The Basketball Podcast

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Sundance Wicks (EP385) on the 6 Championship Factors Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on his teach and reach philosophy and the six championship factors.

In his first year at Green Bay, Wicks was named the 2023-24 Horizon League Coach of the Year. He was also named the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year, which is presented annually to the top rookie, first-year head coach in NCAA Division I college basketball. Last season, Wicks posted an 18-14 record after the program finished at 3-29 prior to his arrival in 2022-23. That 15-game turnaround tied for the ninth-best turnaround in NCAA DI history.

Wicks spent three seasons at Wyoming under former head coach Jeff Linder. The Cowboys reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022 finishing the season with a 25-9 overall record. The Pokes received their first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2002 and marked the first trip to the Big Dance since 2015. The Pokes recorded 24 wins in the regular season for the most since the 1951-52 campaign.

Prior to his time in Laramie, Wicks was the head coach at Missouri Western for two seasons. Wicks led the Griffons to 18 wins in 2019-20, as it was the most by the program in 10 years. He spent eleven years as an assistant at four different colleges, including Northern State, Colorado, Northern Illinois, and San Francisco.

Wicks also built the Arizona Power Basketball Academy, serving as a skill instructor and director from 2011-15. Prior to launching the APBA, he spent five months training NBA pre-draft prospects at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas. Wicks’ draft class trainees included Kawhi Leonard, Alec Burks and Isaiah Thomas.He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northern State under the legendary Don Meyer.

Chris Oliver Basketball Knowledge Brain Dump 2 (EP384) Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Chris Oliver shares his latest thoughts with a basketball knowledge brain dump.

Chris Oliver is the founder of Basketball Immersion, a leading resource for basketball coaches and players worldwide. Since 2014, Chris has been dedicated to sharing his passion for the game through innovative coaching methods, immersive videos, and insightful podcasts.

With a decade of experience in educating coaches, Chris Oliver has established himself as a trusted authority in youth basketball development. As a consultant for the NBA's youth basketball development programs, Chris Oliver works to shape the future of the game. He is also involved with the renowned Sierra Canyon basketball program, further solidifying his commitment to nurturing young talent.

Through Basketball Immersion, Chris Oliver provides coaches with the tools and knowledge to enhance their teams' performance. His engaging content, including the popular Basketball Immersion podcast and in-depth video analysis, has resonated with coaches from grassroots to elite levels.

Chris's mission is to empower coaches, players, and basketball communities globally, fostering a deeper understanding and love for the game. Join the Basketball Immersion community to tap into Chris's expertise and transform your coaching and playing experience.

Kyle Milling on Adaptive Coaching and Strategy (EP383) Jul 30, 2025

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In this week's coaching conversation, Gunma Crane head coach Kyle Milling joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on adaptive coaching and strategy.

Kyle Milling is a seasoned professional basketball coach with extensive international experience, currently serving as the head coach of the Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan’s B.League. He took over the role in July 2024 after a successful three-year tenure as head coach of the Hiroshima Dragonflies, where he helped elevate the team’s competitive standing.

From 2013 to 2015, he served as Assistant Coach at ee-air tool-lawn Hyères-Toulon Var Basket in France’s Pro B division, helping guide the team to the playoffs with the 17th-ranked budget out of 18.

Milling was promoted to Head Coach of Hyères-Toulon from 2015 to 2017. Under his leadership, the team won Pro B in 2016 with the lowest budget in the league, earning promotion to Pro A. In their first year at the top level, he managed to keep the team in France’s first division despite again operating with the league’s lowest budget.

From 2017 to 2019, Milling led Limoges CSP, one of France’s most prestigious clubs. In his first season, Limoges reached the Pro A semi-finals and placed 4th overall. Concurrently, his teams advanced to the Top 16 of the EuroCup in both 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 campaigns.

In 2020, Milling took his coaching expertise to Japan as Head Coach of Yokohama B-Corsairs. There, he guided the club to the most wins in its B.League history. From 2021 to 2024, he led the Hiroshima Dragonflies through a remarkable transformation. Taking over a team that had gone 9–48 in the 2020–21 season, he drove a turnaround that culminated in a B.League Championship in 2023–2024. Under his leadership, Hiroshima posted records of 29–27, 42–22, and 42–26 across three seasons. He was honored as the 2023–2024 B.League Coach of the Year.

