Hoop Heads

Welcome to the 93rd edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question.  A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. September’s Round Table question is:  What’s something about winning that you understand differently now than you did when you first became a coach? Our Coaching Lineup this month: Jerry Buckley – Bishop Kenny (FL) High School Erik Buehler – Arapahoe (CO) High School Chris DeLisio – Olmsted Falls (OH) High School Matt Elkin – Stanford University Stephen Halstead – Grace College Dave Hixon – Amherst College Mike Koehler - Elkhart Lake (WI) High School Bob Krizancic – Mentor (OH) High School Dell Leonard – Mountain Home (AR) High School Dan Miller – San Marcos (TX) High School Matt Rogers - Significant Coaching & Recruiting Don Showalter - USA Basketball John Shulman – University of Central Arkansas Please enjoy this Round Table episode of the Hoop Heads Podcast and once you’re finished listening please give the show a five star rating and review after you subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/x - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode Mike & Jason discuss a slow NBA news week, including potential league expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas and which Western Conference team might move east. They criticize the confusing and expensive ways fans must access local NBA games, arguing that a reasonably priced League Pass-style package would be a better solution. The hosts examine Steve Ballmer’s decision not to challenge the NBA’s punishment of the Clippers and debate what the franchise’s future looks like without full ownership of its draft picks. They continue ranking the best NBA players from each state, selecting players such as Bill Russell, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Walt Frazier, and Tracy McGrady while sharing plenty of humorous research mishaps. The episode closes with a bleak assessment of the Cleveland Browns, focusing on their quarterback problems, Deshaun Watson’s struggles, and the belief that the season may already be lost. Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/x - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bill Taylor is the author of the book, Managing Sports Conflict, and the founder of the Sports Conflict Lab which helps sports professionals navigate conflict, elevate leadership, and build cultures that win with integrity. Over a remarkable 28-year coaching career in track & field and cross country, including 22 years as a collegiate head coach and administrator,  Bill’s leadership has produced a National Championship (NAIA), 16 Conference Titles (12 NCAA Division I, 4 NAIA), and 28 Coach of the Year honors. On this episode Mike & Bill discuss why conflict is unavoidable in sports and relationships. Taylor explains how a difficult conflict led him to study conflict management more deeply. He introduces five key tools: managing emotions, communicating effectively, looking below the surface of stated issues, seeking win-win solutions, and following through to build trust. The conversation applies these tools to common coaching challenges such as playing-time discussions, team accountability, emotional parents, and maintaining a strong culture. Taylor encourages coaches to stop avoiding or improvising through conflict and instead establish clear expectations and a deliberate conflict-resolution process. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. You will definitely want to grab your notebook to jot down some ideas as you listen to this episode with Bill Taylor, author of the book Managing Sports Conflict and the founder of the Sports Conflict Lab. Website - https://www.sportsconflictlab.com/ Email - [email protected] Twitter/X - @Sports_Conflict Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/x - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nick Nichay is entering his first season at Dartmouth College as a Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach under Brett McConnell.  Nick previously served as the Head Coach at D3 Franklin & Marshall College for seven seasons where he led the Diplomats to consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2025 and 2026. Nichay was elevated to head coach in the spring of 2020. He served as the Interim Head Coach at the start of the 2019-20 season after spending the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with Franklin & Marshall. Prior to arriving at Franklin & Marshall, Nichay spent two years as an assistant coach at the Division II level with Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y.  and began his coaching career with one season as a Division III assistant at Hartwick College after graduating from Rutgers where he served as a manager for 3 seasons with the Men’s Basketball Program. On this episode Mike & Nick discuss how his lifelong love of basketball developed from playing in his driveway and listening to Nets games on the radio. Nick explains how working as a manager at Rutgers and gaining experience in every aspect of college basketball helped him build the foundation for a coaching career. Nick reflects on the mentors and opportunities at Hartwick, Le Moyne, and Franklin & Marshall that shaped his coaching philosophy and taught him the value of preparation, relationships, and consistent improvement. He discusses taking over Franklin & Marshall after a legendary coach, rebuilding the program through challenges such as COVID, and eventually returning to an assistant role at Dartmouth alongside his former college roommate, Brett McConnell. Throughout the conversation, Nick emphasizes that success comes from embracing each opportunity, caring authentically about players, and focusing on getting one percent better every day. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Grab pen and paper before you listen to this episode with Nick Nichay, Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach at Dartmouth College. Website – https://dartmouthsports.com/sports/mens-basketball Email – [email protected] Twitter/X - @NickNichay Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/x - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode Mike & Jason discuss the Clippers/Kawhi Fiasco from every angle, but Kawhi escaping any real punishment is the most shocking aspect of the entire situation. Next, they discuss Ben Simmons signing with the Kings and how far his star has fallen from his early years in the league. Following that, Mike and Jason talk Rockets and the Amen Thompson Rookie Scale Contract extension. They wrap the episode with some quick Cleveland Browns predictions before choosing the best NBA players from Alabama and Alaska. Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/x - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.