Episode 211: Dwaine Osborne, Associate Head Coach, Youngstown State University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Dwaine Osborne, Associate Head Coach at Youngstown State University. Osborne brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Penguins’ program, having spent 19 years as a head coach and 29 years of coaching, across multiple levels of college basketball. His career includes successful stops at Glenville State, University of Charleston, and Texas–Permian Basin, where he consistently built competitive, high-character programs. Known for his player development expertise and commitment to culture, Osborne has guided numerous teams to conference championships and postseason appearances. His impact goes far beyond wins and losses—he’s been instrumental in mentoring young coaches and student-athletes alike. Now at Youngstown State, he continues to bring his passion for teaching, learning, and team building to the sidelines. In this episode we talk about the biggest lessons he learned in his 19 years of head coaching experience, while also talking about what he would have done differently in today’s coaching landscape and the biggest adjustment from being a head coach to stepping into an assistant role on someone else's staff.
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Episode 210: Marsha Frese, Assistant Coach, Georgia Tech University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Marsha Frese, Assistant Coach for the Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball team. Frese has built an impressive career in coaching with stops at some of the nation’s top programs. She began her coaching journey at Ball State before moving on to Northern Illinois and then Minnesota, where she helped the Golden Gophers reach new heights. From there, she continued to make her mark with successful stints at Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland, contributing to championship-caliber teams and NCAA Tournament runs. Frese also earned the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach at UMKC, where she guided the program with her leadership and vision. Along the way, she has become known for her recruiting expertise, player development skills, and ability to build strong team cultures. Currently at Georgia Tech, Frese continues to bring energy, experience, and mentorship to the Yellow Jackets program in the highly competitive ACC. Her journey is one of perseverance, growth, and impact at every level of women’s basketball. In this episode we discuss what to look for when considering if your next position is a good fit, the toughest career transition she faced and how she dealt with it and the biggest lessons the transition from head coach to assistant taught her on top of how to be the best assistant for your head coach.
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Episode 209: Janard Estell, Director of Player Management and NIL, George Mason University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we are joined by Janard Estell, the Director of Player Management and NIL at George Mason University. Estell has carved out an impressive career in college basketball, beginning his journey as a team manager before steadily working his way up through the ranks. Along the way, he gained valuable experience at multiple stops, including his time at Spring Hill College where he also suited up as a player. His ability to build relationships, connect with student-athletes, and understand the business side of basketball has allowed him to thrive in both operations and development roles. At George Mason, he plays a key part in guiding student-athletes through the ever-changing landscape of NIL while ensuring they have the resources to succeed both on and off the court. His unique career path is a testament to persistence, versatility, and a deep passion for the game. Estell’s journey highlights how non-traditional roles in basketball can lead to major opportunities in the industry. In this episode we discuss the skill sets you should look to have when working in the NIL and fundraising side of basketball, growing in the industry from a team manager to Director of Player Management in the industry and some more education on the NIL landscape in college athletics.
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Episode 208: Dahntay Jones, Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Clippers
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Dahntay Jones, assistant coach with the LA Clippers and a former NBA veteran. Jones played college basketball at Rutgers before transferring to Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to a Final Four. He was selected 20th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 seasons in the league with teams including the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Pacers, Mavericks, Hawks, Cavaliers, and others. Known for his toughness and defensive mindset, he was part of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. After retiring, Jones transitioned into coaching and joined the Clippers’ staff under Tyronn Lue. His career has been defined by professionalism, preparation, and the ability to connect with players. In this episode we talk about his "NBA moment" which also helped out his coaching career, what a championship locker room consists of and one of the misunderstood parts of coaching at the NBA level.
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we welcome Lloyd Pierce, Assistant Coach for the Indiana Pacers. Pierce brings a wealth of experience from nearly two decades in the NBA coaching ranks. He began his professional coaching journey with Santa Clara and then the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Golden State Warriors as a player development coach. He later spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he helped lay the foundation for their rise into one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders. Pierce then earned the head coaching position with the Atlanta Hawks, where he guided a young roster and gained valuable leadership experience. After Atlanta, he joined the Indiana Pacers staff, bringing his experience and steady presence to Rick Carlisle’s bench. Known for his player development work and ability to connect with athletes, Pierce has had a hand in shaping the careers of multiple NBA stars. His impact extends beyond the court as he has been a strong voice on issues of leadership and community engagement throughout his career. In this episode we discuss what lessons he learned from his first head coaching experience in the NBA, how going from a head coach to an assistant changed his perspective as a coach and a breakdown of game planning for that next opponent.
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
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