The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Bobby Horodyski, Assistant Coach at Western Michigan University. Horodyski’s journey in basketball started as a manager before becoming a player at UCF, eventually working his way through coaching roles at Wyoming, Utah Valley, BYU, Queens, and now Western Michigan. His experience in different roles and programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to add value to a staff and continue growing in the profession. In this episode we discuss what a young DOBO should prioritize and master during their first year in this role, the little things great DOBOs do every day that make an entire staff better, and how a new coach can quickly find their place, build relationships, and add value when joining a new program.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Sean Dwyer, Assistant Coach with the Phoenix Suns. Dwyer has built an impressive coaching career with stops at Michigan State, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Loyola Chicago, and now with the Phoenix Suns. His experience across multiple college programs and the professional level has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build sustained success. In this episode we discuss the one characteristic he’s seen consistently across successful programs, the biggest adjustment he faced moving from college coaching to the NBA, and how assistants can find their team's identity within a program and recruit players who truly fit that identity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Paul Mulcahy, former Division I player and founder of Share the Game. Mulcahy built his playing career at Rutgers and Washington before transitioning into coaching as an assistant at Gill St. Bernard’s High School. His experience as a high-level point guard gives him a unique perspective on leadership, communication, and the impact coaches can have on their players. In this episode we discuss the coaches who brought the best out of him and the lessons he took from them, great advice for point guards to help them lead their team effectively and the power of choosing your words and communicating as a coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Pat Martinelli, Head Coach at Mount Aloysius. Coach Martinelli began his journey as a student assistant at Allegheny before working his way into assistant coaching roles at Allegheny and Chatham, while also gaining valuable experience as the head coach of Caveman AAU. In this episode we discuss the responsibilities he took on early that accelerated his growth, how his time coaching AAU helped prepare him for his first college head coaching opportunity, and what those first few months looked like after taking over a program as a newly appointed head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Richmond, Assistant Coach at Youngstown State University. Coach Richmond began his journey at West Virginia as a student assistant, practice player, and manager before building an impressive coaching résumé with stops at Centenary College of Louisiana, the University of Charleston, East Tennessee State, Fordham, and now Youngstown State. He also gained valuable experience leading his own program as the head coach at Notre Dame College. In this episode we discuss the lasting lessons he learned from working under coaching legends in John Beilein and Bob Huggins, the responsibilities of a head coach that many assistants don't fully appreciate until they're in the role, and how his time as a head coach has made him a more effective assistant today.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dan Ritter, Assistant Coach at Garden City Community College. Ritter's coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial University before earning his current role at one of the premier junior college programs in the country, Garden City Community College. His path offers great insight for young coaches looking to break into the profession and continue climbing the ladder. In this episode we discuss how he landed his first graduate assistant position despite having limited connections, the steps that led him from a GA role to his first full-time assistant coaching opportunity, and what makes Garden City Community College one of the most respected JUCO programs in the nation.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, Doug and Alan dive into one of the most important topics in today's game: Recruiting Over Rankings. Answering questions submitted by our listeners and Rising Coaches members, we discuss how recruiting philosophies have evolved, how to uncover whether a recruit is truly the right fit for your program, why recruiting should be a full-staff effort instead of resting on one coach, and creative ways to separate yourself in today's competitive recruiting landscape. Whether you're recruiting high school prospects or transfers, this episode is filled with practical ideas for coaches at every level. We hope you enjoy it.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re back with part two of our conversation with LaPhonso Ellis, former NBA veteran, current basketball analyst, and head coach of Team Heartfire in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). In this second half, Ellis shifts into what he’s learned from both coaching and evaluating the game at the highest level. In this episode we discuss his perspective on the common traits he’s noticed across elite teams through his work as an analyst and what those teams consistently do in practice, his experience leading Team Heartfire in the TBT and the lessons that have come with it, and how he approaches building and managing a roster in a constantly changing tournament environment.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On 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.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Brett MacConnell, Head Coach at Dartmouth College. Coach MacConnell has built an impressive career through assistant coaching stops at Rutgers, Delaware Valley, Holy Family, St. Peter’s, Princeton, and Stanford before earning the opportunity to lead the Dartmouth program. His experience at both the mid-major and high-major levels have given him a unique perspective on leadership, recruiting, and building successful programs. In this episode we discuss the biggest lessons he learned as an assistant that now shape his approach as a head coach, the challenge of identifying players who truly fit both the program’s culture and academic standards, and the key priorities he focused on during his first 60 days leading an Ivy League program.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Tevon Saddler, Capitol City Go-Go head coach. Coach Saddler’s journey in the game started as a player at UNC Greensboro and South Alabama before moving into coaching roles at South Alabama, Nicholls State, McNeese State, Maryland, and now leading the Nicholls State program. Along the way, he’s gained experience in nearly every role on staff, shaping his approach to leadership and team building. In this episode we discuss the defining humbling moment of his head coaching career, what he learned from stepping into a DOBO role and how it shaped his coaching perspective as a head coach, and the key qualities that separate good assistants from great ones including what he looks for when hiring an assistant coach.