Andre Cook:Andre Cook has helmed St. Edward’s men’s basketball since the 2009-2010 season, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach during the 2022-23.The Hilltoppers have posted 11 consecutive winning seaso

This week TJ and Sam tackle the topic of how to best approach summer basketball with your club or high school team because when it comes to spending your time and money wisely as a coach, parent, and player, you want to be confident you're getting it right. In this episode the topics range from having the right goals, understanding referees, setting expectations with parents, and ultimately how to think outside the box to ensure everyone wins.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week Coach Graham Maxwell joins TJ and Sam to go through 4 Quarters discussing tips for coaches when it comes to having a better passing teams, working with Parents, designing your practices, and what we’re seeing in the NBA Playoffs.Show Notes:Passing• Grow their understanding• Take coaches out• 4 T'sParents• Expectations on communications• Letting go• The parents perspective• Doing betterPractice• Less is more• The arc of a practice• Let the drills be the teacherNBA Playoffs• How role players show up• Defense, Role ID, & Coaching• Adjustments & Style of playSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

In light of Gregg Popovich’s decision to step down as head coach of the Spurs, this week TJ and Sam discuss the impact he’s had on the game and specifically 5 learnings from his leadership you can apply to your own coaching.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week TJ and Sam are joined by PGC Basketball Owner and President, Mano Watsa, along with Better Basketball founder Rick Torbett, first to discuss how relationships are foundational to everything we do as coaches, and how to build them and grow your network. They’re also excited to share an important announcement with everyone about PGC Coaching and Better Basketball once again coming together to deliver resources and build community with coaches.Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re excited to be joined by Coach Jamon Copeland, head men’s basketball coach at Ave Maria University. This past season he led his team to a conference tournament championship and a win in the NAIA national tournament. With 15 years of head coaching experience, in this episode Jamon shares the ins and outs of how he implemented an aggressive style and fast paced system.Show Notes:• Having an identity as a coach• Switching Styles, 'touch the wall' drill, and marrying offense & defense• Winning possession battle: turnovers and rebounding• Full court defensive pressure concepts & decision making• Starting Aggressive then pulling back• Ability to make adjustments• Dictating the pace and fast paced principles• Half-court principles• Selling your system to your players• How it looks in practice and manipulating load• Different defensive looks and teaching points• Personnel implications• Advantages of playing fast• Match your coaching style with your personalitySend us a Message. If you

This week Sam and TJ dive into how important it is for coaches to be great teachers and we can level up in this area.Show Notes:• What is master teaching• Finding teachable moments• Being intentional about what you're focusing on• Opportunities to coach the mental side of the game• Priming the environment and priming the mind• Using constraints in drills to emphasize what you're teaching• Coaching habits• Paying attention during practice• Two common teaching errors• Having a common language• Early season practice musts and tapering off• Having a team identity• Humility as a teacher• Increasing efficiency and improving over time• Progressing and layering in teaching• Challenge yourself and applySend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info.

This week we’re joined by Coach Raul Placeres from Maryville College. He's led his program to 5 straight regular season championships and won 3 out of the last 5 tournament championships. As the quickest coach in program history to 100 wins, we're honored to have him share with listeners what he's learned throughout his coaching journey, especially now as a head coach, and how he's defined his own success.Show Notes:• Following a hall of fame coach• Transitioning from assistant to head coach• Making the decision - fatigue, pressure, and time• Listening to and talking with your players• Working through the mental side of the game• Listening to your players• Coach Raul's practice setup• Focused on the most important boxscore• How do you know you're getting it right• Leadership examples• Culture examples and player to player mentorship• Player development• Empowering your players• Growth mindset• Knowing your teamSend us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact