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.
34episodes
Episodes
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Episode 269: Jackson Johnson, Head Coach, The Newman School
1w ago00:46:36Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jackson Johnson, Head Coach at the Newman School. Jackson’s basketball journey started as a player at Tulane before moving into coaching with assistant roles at Tulane and Northfield Mount Hermon prior to taking over at Newman. Since becoming head coach, he has helped sustain success at the national prep level while guiding players through the ever-changing recruiting landscape. In this episode we discuss the value of coaching multi-sport athletes and how to navigate that as a coach, what real player development looks like in prep basketball today, how a coach can help players navigate the college recruiting process in the transfer portal era, and how he’s maintained success within a nationally recognized prep program.
Transcribe →Episode 268: Matt Ambrose, Director of Player Development, Purdue Fort Wayne
2w ago00:44:31Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Matt Ambrose, Director of Player Development at Purdue University Fort Wayne. After finishing his playing career at Calvin University, Matt worked his way into the coaching profession and has continued to grow within the Purdue Fort Wayne program. His path reflects the importance of bringing value, building relationships, and finding ways to impact players every day. In this episode we discuss what he did to break into the industry as a young coach after his playing career, how he looked to add value as a new coach early within his program, and we take a deep dive into player development, including how to build an effective development plan for each player.
Transcribe →Episode 267: Kate Popovec-Goss, Head Coach, Boston College
2w ago01:00:50Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Kate Popovec-Goss, Head Women’s Coach at Boston College. Coach Popovec-Goss has built her career through assistant roles at La Salle, Northwestern, and Colgate before stepping into head coaching positions at Bradley and now Boston College. Her path reflects steady growth through multiple roles within a program and a strong understanding of how to build and lead a team. In this episode we discuss how she grew in the industry from between roles without prior experience and attacked each opportunity, what people often underestimate about rebuilding a program as a head coach, and the first things she is focused on when taking over as a new head coach.
Transcribe →Episode 266: Ben Peterson, International Head Coach, Perry Lake Hawks
3w ago00:36:53Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Peterson, Head Coach of the Perry Lakes Hawks in Australia. Peterson has built his career across the international and professional levels with assistant roles at the Perth Wildcats, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Otago Nuggets before stepping into his current head coaching position. His background gives him a strong perspective on player development and team building across different levels of the game. In this episode we discuss how young coaches can earn more responsibility early in their careers, a deeper look into player development on the international level, and how veteran players can play a key role in helping lead and stabilize a program.
Transcribe →Episode 265: Andrew Cobian, Former NBA G League coach and Division I Assistant
3w ago00:47:31Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Cobian, former NBA G League coach and Division I assistant. Cobian has built his career through stops at NYIT, Pace, Hofstra, the Long Island Nets, and Loyola Chicago, gaining experience across both the college and professional levels. His path reflects steady growth and the ability to adapt in different environments. In this episode we discuss his unique journey to landing a role with the Long Island Nets, what working in the NBA taught him about what truly drives player improvement compared to the college game, and effective ways coaches can build trust and respect with their players.
Transcribe →Episode 264: Zisis Sarikopoulos, Founder of Adapted Services
4w ago00:45:18Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Zisis Sarikopoulos, founder of Adapted Services and a former high-level college and professional player. Zisis played at UAB and Ohio State before continuing his career professionally in Greece, Belarus, and Qatar, gaining experience with different systems and coaching styles around the world. Now, through Adapted Services, he works closely with players as they navigate important decisions in their careers. In this episode we discuss what coaches should understand when recruiting international players, the common traits he’s seen from the best coaches he has played for, and the biggest mistakes players are making today that could impact them long-term.
Transcribe →Episode 263: Alex Barlow, Former D1 Assistant Coach and G League Head Coach
4w ago00:41:18Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Barlow, Division I assistant coach and former G League head coach. Barlow’s journey started as a player at Butler before moving into the NBA with the Boston Celtics, where he worked his way up from the video room to the bench and eventually became the head coach of the Maine Celtics. He later returned to the college level at Butler, continuing to grow his coaching career. In this episode we discuss his path through the NBA and G League, including what he learned while rising through the Celtics organization, a breakdown of Boston’s unique offensive rebounding and transition defense concepts, and what he’s doing now as he prepares for his next opportunity.
Transcribe →Episode 262: John Beilein, Former Hall of Fame Head Coach
May 700:55:07Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by John Beilein, Hall of Fame coach and one of the most respected minds in basketball. Coach Beilein’s career has spanned every level of the game, with head coaching stops at Newfane High School, Erie Community College, Nazareth, Le Moyne, Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia, Michigan, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with time as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his offensive innovation, player development, and consistency in building winning programs, he has left a lasting impact on the game. In this episode we discuss the mistakes he made early in his head coaching career that shaped how he builds programs long-term, why shooting and spacing are so critical in today’s game, and how he instilled culture on a daily basis, including navigating tough conversations with players.
Transcribe →Episode 261: Ryan Devlin, 19 Year Veteran Assistant Coach
May 400:37:51Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Devlin, a 19-year veteran assistant coach most recently at the University of San Diego. Coach Devlin has built his career through stops at Montrose Christian, the College of Southern Idaho, Penn State, Siena, George Washington, and San Diego, along with a short stint as an interim head coach early in his career. His experience across multiple levels has given him a strong perspective on growth and longevity in the profession. In this episode we discuss the habits and skills he developed that helped him grow in the industry, the best ways to build trust within a coaching staff, and what he’s doing now to best position himself for his next opportunity.
Transcribe →Epiosde 260: Ken Pomeroy, Founder of Kenpom
Apr 3000:39:50Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ken Pomeroy, Founder and Owner of KenPom and one of the most influential voices in college basketball analytics. Ken has helped reshape how coaches, media, and fans understand the game through advanced metrics and data-driven insights. His work has become a staple across the sport, providing a deeper look into team performance beyond traditional stats. In this episode we discuss the top three most valuable stats for coaches to focus on, how to effectively use plus-minus within your program, and which analytics he has noticed that consistently show up in championship-level teams.
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