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.
55episodes
Episodes
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Episode 290: LaPhonso Ellis, Former NBA Veteran, Current NBA Analyst, Part 1
4d ago00:28:38Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by LaPhonso Ellis, former NBA veteran, current basketball analyst, and head coach of Team Heartfire in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). In this first part of a two-part conversation, Ellis reflects on his journey through the game and the coaches who helped shape his understanding of leadership and winning at every level. In this episode we discuss what made Coach Digger Phelps such an effective leader and how he earned buy-in from his players, the key coaching traits he’s picked up from some of the best minds he’s been around, and what elite coaches consistently do behind the scenes that most fans never get to see.
Transcribe →Episode 289: Jimmy Elgas, Head Coach, Henderson State University
6d ago00:59:17Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jimmy Elgas, Head Coach at Henderson State University. Coach Elgas has built a wealth of experience through assistant coaching stops at Illinois State, Lincoln College, Southwest Texas, Kansas State, Utah, and Evansville before earning the opportunity to lead the Henderson State program. His journey has given him a unique perspective on leadership, personal growth, and building a successful culture. In this episode we discuss how coaches can continue developing themselves to better serve their teams in today’s landscape, the key factors he believes young coaches should consider before taking a head coaching position, and the core values that drive his program and shape the expectations he has for both players and staff.
Transcribe →Episode 288: Bo Gray, Assistant Coach, Tarleton State University
2w ago00:39:35Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Bo Gray, Assistant Coach at Tarleton State University. Gray’s coaching journey began at Youngstown State, where he worked his way from manager to head manager before continuing his rise through roles at Illinois State and now Tarleton State. His path is a great example of how consistency and adding value can open doors in the profession. In this episode we discuss how his responsibilities evolved throughout his time at Youngstown State, the key moments and relationships that helped shape his coaching journey, and how he approaches his role as a young assistant working alongside experienced coaches on staff.
Transcribe →Episode 287: Jay Kuntz, General Manager, University of Pittsburgh
2w ago00:43:05Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jay Kuntz, General Manager at the University of Pittsburgh. Kuntz has built his career from the ground up, beginning as a student manager at West Virginia before rising through roles as a graduate assistant, assistant to the head coach, and Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. He now serves as the GM at Pitt, helping navigate one of the most challenging eras in college basketball. In this episode we discuss how he turned a student manager position into leadership roles within high-major programs, what aspiring coaches should be doing early in their careers if they hope to one day become a GM, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into constructing and managing a roster in today’s ever-changing landscape.
Transcribe →Episode 286: Austin Kidd, Former Coach, Synergy Sports
3w ago00:45:42Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Austin Kidd, former college assistant coach and current Account Executive with Synergy Sports. Kidd built his coaching career with stops at Transylvania, Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, and The Citadel, gaining experience at multiple levels of the game before making the transition out of coaching. Today, he continues to impact the basketball world through his work with Synergy Sports. In this episode we discuss the story behind his first college coaching opportunity in division 3 and how it eventually led him to Kentucky, what drew him to leave the coaching profession after years on the sidelines, and some exciting projects and opportunities Synergy Sports has on the horizon.
Transcribe →Episode 285: Deividas Dulkys, Assistant Coach, Brooklyn Nets
3w ago00:41:42Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Deividas Dulkys, Assistant Coach with the Brooklyn Nets. Dulkys played collegiately at Florida State before building a lengthy professional career across Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Italy, and Spain, giving him a unique perspective on the game from both the American and European sides of basketball. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching with stops at the Memphis Hustle, Sacramento Kings, and now the Brooklyn Nets. In this episode we discuss how his years playing professionally in Spain helped shape his coaching philosophy, the biggest differences he noticed between basketball cultures across Europe and the United States, and the adjustments he had to make when transitioning from professional player to NBA coach
Transcribe →Episode 284: Preston Murphy, Assistant Coach, Unviersity of Alabama
4w 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
4w 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
Jul 1600:38:50Tap 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?
Jul 1300:38:14Tap 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.
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