United Basketball Podcast

Grinnell basketball is built on pace, pressure, and a whole lot of puzzle solving - and Coach David Arsenault reveals exactly how he keeps it all working. If you coach, love hoops, or want to understand how a wildly unique system wins at the college level, this conversation is packed with the real stuff: relationships, practice design, and why less can actually produce more.Arsenault breaks down how he uses Grinnell’s out-of-season flex days to install the system, why his practices are intentionally short, and how he figures out which combinations of players actually fit together on the floor. He also explains what has changed since the program’s start, why trust matters just as much as X’s and O’s, and how Grinnell has evolved into a team that can defend, rotate deep, and still play at full throttle.Arsenault also gets into the realities of recruiting four-year players, managing a roster in the transfer portal era, and coaching talented players like Kai Te Huki, Gabe Garcia, and Tyler Copes. Plus, he shares what makes the Midwest Conference so competitive, why this year’s league race is wide open, and how Grinnell’s style has turned into something far more nuanced than just “shoot threes and run.” This is essential listening if you’re a coach who wants better practices, a deeper identity, and a system your players actually believe in. By the end, you’ll understand why Grinnell’s success starts long before tipoff.--------------------------------------------------------------------United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today! https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/Let's Grow the Game!

In this episode, United Basketball+ owner and high school coach, Jacob Durdan shares his insights and experiences as he prepares for his seventh season as a basketball coach. He reflects on the challenges faced by coaches, the importance of personal development, and the need to build strong relationships within the community. Jacob outlines seven key strategies he is implementing to ensure a successful season, emphasizing the significance of planning, networking, and maintaining a positive team culture. He also encourages fellow coaches to connect and share ideas to foster growth in the coaching profession.--------------------------------------------------------------------United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today! https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/Let's Grow the Game!

Young coaches chasing the next level will want every minute of this one. Cam McKinney breaks down how he climbed from college player to student coach, high school assistant, Troy staffer, and now assistant at Colorado College—and why the jump from D3 to D1, then back to D3, has sharpened the way he thinks about winning.He gets into the real work behind building a program: teaching middle school players to play off two feet, develop footwork, and actually enjoy the game while getting better. From there, the conversation opens up into what changed his career, how a law firm job pushed him back toward basketball, and what he learned from elite staffs at Troy and Colorado College.Cam also explains how Colorado College recruits nationally, why the school’s championship culture matters, and how the program balances elite academics with serious basketball. If you care about player development, analytics, culture, and the day-to-day reality of coaching at a high level, this episode delivers practical ideas you can use immediately.Perfect for coaches, players, and anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build trust, compete hard, and grow a program the right way.--------------------------------------------------------------------Coaches! Plan some personal time and personal development this offseason. Plan to attend the 2026 Hoosier Gym Coaches Clinic in Knightstown, Indiana on September 11 & 12! Sign up here:  https://unitedbasketballplus.com/united-basketball-hoosier-gym-coaches-clinic/United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today! https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/Let's Grow the Game!

In this episode of the United Basketball Plus Coaching and Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Zapinski of Elmhurst University men’s basketball for a deep conversation on coaching, player development, recruiting, film study, and the modern game. Jonathan shares his path from playing at Elmhurst to coaching at the college level, along with the lessons he learned from mentors, teammates, and his own journey through the game. We also dive into the details that separate good teams from great ones — from teaching bigs to play through contact, to using film and feedback effectively, to understanding what coaches should really look for in recruits. Whether you coach high school or college basketball, this conversation is packed with practical ideas on leadership, systems, and how to help players grow the right way. If you love basketball, coaching, and development, this one is for you.Coaches! Plan some personal time and personal development this offseason. Plan to attend the 2026 Hoosier Gym Coaches Clinic in Knightstown, Indiana on September 11 & 12! Sign up here:  https://unitedbasketballplus.com/united-basketball-hoosier-gym-coaches-clinic/United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today! https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/Let's Grow the Game!

The difference between a good big man and a great one is not height. It is IQ, patience, and the willingness to ask the right questions. Elmhurst assistant coach Jonathan Zapinski reveals the modern post play blueprint that helps bigs thrive in a perimeter-centric game - and why the best coaches are building players who can think, not just score.Jacob Durdan and co-host Jeremy sit down with Zapinski for a sharp, wide-ranging conversation on coaching, player development, recruiting, and what it really takes to become a college basketball coach. Zapinski shares the path from Dallas to Elmhurst, the coaching influence that sparked his love for the game at age six, and the lessons he carried from playing at Elmhurst College and now coaching back at his alma mater. Coaches! Plan some personal time and personal development this offseason. Plan to attend the 2026 Hoosier Gym Coaches Clinic in Knightstown, Indiana on September 11 & 12! Sign up here:  https://unitedbasketballplus.com/united-basketball-hoosier-gym-coaches-clinic/United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today! https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/