The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ernie Contreras, Performance Coach and Director of Basketball at the University of San Diego. Coach Contreras has built a strong career in strength and conditioning with stops at Santa Clara, Holy Names, Texas Tech, and experience at the G League and NBA levels before arriving at USD. His background gives him a unique perspective on developing athletes across different levels and environments. In this episode we discuss how to build a strength program when rosters are constantly changing with different body types and backgrounds, advice for coaches working without high-level resources or equipment, and how to develop mental toughness in players during preseason workouts.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jamere Dismukes, Assistant Coach at Long Island University. Coach Dismukes played at Chicago State before building a strong coaching résumé with assistant roles at Rich East, Black Hawk College, Indian Hills, Victory Rock Prep, and now LIU, along with head coaching stops at Rich East, Hyde Park Academy, and Homewood-Flossmoor where he built a state championship program. His experience across high school, JUCO, and Division I levels gives him a unique perspective on player development and leadership. In this episode we discuss the daily non-negotiables that helped build his championship program at Homewood-Flossmoor, how he works to instill confidence in players on a daily basis, and the biggest adjustment he’s faced moving from a head coach in High School to an assistant at the Division I level.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Howard Fisher, longtime head coach at the College of the Canyons. Coach Fisher has built his career across multiple levels with assistant coaching stops at Whittier College and Los Angeles City College before leading programs with Maccabi USA and at College of the Canyons. Over the years, he’s developed a strong reputation for building competitive teams and helping players move on to the next level. In this episode we discuss how his experience coaching with Maccabi USA has shaped his approach as a head coach, one thing he believes coaches should stop doing in the recruiting process, and what he looks for when evaluating JUCO talent that others might overlook.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Riley Conroy, Assistant Coach at the University of South Alabama. Riley’s path in basketball started as a player at Tulane before moving into coaching with stops at Sunrise Christian Academy, Southeastern Louisiana, and now South Alabama. Along the way, he’s built a reputation as a strong recruiter and someone who understands how to add value within a staff. In this episode we discuss the biggest mistake young coaches make when trying to stand out on their staffs, what he would prioritize if he were to step into a head coaching role tomorrow, and advice on how younger coaches can learn to evaluate and recruit players to best fit their head coach’s needs.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike MacDonald, Head Coach at Daemen University. Coach MacDonald has built his career with stops at Canisius and Daemen as an assistant before moving into head coaching roles at Canisius, Medaille, and now Daemen, where he continues to build a strong program. His experience across multiple roles has shaped his approach to leadership, development, and team success. In this episode we discuss how to effectively network on your own campus when you’re new to a program, how coaches like John Beilein and other head coaches he has worked with have helped impact their players and assistants to develop, as well as how Coach MacDonald uses his players’ strengths in games to put them in the best position to succeed.