The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re doing something a little different as my cohost and I dive into a conversation on culture building and what it really takes to build a program as a head and assistant coach. We also answer questions submitted by our listeners and Rising Coaches members, making this one a practical and interactive discussion. In this episode we discuss how to build culture in an era where rosters are constantly changing, how much of a program’s culture should be modeled by the head and assistant coaches versus enforced within the locker room, and how to set clear expectations for freshmen and first-year players to create role clarity and improve retention. This is a real conversation built around today’s challenges in coaching and leadership, we hope you enjoy.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Richardson, the Head Coach at Wheeling University. Chris has worked his way through the profession with stops including an internship with the Memphis Grizzlies to coaching roles at Arkansas Tech, the University of Charleston, Fairmont State, Delta State, and the University of Central Missouri before taking over at Wheeling. In this episode we discuss how young coaches can find their voice and purpose while working on experienced staffs, what the very first responsibilities were once he accepted the head coaching role at Wheeling, and some key habits every young coach should build early to set themselves up for long-term success.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike Rejniak, the GM and Head Coach of the “WE ARE D3” Team in the TBT. Mike’s journey through the Collegiate ranks includes various roles at Springfield College, College of New Jersey, Plymouth State, Amherst College, and Vassar College. He later stepped into head coaching at SUNY New Paltz and now leads WE ARE D3, showcasing Division III talent on the larger stage. In this episode we discuss what he implemented to help his teams’ academic success spike, how building and preparing a TBT roster of D3 All-Americans and pro players differs from building a college roster, and the challenges he faced stepping into his first head coaching role.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Tristan Spurlock, assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Tristan began his basketball journey as a player at Virginia before finishing his career at UCF, experiences that still influence his approach to the game. He transitioned into coaching with stops at the University of Iowa and now Penn, learning within strong and established programs. In this episode we discuss the coaching styles that resonated most with him as a player, how young assistants can find their voice on a veteran staff, and the traits that make Coach Fran McCaffery such an impactful leader.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jesse Bopp, the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Florida International University. Coach Bopp has built a wide-ranging career holding various assistant roles at Florida, VCU, Chattanooga, New Mexico State, IMG Academy and time as a head coach at Vermont Academy. Now being at FIU, these experiences have given him a unique perspective across multiple levels of the game. In this episode we discuss what advice he would give young coaches trying to break into recruiting roles, how he evaluates upside versus immediate impact when recruiting and what his early years as a head coach taught him that he couldn’t fully understand at the time.