Podcast
The Rising Coaches Podcast
Hosted by Rising Coaches · EN
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
49episodes
Episodes
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Episode 284: Preston Murphy, Assistant Coach, Unviersity of Alabama
2d ago00:42:47Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Preston Murphy, Assistant Coach at the University of Alabama. Coach Murphy’s journey began as a player at Rhode Island before playing professionally in Belgium and Holland, and then transitioning into coaching at the high school level as the head coach at Woonsocket High School. He has since built an extensive Division I résumé with stops at Boston College, Rhode Island, Creighton, Elite EYBL, and now Alabama, where he continues to make an impact at the highest level of college basketball. In this episode we discuss what he learned starting his coaching career in the high school ranks, how he evaluates whether a player truly fits a program during the recruiting process, and an overlooked recruiting mistake young coaches make early in their careers.
Transcribe →Episode 283: Brandon Bailey, Assistant Coach, Depaul University
5d ago00:42:16Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brandon Bailey, Assistant Coach at DePaul University. Coach Bailey has built an impressive career with coaching stops at DePaul, the Boston Celtics organization, Ohio State, and now back at DePaul, while also serving as the head coach of the Maine Red Claws in the NBA G League. His experience across both the professional and college levels gives him a unique perspective on leadership, player development, and staff dynamics. In this episode we discuss what it was like transitioning from a G League head coach back into an assistant role at the college level, what lessons he would take back if he had the chance to do his time as a head coach over again, and how assistants can effectively contribute their ideas and have their voice heard while still supporting the vision of the head coach.
Transcribe →Episode 282: Lance Burbank, Owner of Universal Retirement
1w ago00:38:50Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Lance Burbank, Owner of Universal Retirement and a valued partner of Rising Coaches. Lance has spent his career helping individuals and families build strong financial foundations, and he has become a trusted resource for families and coaches looking to navigate the unique financial challenges that come with the profession. In this episode we discuss the financial habits young coaches should begin developing early in their careers, how much emergency savings coaches should realistically have in place and the key financial safeguards every coach should establish to protect themselves and their families in the event of a job change.
Transcribe →Episode 281: Doug and Alan, What Matters More: Championships or Changing Lives?
2w ago00:38:14Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, Doug and Alan dive into a conversation around a question every coach eventually has to answer: What matters more, winning championships or changing lives? We answer questions submitted by our listeners and Rising Coaches members, making this one a thoughtful and interactive discussion. In this episode we discuss whether coaches would rather be remembered for the banners they hung or the people they impacted, how our views on winning have evolved throughout our careers, what a true player-first culture actually looks like, and whether we've ever made decisions that benefited a player even when it may have hurt our chances of winning. This is a conversation centered around leadership, perspective, and the lasting impact coaches can have long after the final buzzer.
Transcribe →Episode 280: Brett MacConnell, Head Coach, Dartmouth College
2w ago00:44:22Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brett MacConnell, Head Coach at Dartmouth College. Coach MacConnell has built an impressive career through assistant coaching stops at Rutgers, Delaware Valley, Holy Family, St. Peter’s, Princeton, and Stanford before earning the opportunity to lead the Dartmouth program. His experience at both the mid-major and high-major levels have given him a unique perspective on leadership, recruiting, and building successful programs. In this episode we discuss the biggest lessons he learned as an assistant that now shape his approach as a head coach, the challenge of identifying players who truly fit both the program’s culture and academic standards, and the key priorities he focused on during his first 60 days leading an Ivy League program.
Transcribe →Episode 279: Tevon Saddler, Head Coach, Capitol City Go-Go
3w ago00:43:23Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Tevon Saddler, Capitol City Go-Go head coach. Coach Saddler’s journey in the game started as a player at UNC Greensboro and South Alabama before moving into coaching roles at South Alabama, Nicholls State, McNeese State, Maryland, and now leading the Nicholls State program. Along the way, he’s gained experience in nearly every role on staff, shaping his approach to leadership and team building. In this episode we discuss the defining humbling moment of his head coaching career, what he learned from stepping into a DOBO role and how it shaped his coaching perspective as a head coach, and the key qualities that separate good assistants from great ones including what he looks for when hiring an assistant coach.
Transcribe →Episode 278: Brent Owen, Head Coach, Lenoir-Rhyne University
3w ago00:45:22Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brent Owen, Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Coach Owen began his career at the University of Southern Indiana before taking a unique path into head coaching with stops at Tell City High School, Eastern New Mexico, and now Lenoir-Rhyne. His journey through different levels of basketball has helped shape his approach to leadership, recruiting, and program building. In this episode we discuss why he chose to leave the college ranks early in his career to become a high school head coach, how he identifies the right personalities and dynamics when building a roster, and creative ways head coaches can grow attendance and build long-term fan support within a program.
Transcribe →Episode 277: Dwight Thorne II, Assistant Coach, Texas State University
4w ago00:49:32Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dwight Thorne, Assistant Coach at Texas State University. Before getting into coaching, Thorne built an impressive professional playing career with stops in the D-League, Germany, Greece, Croatia, and Reno, Nevada, experiences that helped shape his perspective on leadership, relationships, and player development. He later transitioned into coaching with stops at Georgia Tech, Denver, UT Arlington, and now Texas State. In this episode we discuss the mental adjustment of moving from a professional player to coach, how he learned to build authentic relationships and connections in the industry despite it not coming naturally early on, and the first priorities he focuses on when joining a new program as an assistant coach.
Transcribe →Episode 276: Darnell Harris, Assistant Coach, Wake Forest University
Jun 2500:47:00Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Darnell Harris, Assistant Coach at Wake Forest University. Coach Harris brings a unique perspective to the game, having played professionally at Middle Tennessee State and overseas in Belgium, China, Greece, and Lebanon before transitioning into coaching. His coaching journey has included stops at Ole Miss and Wake Forest, where he continues to grow within a high-level program and impact player development and recruiting. In this episode we discuss how his professional playing career shaped his coaching identity, how he approaches the recruiting process while building strong relationships with families, and how he developed his voice as a young coach within a competitive staff environment.
Transcribe →Episode 275: Jordan McCabe, Assistant Coach, Grand Canyon University
Jun 2200:48:58Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jordan McCabe, Assistant Coach at Grand Canyon University. McCabe started his playing career at a young age with early success that carried through his time at West Virginia and UNLV, where he became known for his high-level feel for the game and leadership on the floor. He has since transitioned into coaching, with stops at West Virginia, Green Bay, and now Grand Canyon, where he continues to make a strong impact, particularly in player development. In this episode we discuss how he builds individualized development plans for his players, the key lessons he’s taken from working under different coaching styles throughout his journey, and advice for coaches and players navigating the modern game and social media in today’s basketball landscape.
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