The Basketball Podcast

Chris Oliver
  • 4.3 (512)
  • BASKETBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This is the podcast where you will hear real basketball coaching conversations. Whether you are a new or experienced coach at any level of basketball these coaching conversations will give you practical ideas to stimulate your coaching and make what you do even better.

  1. 1D AGO

    Jamill Jones on Running an Elite Youth Program (EP415)

    In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Jamill Jones joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on running an elite youth program. Jamill Jones serves as a Director with Team Takeover, one of the premier programs on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he provides leadership across elite player development, program structure, and national representation. He articulates a development‑first philosophy rooted in defense, accountability, and family culture, emphasizing long‑term growth over short‑term results. Team Takeover’s model prioritizes practice over games, beginning player development as early as third grade, maintaining coaching continuity across age groups, and creating consistent standards throughout the program. Jones stresses transparent communication as a cornerstone of success, highlighted by regular parent and coach Zoom calls to align expectations and reduce common conflicts. The program’s practice‑first approach, intentionally demanding practices, and supportive game‑day environment reinforce learning without public criticism. Team Takeover also avoids traditional A/B/C team labels, instead offering multiple competitive pathways to account for non‑linear player development. In addition to his grassroots leadership, Jones brings extensive collegiate experience from assistant coaching roles at Florida Gulf Coast, VCU, UCF, and Wake Forest, as well as national instructional experience through the Nike Skills Summit and other elite basketball platforms.

    48 min

  2. MAR 4

    Bret Burchard on Making Culture Your Edge (EP414)

    Coach Bret Burchard discussed his work with Championship Shift, a mindset training company that helps coaches and athletes compete and lead with confidence, resilience, and humility. Bret shared his experience as a former NBA and college basketball coach, emphasizing the importance of leading for impact rather than validation. He explained how coaches can maintain their passion and effectiveness by reconnecting with the reasons they started coaching, managing their mindset in high-pressure situations, and building a strong team culture. Bret also highlighted the need for coaches to constantly re-engage their players with the vision and purpose of the team, as engagement is not linear but requires ongoing effort. The episode concluded with Bret offering advice for coaches who didn't have a great season, encouraging them to face reality, challenge themselves with innovative solutions, and focus on building strong relationships. Bret Burchard is the co-founder of ChampionShift where he helps elite coaches build high-performing teams fast. With over 15 years of coaching experience at the professional and collegiate levels, Bret understands the pressure to win at the highest levels and the desire to make an impact through coaching. He has co-authored 8 books on leadership and mindset development, including his most recent “Make Culture Your Edge: A Simple Formula for Building Winning Teams. 03:13 Lead For Impact 06:12 Coach Mindset Under Pressure 09:44 Validation Drift Signs 13:16 Burnout And Meaning 17:37 Culture Tension Points 22:04 Building Culture From Vision 24:42 Why Culture Feels Overwhelming 25:32 Culture Meeting Overwhelm 26:17 Template Not Temperament 27:18 Diagnosing Culture Clearly 28:56 Survivorship Bias Traps 29:40 Preparation and Standards Ditches 32:46 Let Culture Evolve 34:03 Bike Wrecks vs Car Wrecks 36:20 Engagement Is Not Linear 39:58 Repeat the Vision Daily 41:49 Postseason Reset Process 44:43 Free Coaches From Hustle

    48 min

  3. FEB 25

    Jim Haverstrom on Ecological Coaching across Sports (EP413)

    Jim Haverstrom, a youth hockey director and coach developer with USA Hockey, joined the Basketball Podcast to discuss coaching methodologies and player development across both sports. The conversation explored various coaching strategies, including the importance of making practices fun and engaging, as well as the integration of constraints-led approaches in coach education programs. Jim emphasized the significance of adapting coaching techniques to individual player differences, providing constructive feedback, and creating game-based practices that help players develop both technical skills and mental toughness. Episode Breakdown: 02:32 Hockey Embraces CLA 05:41 What Fun Really Means 09:04 Practice Beats Games 11:27 Individual Solutions 13:36 Game Practice to Home 16:46 Learning Through Struggle 23:11 Feedback and Constraints 26:06 Direct Instruction Role 26:22 External Cues Coaching 28:12 Adaptable Technique Growth 29:59 Decision-Based Practice 34:05 Teaching Scanning Skills 40:37 Mindset Through Competition 45:40 Coach Advice And Parents 52:05 Invasion Sports Wrap Up

