The Program with Woj

In the Arena Studios
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Adrian Wojnarowski and In the Arena Studios welcome you to "The Program with Woj." In this series, the veteran journalist and influential media personality—now serving as General Manager of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball program—is joined by high-profile guests. They offer a wide range of perspectives across multiple college and professional sports to explore the business of building a sustainable and competitive program. Woj will approach every conversation from the seat of a brand-new GM in a completely different profession. With this transition in mind, the series acts as a lens into his own curiosity, seeking to understand how teams develop their respective programs and what it takes to sustain the success needed to compete at the highest levels of college and professional sports. For Sponsorship Inquiries: sponsorship@inthearenastudios.com For Press Inquiries: Press@inthearenastudios.com For General Inquiries: Inquiries@inthearenastudios.com

  1. 10H AGO

    How Jerry Mack transformed Kennesaw State Football in 12 months

    On this episode of The Program, Woj sits down with Conference USA Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant Newcomer of the Year, Jerry Mack. After inheriting a 2-10 program at Kennesaw State, Mack engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the country, leading the Owls to a 10-4 record and a bowl appearance in year one. Mack breaks down the "staff list" he spent a decade building, the transition from the Jacksonville Jaguars back to the college ranks, and why he chose to return to the NFL as an intern even after becoming a successful head coach. Woj and Coach Mack discuss: The Cignetti Model: Why Mack studied Curt Cignetti’s Indiana turnaround and how he applied the James Madison-to-IU strategy of "proven snaps" to jumpstart the Kennesaw State roster. The Staff List: Why Mack spent nine years tracking GAs and quality control coaches to prepare for his next head coaching shot. The NFL Influence: What he learned in the rooms of Doug Peterson and Bill Callahan—and how those internships catapulted his career. The "Steakhouse" Philosophy: Why Mack treats recruiting like a high-end restaurant to compete with NIL heavyweights through elite customer service. HBCU Roots: The lessons learned at NC Central that still apply at the FBS level. The 30/50/20 Roster Formula: The specific mathematical split Mack uses between high school, transfer portal, and the "lost art" of Junior College recruiting. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more deep-dive interviews with the most influential figures in team building. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's sports exchange, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds! Learn more at novig.com and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  2. FEB 11

    The high stakes world of USA Basketball with Stephen Silas

    As USA Basketball prepares for the next window of World Cup Qualifying in Southern California, Stephen Silas joins Woj to talk through the unique, high-pressure discipline of tight-window international team building. Fresh off a 24-year run in the NBA — includingas the Houston Rockets’ head coach and assistant roles working with Steph Curry and LeBron James — Silas shares what he’s learned about coaching in preparation for World Cup qualifying events. Woj and Silas dive into:     •    The 72-Hour Turnaround: How to build a cohesive roster in just six practices with players from the G League and European circuits.     •    The FIBA vs. NBA Gap: Why the international game is more physical, why the "three-ball" is the ultimate equalizer and the rule differences that catch even veteran coaches off guard.     •    Patrick Ewing’s Impact: What it’s like having a Dream Team legend on the bench and the advice Silas received from Jeff Van Gundy before taking the job.     •    The Weight of the Jersey: Why representing the U.S. remains the ultimate career milestone for players who may never reach the Olympic stage.     •    Life After the Grind: Silas opens up about finding the balance between "Coach Silas" and "Stephen Silas" after decades on the road. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more deep-dive interviews with the most influential figures in team building. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min

  3. FEB 4

    Inside the Ohio State Football front office: GM Mark Pantoni on the new era of roster building

    Mark Pantoni, General Manager and Director of Player Personnel at Ohio State, joins The Program to pull back the curtain on the rapidly evolving "front office" of college football. From his humble beginnings as an undergraduate pre-med student at Florida—where his first task for Urban Meyer was hand-writing 400 envelopes a day—to now managing what is essentially a collegiate "salary cap," Pantoni shares the blueprint for building a career in player personnel. He discusses the shift from relationship-based recruiting to agent-led negotiations and how the "Indiana model" is changing how big programs value veteran experience over high school potential. In this episode, Woj and Mark discuss: The Non-Traditional Path: How a pre-med student with no playing background became one of the most powerful executives in college football. The Evolution of Recruiting: Transitioning from VHS tapes and handwritten letters to managing NIL valuations and transfer portal "free agency." The "Switzerland" Approach: Why Pantoni has to remain emotionally detached from players to make fair, data-driven financial decisions for the locker room. The High School vs. Portal Dilemma: Analyzing the "dead money" risk of high school recruits versus the immediate impact of veteran transfers. Building a Front Office: How Ohio State has structured its personnel department to mirror an NFL scouting operation. Red Flags for Recruits: Why something as simple as being on your phone during a visit can change a staff's evaluation of your "football IQ" and maturity. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more inside looks at the architects of modern sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Also, a big thank you to SurfShark VPN. go to surfshark.com/woj or use the code WOJ at check out for four additional months of SurfShark VPN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  4. JAN 28

    Will Hardy on the human side of player development, Kevin Love's impact & front office alignment