Charlie Henry on Data, Authentic Coaching and The Journey (EP382) Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

In this week's coaching conversation, Georgia Southern head coach Charlie Henry shares insights on data, authentic coaching and his coaching journey.

Henry enters his third season as the Bice-Peace Head Men's Basketball Coach at Georgia Southern.

The Eagles improved by eight wins during the 2024-25 season, winning their first-round game in the Sun Belt tournament as the nine seed. The squad once again broke the team record with 313 threes and 912 attempts and finished top five in the following statistics in program history: field goal attempts (3rd, 2063), rebounds (4th, 1234) and held opponents to the sixth-lowest three-point percentage against in team history.

During his first season at the helm, Henry guided the Eagles to an 8-10 record in Sun Belt play and a quarterfinal appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament for the third consecutive season. Under his tutelage, the Eagles set program records in three-pointers (309) and free-throw percentage (.732), finishing the season 27th in the NCAA in three-pointers per game. Also under his watch, guard Tyren Moore made the All-Sun Belt Second Team and led the Sun Belt in points per game during conference play.

Before Georgia Southern, Henry spent four seasons at the University of Alabama and has over 10 years of coaching experience on three major levels of basketball – NBA, G League and Division I power-five schools – including stops at the Chicago Bulls, Windy City Bulls and Iowa State, among others.

Chris Holm on Shifting Team Culture (EP381) Jul 16, 2025

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In this week's coaching conversation, Ibaraki Robots head coach Chris Holm joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on shifting team culture.

Chris Holm is a professional basketball coach with a diverse coaching background spanning collegiate and international levels. He is currently the head coach of the Ibaraki Robots in Japan’s B.League, a position he assumed in June 2024 after serving as the team’s assistant coach for two seasons. His leadership reflects years of tactical growth and adaptability, building on prior success across both coaching and player development roles.

Before joining Ibaraki, Holm spent nearly four seasons with the Kyoto Hannaryz from 2020 to 2024 as an assistant coach, helping guide the team through competitive B.League campaigns. He previously served as an assistant coach at The George Washington University from 2015 to 2019, contributing to the team’s development in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Between coaching stints, Holm also worked in the private sector as a Territory Account Executive with Toast, Inc., further broadening his leadership experience.

Dan Earl on See, Share, Shoot and Compete (EP380) Jul 09, 2025

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In this week's coaching conversation, University of Tennessee at Chattonooga head coach Dan Earl joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on his see, share, shoot and compete philosophy.

Since taking over as head coach of the Chattanooga Mocs in 2022, Earl has transformed the team into a force in the Southern Conference. His tenure has been marked by sustained progress, culminating in a standout 2024-25 season in which Chattanooga secured a 29-9 overall record and a 15-3 conference record to claim the Southern Conference regular-season championship.

His guidance propelled the Mocs to an impressive run in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), where they emerged as champions after an overtime victory against UC Irvine. His coaching excellence was recognized as he earned his second Southern Conference Coach of the Year award in 2025.

Earl began his head coaching journey at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 2015, where he led the program for seven seasons. Though faced with challenges, he guided VMI to notable success, including a 12-11 record in the 2020-21 season that earned him Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors. His leadership culminated in a postseason berth when VMI reached the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2022.

Before becoming a head coach, Earl gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Penn State from 2006 to 2011, followed by a stint as associate head coach at Navy from 2011 to 2015. His years in assistant roles helped shape his coaching philosophy, emphasizing player development, tactical execution, and resilience.

With two Southern Conference Coach of the Year awards to his name and a proven track record of success, Dan Earl continues to solidify his reputation as a top-tier leader in college basketball.

Nicki Collen on Navigating Elite Coaching (EP379) Jul 02, 2025

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In this week's coaching conversation, Baylor head coach Nicki Collen joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on navigating elite coaching from the WNBA to Baylor.

Nicki Collen has built an impressive coaching career across both the WNBA and NCAA, establishing herself as a dynamic leader in women's basketball. Currently serving as the head coach at Baylor University, Collen has guided the program with a strong tactical approach, compiling a 102–36 (.739) record in her tenure. Under her leadership, Baylor secured a Big 12 regular season championship in 2022, continuing the program’s tradition of excellence.

Before transitioning to the college ranks, Collen made her mark in the WNBA, serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Dream from 2018 to 2020. In her first season, she led the Dream to a 23–11 record, earning WNBA Coach of the Year honors in 2018. Her ability to develop talent and implement a competitive system was evident throughout her time in the league, where she compiled a 38–52 (.422) overall record.

