EP 61: Will Graham | Programming, Performance, and Career Growth

EP 61: Will Graham | Programming, Performance, and Career Growth

Will Graham, Director of Performance for Men's Basketball at Stony Brook University, joins the show to discuss his transition into a new role after spending the past seven years at Liberty University and four years in the private sector at APEC. We dive into what attracted Will to Stony Brook, the first steps he's taking to build relationships and establish his program, and the lessons he's carrying with him from both the private and collegiate sectors. We also discuss his weekly programming structure, the skills that translated most from the private sector to college athletics, and his perspective on efficient versus effective movement. 🔗Check out more from Will 👇 Instagram: @coachgraham_ @train_pursuit  This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:57 Journey into Coaching and Sports 05:07 Transitioning from Private to College Coaching 10:01 Skills Developed in the Private Sector 16:06 Building Relationships and Team Dynamics 19:08 The Decision to Move to Stony Brook 23:05 Preparing for a New Role at Stony Brook 26:58 Program Structure and Training Philosophy 28:29 Training Methodology and Positioning in Basketball 31:11 Adapting Training for Individual Needs 33:19 Integrating Holistic Approaches in Coaching 37:20 Proactive Problem Solving in Coaching 39:40 Understanding Second and Third Order Consequences 45:16 Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness in Movement 49:51 Reflections on Coaching Journey and Development

EP 60: Justin Ochoa | Connecting the Weight Room to the Court

Justin Ochoa, Owner and Director of Performance at Gem Sessions Training, joins the show to break down his approach to basketball development and the integration of both skill and performance training. We dive deep into Justin's athlete profiling system, how he manages leading both skill and performance development, and the value that comes from owning both areas. Justin also explains how he's adapted Tony Villani's Game Speed System to his basketball setting and the impact it’s made.  Justin breaks down his 3-2-1 system for looking at force plate metrics, the insights he's gained when comparing force plate asymmetries to 5-0-5 change of direction asymmetries, and the athlete archetypes he uses to guide programming and development decisions. 🔗Check out more from Justin 👇 Instagram: @justinochoa317 Justin Ochoa — Bio Sites [https://bio.site/justinochoa317?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnk61FTKmVMRN3VcLT16_tJ01kmS2snU6xA1ULzfJkfWL1fBw8xkGvr6vS844_aem_2HK68SD-kVrCrmVrN3efCA]  This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:31 Force Plate  3-2-1 System 10:10 Force Plate and 5-0-5 Asymmetries 18:35 Individualized Approaches to Athlete Training 22:05 Creating Athlete Archetypes 26:24 Integrating Skill and Physical Profiling 30:38 Adapting Game Speed Systems for Basketball 35:34 Blending Basketball Skills with Movement Control 39:15 Integrating Sprinting and Change of Direction Training 52:30 Monitoring Performance and Adjusting Training 58:23 Balancing Skill and Strength Training 01:06:37 Building and Filtering Career Opportunities

EP 59: Sam Patterson | Building a Championship Program in Year One

Sam Patterson, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, joins the show after a great first season that included an American Southwest Conference Championship and a trip to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. After spending eight years at Oral Roberts, Coach Pat shares what it was like stepping into his first head coaching role and the lessons he learned throughout the transition. We dive into his first priorities as a new head coach, how he approached building relationships with players, and the process of establishing the culture and standards he wanted for the program. He also breaks down the core values he recruits to, the differences between developing athletes at the Division I and Division III levels, and why giving players ownership of their own development is critical to long-term success, especially at the DIII level. We also talk about his deeper purpose as a coach, why he doesn’t place his identity in wins and losses, and how he intentionally integrates his family into his coaching career. 🔗Check out more from Coach Patterson👇 Instagram: @coach_patterson This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:00 Building Initial Relationships with Players 05:49 Establishing Core Values and Standards 09:07 Recruiting for Selflessness and Team Chemistry 11:55 Navigating the Challenges of Division III Coaching 20:55 Balancing Structure and Personal Ownership in Development 36:33 Setting Standards and Accountability 39:41 Managing Time and Efficiency in Practice 42:34 Individual Development vs. Team Focus 44:41 Empowering Players Through Ownership 51:27 Navigating Leadership Decisions 01:00:07 Finding Identity Beyond Wins and Losses 01:04:04 Integrating Family into Coaching Life

EP 58: Matt Aldred | Winning Championships Without Losing What Matters Most

Matt Aldred, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball at the University of Michigan, joins the show after helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. But this conversation goes far beyond training, performance, or basketball. In this episode, Matt reflects on the impact his daughter has had on his life and career, how becoming a father has shaped his perspective, and the intentional constraints he uses to maximize his focus and time. We also dive into the values he tries to live by, the process of discovering what type of coach he wanted to become, and how the lens he uses to evaluate career opportunities has evolved over time. While we do discuss what made Michigan's championship team so special, the heart of this conversation is about purpose, priorities, and building a life and career that align with what matters most. 🔗Check out more from Matt👇 Instagram: @sc_aldred This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:04 Navigating Social Media and Digital Constraints 05:53 Work-Life Integration and Family Dynamics 08:59 Balancing Coaching and Fatherhood 12:03 Setting Expectations and Communication in Family 15:04 The Role of Empathy in Coaching 18:03 Learning from Other Coaches' Family Dynamics 26:15 Celebrating Wins with Family 27:17 Defining Personal Values and Principles 28:57 The Role of Mentorship in Coaching 30:06 Authenticity in Coaching 32:47 Building Trust and Relationships with Athletes 36:26 Navigating Career Choices and Opportunities 39:24 The Importance of Work Environment and Culture 42:33 Living by Values and Accountability 45:20 Hiring and Mentoring Assistants 47:53 Finding Balance and Rejuvenation 51:10 Integrating New Players into a Team 54:35 Creating a Winning Team Culture

EP 57: Nick DiMarco | Inside The Director’s Manual

Nick DiMarco, Assistant Athletic Director for Peak Performance at Elon University, joins the show to break down the systems, leadership principles, and operational details behind building one of the premier sports performance departments in the country. Nick recently released his new book, The Director’s Manual, a must-read resource for coaches looking to step into leadership roles or elevate the programs they currently lead. In this conversation, we dive into how to build a place people compete to work at, why creating stability in your role requires detaching yourself from any one sport coach, and the importance of always thinking one category above your current position. Nick also shares his framework for hiring staff, what true commitment to operational detail looks like, and how to lead in a way that allows your program to sustain success long after you leave. Beyond the tactical takeaways, one of the most valuable parts of this episode is getting an inside look at how Nick thinks, builds systems, and creates vision within a high-level department. 🔗Check out more from Nick👇 Instagram: @dimarco.w.nick Nick’s Book — The Director’s Manual: Get The Director’s Manual on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Directors-Manual-Coach-Looking-Improve/dp/B0GZDNG9N8?utm_source=chatgpt.com]  Nick DiMarco Substack [https://nickdimarco.substack.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Director's Manual 01:12 Transitioning into a Director Role 05:51 Navigating Change and Resistance 08:45 Serving All Teams Equally 12:16 Taking Ownership as a Director 18:30 Establishing Administrative Relationships 23:09 Commitment to Operational Detail 31:25 Navigating Tough Conversations in Leadership 33:11 Hiring for Gaps: Building a Diverse Team 38:14 Uncovering True Character in Interviews 42:00 Creating a Desirable Work Environment 46:36 The Importance of Career Progression 48:42 Defining Your Hedgehog Concept 52:48 Building Sustainable Leadership 01:01:16 The Journey to Writing a Book