    This week, Woj sits down with Utah Jazz Head Coach Will Hardy to go inside one of the most intentional culture-building projects in the NBA. Since taking the reins in Utah, Hardy has navigated the transition from a veteran contender to a young, hungry roster by emphasizing the "monotony of greatness" and a holistic approach to the modern athlete. In this episode, Woj and Will discuss: The Monotony of Greatness: Why a seared mental image of Tim Duncan shooting jump hooks 45 minutes before a shoot-around still dictates Hardy’s expectations for his young core. Human Development vs. Player Development: Moving beyond drills to help players navigate life in their 20s, mental health, and the habits that drive winning. The Kevin Love Factor: The honest conversations that brought a 5-time All-Star to a rebuilding locker room and why his "honesty and perspective" have become a cheat code for the Jazz coaching staff. "Show Love": The origins of the team’s viral mantra and the daily locker room exercises used to combat the negativity and ego of professional sports. Front Office Alignment: How the Jazz avoid the "grab for credit" and "passing of blame" through constant communication with Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik, and the Utah leadership team. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more inside looks at the architects of modern basketball. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min

  5. JAN 21

    Making players the CEOs of their own development with Hornets assistant coach Josh Longstaff

    This week, Woj sits down with Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Josh Longstaff to go inside the high-stakes world of NBA player development. Longstaff, a rising name in the coaching ranks, shares the lessons he learned in the trenches of Oklahoma City, where he helped mold three future Hall of Famers, and explains the radical "CEO" culture he is now building alongside Charles Lee in Charlotte. Josh and Woj discuss: "He Would Test Me": The raw honesty required to earn the respect of a young Russell Westbrook and the moment Longstaff realized that truth is a coach's greatest currency. The Soul of Development: Why the Hornets' "holistic" approach reaches far beyond the court, focusing on mental performance, nutrition, and the "whole person." The CEO Mindset: How Charlotte empowers young stars like Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball by putting them at the head of the table (literally) to own their professional growth. Mentoring Icons: What it was like to witness the daily, obsessive work habits of a young Kevin Durant and James Harden. The Head Coaching Path: Longstaff’s transition from the video room to leading an expansion G League franchise. We’ll see you next week for episode fourteen of The Program. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    23 min

  6. JAN 14

    Pete Thamel on Curt Cignetti and the rapid ascent of Indiana football

    ESPN’s Pete Thamel joins Woj to dissect one of the most improbable rises in the history of the sport: the Indiana Hoosiers’ journey to the national title game. Ahead of a showdown with Miami, Woj and Pete dive into how Curt Cignetti built a "destination logo" in record time and the seismic shifts making this era of college athletics the most chaotic in history.     •    The Indiana Rocket Ship: Pete explains why the Hoosiers’ rise is unprecedented and why it required a "perfect storm" of the transfer portal, NIL and administrative defiance to keep a coaching staff intact.     •    The Death of Continuity: How the gap between the "Blue Bloods" and the rest of the field has widened, and why the mid-major advantage of veteran rosters is disappearing.     •    The Revenue Share Frontier: A look at the House settlement and why schools are continuing to spend at "100 miles per hour."     •    The 10-Year Outlook: Will the Power Conferences eventually break away from the NCAA? Pete breaks down the multi-billion dollar binders that are keeping the current model together for now. We’ll see you next week for episode thirteen of The Program. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 min

  7. JAN 7

    Inside the strategic rise of BYU Basketball with Justin Young

    On this episode of The Program, Woj is joined by BYU Head of Personnel Justin Young. Young walks us through "The Perfect Storm": a combination of NBA-level player development, the transition to the Big 12, and a high-functioning NIL landscape that has allowed BYU to go shoulder-to-shoulder with the blue bloods of the sport. The Kevin Young Effect: Why a top NBA assistant chose the college game and how his "intellectual relationship" with elite players like AJ Dybantsa changed the recruiting trail. The Business of Winning: How BYU’s leadership and donor community scaled their resources to compete with the likes of Duke and Kansas. The International Market: Calibrating talent evaluation in Europe and the challenges of identifying "archetypes" in leagues across the globe. NIL & The "Ego" Factor: Why the new era of college sports allows donors to feel like NBA owners—and whether or not it’s sustainable.. We’ll see you next week for episode twelve of The Program. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Thanks to Chime. Join the millions who are already banking fee-free today. Head to chime.com/woj to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    Tom Crean Pt. 2: How to win with less in the NIL era

    Tom Crean, former head coach at Marquette, Indiana, and Georgia, returns for Part 2 of a masterclass in team building. Crean shares why the fundamentals of winning haven't changed, even if the payrolls have. He and Woj dive into everything from the challenges facing Mid-Majors, to the danger of setting "ceilings" for your stars, and much more. The Talent Raid: How mid-majors can still win when high-majors consistently pluck talent from their rosters. The Harbaugh Influence: Lessons in experience-based coaching from Jim and John Harbaugh. Raising the Floor: Why developing the bottom of your roster is the secret to consistent winning. Personalized Recruiting: Crean on using film and voice memos to provide value to prospects before they sign. The Efficiency Gap: Why the highest payroll doesn’t always equal the best team. We’ll see you next week for episode eleven of The Program. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Adrian Wojnarowski and In the Arena Studios welcome you to "The Program with Woj." In this series, the veteran journalist and influential media personality—now serving as General Manager of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball program—is joined by high-profile guests. They offer a wide range of perspectives across multiple college and professional sports to explore the business of building a sustainable and competitive program. Woj will approach every conversation from the seat of a brand-new GM in a completely different profession. With this transition in mind, the series acts as a lens into his own curiosity, seeking to understand how teams develop their respective programs and what it takes to sustain the success needed to compete at the highest levels of college and professional sports. For Sponsorship Inquiries: sponsorship@inthearenastudios.com For Press Inquiries: Press@inthearenastudios.com For General Inquiries: Inquiries@inthearenastudios.com

Information

  • Creator
    In the Arena Studios
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19

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