    53 min

  4. FEB 18

    Mike Neighbors on Professional Coaching and Career Transitions (EP412)

    Mike Neighbors, assistant coach for the LA Sparks, shared his insights on transitioning from college to professional coaching, emphasizing the importance of pace, player development, and feedback loops in the WNBA. Neighbors discussed his philosophy on assistant coaching, highlighting the need for clear communication and alignment with players' roles. He also touched on the challenges and opportunities in women's basketball, including the impact of social media and financial pressures on young players. The conversation covered Neighbors' approach to defensive strategies, practice efficiency, and the evolving role of analytics in coaching. The episode concluded with Neighbors expressing his excitement about joining the Dallas Wings and continuing to contribute to the growth of women's basketball. Episode Breakdown: 01:46 College to WNBA: Why the Transition Felt Like Being a Rookie Again 03:06 Assistant Coach Best Practices: The 5 Things You Want / 5 Things You Don’t 09:30 Sustaining a 30-Year Coaching Career (and What Happens When You Lose a Job) 12:17 Playing Fast the Right Way: Pace, Shot Quality, and Transition Defense 15:54 When to Tap the Brakes: Turnovers, Bad Shots, and Shot Distribution Rules 23:29 Short Roll Playmaking as a Superpower (and Why It’s Hard at Lower Levels) 25:52 Coaching Confident Scorers: Green Lights, Shot Selection, and Immediate Feedback 30:44 Conceptual Offense: Triads, Sequencing Actions & Creating Flow 34:30 Offensive Rebounding vs. Transition Defense (WNBA Lessons) 36:35 Efficient Practices: Combo Drills, No Lines & Maximizing Every Minute 39:21 Motivate vs. Inspire + The ‘Curse of the Clinic’ (Make It Fit Your Team) 42:21 Defense in the Pros: Versatility, Guarding the Ball & ‘Death Shots’ 47:04 If I Went Back to College: Faster Feedback Loops, Standards & Protecting Players

    58 min

  5. FEB 11

    Ryan Cottingham on Player Support and Team Culture (EP411)

    Ryan Cottingham, the head coach of Spring Arbor University's men's basketball program, shared insights into his approach to building and sustaining a successful small college basketball program. He discussed the importance of creating a strong team culture based on core values of integrity, toughness, and unity, and highlighted various initiatives such as "Fun Week," leadership teams, and individual player meetings to foster this culture. Cottingham emphasized the role of player-led initiatives, regular recognition of individual achievements, and the involvement of parents in team activities to create a supportive environment. He also connected the program's success to its emphasis on developing players' decision-making skills and resilience, while maintaining a competitive yet respectful approach to the game. Episode Breakdown: 02:17 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching at a Small College 05:14 Core Values and Team Culture 09:09 Preseason Fun Week 13:31 Iron Teams and Leadership Development 16:32 Culture Meetings and Heart and Head Sessions 24:13 Circle of Trust: Building Team Unity 28:44 The Power of Gratitude in Sports 29:55 Individual Player Meetings: A Deeper Connection 34:32 Service Projects: Giving Back to the Community 38:50 Recognizing Excellence: Weekly Awards 43:10 Post-Game Team Time with Parents 45:32 Connecting Culture to On-Court Success

    48 min

  6. FEB 4

    Clayton Thompson on Integrating Science, Skill, and Human Connection (EP410)