Collen’s coaching journey began as an assistant coach at Colorado State (2001–2003), Ball State (2003), Louisville (2003–2005), Arkansas (2011–2014), and Florida Gulf Coast (2014–2015). She then transitioned to the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun (2015–2017) as an assistant coach, helping the team improve from a 14–20 record in 2016 to 21–13 in 2017.

Patrick Crarey on Relationships then Championships (EP378) Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

In this week's coaching conversation, Grambling State head coach Patrick Crarey shares insights on Relationships then Championships.

Crarey comes to Grambling State after spending one season as the head coach at Florida A&M. Crarey reignited the FAMU men's basketball program, exceeding expectations and guiding the Rattlers to the SWAC Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2022. He led the Rattlers to a 13-16 overall record and a 10-8 mark in conference play. He also coached Sterling Young, who was named the SWAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year.

Prior to coaching at FAMU, he served as head coach at St. Thomas University for three years, posting a 61-27 record with two consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and three straight winning seasons.

Crarey led the Bobcats to a 22-9, 10-4 record in 2023-24 and were the Sun Conference Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats made it to the NAIA Tournament 2nd Round and finished the season ranked 21st in the nation. The Bobcats regular season success led to Crarey being named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

His coaching journey has taken him from assistant roles at La Sierra University to head coaching stints at Washington Adventist University, St. Thomas University, and Florida A&M. Crarey’s track record of success includes multiple championships and accolades, including the 2014 USCAA Men's Division I National Championship, conference titles, and six NAIA National Tournament appearances. He has guided six teams to 20-plus win seasons, earning Coach of the Year honors in both the ICAA and Sun Conference.

Gayle Fulks on Hybrid Motion and a Shooting-Focused Brand (EP377) Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history, Gayle Fulks is entering her ninth season at the helm of the Davidson College women’s basketball program.

Fulks has guided the Wildcats to 123 wins and two postseason appearances, including the 2025 WBIT. In addition to ranking second on Davidson’s all-time wins list, Fulks has coached 15 all-conference performers, while leading her club to a number of record-setting performances along the way.

Along with 18 conference games for the first time in A-10 play, the 2024-25 campaign yet again featured one of the nation’s toughest non-conference slates. The Wildcats rose to the challenge posting 19 victories, their most under Fulks, and a program-best 13 league wins en route to a third-place finish, their highest since joining the league in 2014.

Davidson’s 13 wins in Atlantic 10 play weren’t the only standard set last season. The Wildcats proved to be one of the most efficient and productive teams from the outside making a school-record 241 highlighted by eight games with at least 10 made 3-pointers. They also ranked among national leaders in 3-pointer differential (5th), 3-point defense (1st) and assists per game against (1st). In conference play, no team was better in blocks, points allowed, field-goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense.

Before arriving at Davidson, Fulks gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University, where she worked under Jen Hoover for five seasons, helping to shape the program and refine her coaching philosophy. Prior to her tenure at Wake Forest, she spent a season at UNC Greensboro, contributing to player development and game planning. Her coaching journey began at Longwood University, where she was on staff from 2007 to 2011.

Fulks’ basketball roots extend beyond the collegiate level. She started her career with the WNBA’s New York Liberty in 2007, serving as the Assistant Video Coordinator.

Tony Skinn on Defensive Identity and Competitive Spirit (EP376) Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

In this week's coaching conversation, George Mason head coach Tony Skinn shares insights on defensive identity and competitive spirit.

A key starter on the 2006 George Mason Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history, Skinn returned to his alma mater after nearly a decade of work as a collegiate assistant coach.

The 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Skinn has put together arguably the best start to a coaching career in school history. He set new program bests for overall wins (47), league wins (24), overall winning percentage (.691) and league winning percentage (.667) for a Patriot coach over his first two campaigns. What's more, Skinn's 66.7 A-10 winning percentage is first amongst active league coaches over their first two seasons in the conference.

This season, Skinn guided the Patriots to the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Patriots earned a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, tallied the program's first NIT victory since 2004 and notched a school record-tying 27 overall victories. The Green & Gold set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.

George Mason tallied a school-record 18 home victories in 2024-25. The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time ever and won five-straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from Jan. 8-Feb. 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time and was just the fourth 10+ game winning streak in school history.

Prior to becoming the head coach of his alma mater, Skinn guided three different programs to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Maryland, Ohio State, and Seton Hall.

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