Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon – Hardwood Hustle
In this podcast, we feature Josh Merkel, head coach at Randolph-Macon. He joins TJ and Sam to discuss what its like to take over a program, implement systems and strategies, and build and sustain a culture of excellence. Josh shares from his 10 years of head coaching experience and is no stranger to success. His program has gone 67-6 over the past three seasons, including 33-2 in ODAC play and he’s been named ODAC coach of the year three seasons in a row.
Tony Bennett, University of Virginia – Hardwood Hustle
In this podcast, we feature Head Coach Tony Bennett, a 3-time National Coach of the Year and is entering his 16th season as a head coach. In 2019, Coach Bennett led Virginia to their first Final Four and rebounded from a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the year prior, to defeat Texas Tech in overtime to win their first National Championship. Listen to this episode to hear the history and meaning behind the 5 pillars of their team culture, how Coach Bennett sets up his program for success by focusing on simplicity with execution, and how you can apply their winning principles to your team.
Dribble Drive Offense with John Leonzo – Hardwood Hustle
This week we’re joined by John Leonzo to break down the Dribble Drive Motion Offense. John Leonzo is an assistant coach at Wright State and is known in the basketball world for sharing his learnings and giving back to the game. After listening you’ll not only understand the Dribble Drive offense better you’ll also walk away with best practices for any offensive system you run.
Tips & Strategies for Special Situations – Hardwood Hustle
TJ and Sam discuss how to strategize when it comes to your team’s special situations. They dive into both the offensive and defensive side of inbounds plays and tactics as well as making considerations practicing and planning for end of games. Coaches should pay particular attention to how much time they spend in this area and in this episode, Sam and TJ share why it’s the most important question for you to answer.
Tournament Time & Game Coaching – Hardwood Hustle
This week TJ and Sam cover what coaches are doing to be successful come tournament time and what they’re seeing right now from top teams specifically around in-game coaching and strategies.
How to Be a Great Transition Team – Hardwood Hustle
To run or not to run? This week, TJ and Sam discuss the pros and cons of being a fast paced transition team. They also share the things you should be considering as a coach when deciding on your approach to transition offense.
Transition Offense Strategy – Hardwood Hustle
This week TJ and Sam discuss basic philosophies around transition offense. Transition is one of the parts of the game that happens the most, and being great in transition comes from having great clarity and commitment and asking yourself the right questions as a coach. In this episode, TJ and Sam talk about using a numbered break, running on both makes and misses, the difference between a great transition team and a team that runs, and how to train it in practice.
Skills, Reads, & Decisions – Hardwood Hustle
In this episode, Sam and Lisa discuss the difference between developing skills, reads, and decision-making. It’s important for coaches to decide how they’ll approach develop their players in each area and know what it looks like for their team in their system. The importance of habits, narrowing their focus, creating role clarity, and setting expectations are all part of the formula for growing in this area.
The Ultimate Pre-Season Package
Don’t hope to have a play that scores, KNOW you have a play that scores! Every year you face critical end of game situations and if you wait until you’re playing games to develop your end of game strategies… you’re too late! The best time to master the end of games? The Pre-Season! The Ultimate Pre-Season Package includes next-level resources to elevate your execution in crunch time! You’ll be ready for every pressure packed situation with: 22 page WNBA and NBA End of Game Playbook Detailed Diagrams and Explanations for Every Play 6 In-Depth Video Breakdowns on NCAA End of Game Plays Critical Questions to Shape Your Late Game Strategies 28 End of Game Video Cutups Nothing can tip the scales of a season more than end of game execution.
Breakthrough Habits
Basketball is changing. It’s a game of space and advantage. Breakthrough Habits will give you the tools to help you excel in today’s game. Every once in a while you’ll find a truly exceptional offensive team. These teams make their opponents look unprepared. They find open cutters for layups — and open shooters for uncontested 3-pointers And they seem to score almost “at will.” They aren’t necessarily bigger, faster, and stronger than their opponents (although that definitely helps!) Exceptional offensive teams excel in the habits that give them advantages over their opponents. Coach Dustin Aubert joined our Better Basketball team with a wealth of college-level experience, as a player and as a coach. Best of all, he is exceptional at analyzing what top teams are doing. In this course, Coach Dustin identifies how NBA and college teams are using five habits every game to gain advantages over their opponents. In almost two hours of frame-by-frame analysis, he breaks down how top teams are using Ghost Screens, Playing Off Two Feet, Cutting, Stampede, and Protection Plans as part of their offense. Then, he shows how you can implement these same habits with your team — no matter what level you coach!
Atlanta Clinic 2022
Get an introduction to the 2022 PGC Coaching Clinic in Atlanta with Coach Sam Allen.
Systems & Strategies | Coaches Blueprint
Picking the right systems and strategies – the right offense and defense, and many more, is influenced by many factors. In this journey, you’ll explore the key factors to help you choose, and coach the right ones.
The Read & React 2.0
In this 2.0 version, I’ve rebuilt the Read & React teaching so you can run it more effectively and implement it faster. You’ll get the latest ideas and examples from successful coaches who have built successful programs using the Read & React offense.
Every layer and every scoring opportunity has been illustrated with game clip examples so you can see exactly how to win with it.
I share new ideas and new teaching progressions within the familiar grid of 10 Layers. I’ve learned much better ways to teach the offense over the past 6 years and it’s all included in this course.
Player Development Habits
Without great habits, dreams just don’t become reality. In this course, we’ll help you understand the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of creating great habits for your team. This course is part of our Player Development Journey for coaches working through the Key5 Coaching Blueprint. Follow the links below to learn more: Start Your Coaching Journey Player Development Journey Page
Mental Player Development
The mental game is becoming a greater focus in basketball. In this course you’ll learn the key components to developing your players’ mental game. This course is part of our Player Development Journey for coaches working through the Key5 Coaching Blueprint. Follow the links below to learn more: Start Your Coaching Journey Player Development Journey Page
Physical Player Development
Bench pressing and running sprints just won’t cut it anymore. A serious player development approach will take into account these five elements of physical development. This course is part of our Player Development Journey for coaches working through the Key5 Coaching Blueprint. Follow the links below to learn more: Start Your Coaching Journey Player Development Journey Page
Player Development Reads
The game of basketball has changed. We are in a high skill era. The separator is when your players learn to make the right read, and then the right decision. This course is part of our Player Development Journey for coaches working through the Key5 Coaching Blueprint. Follow the links below to learn more: Start Your Coaching Journey Player Development Journey Page
Player Development
A commitment to player development can be a separator for your team. In this course, you’ll learn how to go “all-in” on the five components of player development.
Keep It Simple Zones
Download Notecard PDF here
Correct Better
You can overcorrect, and you can undercorrect. Master teachers know this is part of the “art” of coaching. Learn what it takes to correct well. This course is part of our Master Teaching Journey for coaches working through the Key5 Coaching Blueprint. Follow the links below to learn more: Start Your Coaching Journey Master Teaching Journey Page