    In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Thompson joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on integrating science, skill, and human connection Clayton Thompson serves as the Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he sits at the cutting edge of professional sports science and player development. With a background as an R&D Engineer and a Master’s in Business Administration, Thompson is a vocal advocate for dismantling the traditional silos between "strength and conditioning" and "on-field skill." His philosophy is built on the belief that human movement should be treated as a unified system, rejecting the narrow label of "Strength Coach" in favor of a model that integrates biomechanical data, force-plate analytics, and technical skill acquisition. Before joining the Dodgers, Thompson refined his data-driven approach at Driveline Baseball, the industry leader in data-informed performance training. His career also includes pivotal roles at TCU (Texas Christian University) and Sanford Health, where he bridged the gap between collegiate athletics and clinical sports science. By applying engineering principles to the kinetic chain, Thompson has become an expert in optimizing rotational power and deceleration—concepts that are as vital for a pitcher's delivery as they are for a basketball player’s jump shot or step-back.

    1h 2m

  7. JAN 28

    Matt Van Pelt on Defensive Switch: Packline to Force Left (EP409)

    In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Vietnam Men’s National Team head coach Matt Van Pelt joins the Basketball Podcast to share his defensive shift from packline to forcing left. Matt Van Pelt is currently the Head Coach of the Vietnam Men’s National Team, as well as the Hanoi Buffaloes, the reigning champions of the Vietnam Basketball Association. He now has basketball experience in 28 countries, having ran camps and clinics all over the world, and is also the owner of Van Pelt Sports Management and the co-owner of Pro Coaches Academy and The Performance Lab, in addition to being a FIBA Certified Head Coach in Vietnam. Matt has been in Vietnam on and off since 2017, where he is the winningest coach in the nation’s history with a record of 81 wins and 16 losses between 2 leagues and with 2 organizations. Matt won 3 straight VBA championships & 3 straight Supporter’s Cup Championships with the Saigon Heat, the country’s oldest professional team. Matt also led the Saigon Heat to the 1-seed and a finals appearance in the Asean Basketball League, which formerly hosted 10 teams from 9 countries in Asia, for the first time in the organization’s history in 2023. In addition to 5v5 ventures, Matt was also the Head Coach of the Vietnam 3x3 Men’s National Team from 2022-24, where he won a VBA 3x3 championship, a silver medal in the 2022 Southeast Asian games, and pushed Vietnam to its best ever finish in the 2025 FIBA Asia. Matt is a former professional basketball player overseas, where he played as a point guard in 13 countries in 7 years. Before going overseas, Matt was a 4-year starter as a player at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, where he also won the nation’s Pete Maravich Award.

    57 min

  8. JAN 21

    Coleman Ayers on Reengineering Player Development (EP408)

    In this week's basketball coaching conversation, By Any Means Basketball founder Coleman Ayers joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on reengineering player development. Coleman Ayers is the founder of By Any Means Basketball, a global training and media organization dedicated to player development. Launching the brand as a high schooler in Washington, D.C., Coleman turned his passion for skill acquisition and research-backed training into a worldwide movement. After finishing his playing career at St. John’s College High School, he chose to forgo college basketball opportunities and moved to Miami, studied exercise physiology, and began working with players of all levels while building a reputation for blending science, creativity, and culture into modern basketball development. Coleman’s approach emphasizes holistic development—integrating psychology, movement science, and global basketball philosophies to create adaptable, high-IQ players. His DETAIL Miami facility serves as a hub for elite training, while his educational platforms, including the Attention to Detail podcast, share insights with coaches and players worldwide. Having worked with athletes in over 35 countries and collaborated with NBA talent, Coleman continues to push boundaries in player development. He is also the co-founder of ADAPT Academy. Both of his books, Deep Skill and the Modern Basketball Blueprint, reached number one in Amazon’s basketball category.

    57 min
See All (204)

4.3
out of 5
512 Ratings

About

This is the podcast where you will hear real basketball coaching conversations. Whether you are a new or experienced coach at any level of basketball these coaching conversations will give you practical ideas to stimulate your coaching and make what you do even better.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Oliver
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    204
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Chris Oliver
  • Show Website
    The Basketball Podcast

You Might Also Like