Basketball Journeys

Matt Doherty joins host Pat Price for a chat on his early influences, his career at North Carolina -which included the 1982 NCAA National Championship alongside Michael Jordan and James Worthy -and the abrupt end to his tenure as head coach of the Tar Heels in 2003.  His new book Rebound, From Pain to Passion, outlines how he's overcome the disappointments through personal reflection and leadership development.  Get a personalized copy of Matt's book here:http://www.rebound-book.com/

Long-time  NBA Shooting Coach Dave Hopla - often referred to as the greatest shooter in the world, joins host Pat Price in this episode.  Dave's a high-energy passionate coach who's been sharing the game for nearly 40 years.  Throughout his time with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and as a private coach, he's worked with some of the best to ever play the game, and  he shares not only his personal background in the sport but some of the key details that go into both teaching and shooting. 

Abe Badmus , Basketball Analyst for Fox News Southwest, is a former professional player, having spent time in the NBA G League, Europe and South America following a terrific career at Bucknell.  He joins host Pat Price in this bonus episode, on the 16th anniversary of the #14 seed Bucknell shocking #3 seed Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  Together, they break down the Art of the Upset,  covering many of the factors that contribute to those magic moments for the underdogs in sport's best spectable.  Check out Abe's blog & newsletter here

Hello! We welcome the legendary voice of the Toronto Raptors TV analyst,  Jack Armstrong .  Armstrong's chat with host Pat Price takes us through his 20+ years of witnessing first-hand the growth of the Raptors from a fledgling expansion team to NBA champions, and how they've captured the attention of both Canadian and US basketball fans.  His signature calls have become part of Canadian vernacular, and his contagious enthusiasm makes every Raptors broadcast entertaining. Armstrong covers his upbringing in Brooklyn, his first generation Irish heritage, his rise to head coach at Niagara, and his transition to broadcasting.  

We are joined by Johns Hopkins University Men's Basketball Coach Josh Loeffler, who recounts his influences and development thoughout the past 18 years, from his time as the JV Coach at Hamilton College until capturning the 2019-20 Centennial Conference Championship, as well as capitalizing on the idle time to further study the game.Having spent time as an assistant coach at Hamilton, St. Lawrence University and Williams College, Loeffler had a very succesful debut as a head coach with Stevens Tech, before moving on for several years as an assistant to Fran O'Hanlon at Lafayett and GG Smith at Loyola (Maryland) before taking the reins at Johns Hopkins University. He and host Pat Price discuss the processes of teaching through block planning, and how the value of live experience shapes decision-making in young players.

We are joined by Dr. Paul Weir, Head Men's Basketball Coach at University of New Mexico. Coach Weir offers engaged and thoughtful dialogue with host Pat Price, covering his career in the coaching profession and the program he is building with the Lobos.After serving ten seasons at rival New Mexico State, including his final season as Head Coach, Weir headed to Albuquerque where he is now heading into this 4th season. Coach Weir came to UNM after a 10-year stint, with New Mexico State University. In his first nine seasons as an assistant at New Mexico State, the Aggies made five NCAA Tournament appearances along with three regular-season Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships In his 10th season, Weir was named head coach, and following season he took the the Rio Grande Rivalry between the two schools to a new level when he accepted a contract to go across to University of New Mexico. He discusses the rivalry and why it particularly matters in his region.In the summer of 2017, Weir joined Team Canada’s junior national team as an assistant coach as they defeated USA in the semifinals of the FIBA U19 World Cup. Team Canada would go on to win Gold after downing Italy 79-60. Previously, in the summer of 2015, Weir served as an assistant coach with the Costa Rican National team. He chats with Price about a few of his likes and dislikes from his FIBA experiencesWeir got his start in collegiate basketball as an assistant for Mike McConathy at Northwestern State (La.) -That's a long way from his hometown of Toronto, and he'll explain how it kickstarted his college coaching career.The two discuss Coach Weir's early development & opportunities as a young coach,and they cover advice for young coaches, as well as dealing with the media, his honesty with players, and creating a data-driven competitive culture within the team.

Coach Adam Gordon joins Pat Price for a discussion on providing resources for coaches. Gordon spent 16 years working in college basketball, serving in various roles at the High Major D1, DII, and JUCO levels, including roles at Clemson, Mississippi St and most recently Southeast Missouri St. In 2019, Adam stepped away from coaching to put all his focus on building Rising Coaches, an organization he co-founded with Coach Andy Farrell in 2010. Rising Coaches is a community for coaches that connects, develops and facilitates career advancement for its members through networking and coach development programs.Gordon knew early on he wanted to go into coaching. He started as a student manager at University of Tampa - Price and Gordon discuss the paths & opportunities for young coaches, and how the role of team manager has become a popular training pathway for aspiring coaches. They also discuss the reasons why he and Andy Farrell chose to create Rising Coaches, the programs and resources that they provide, and a few of the success stories of coaches who have been with the organization since its inception.For More Information on Adam Gordon and the Rising Coaches organization: www.risingcoaches.com@RisingCoaches@CoachAdamGordon

Columbia University Head Men's Basketball Coach Jim Engles joins host Pat Price for a discussion on coach development, the importance of mentoring young assistant coaches, and his many years in Ivy League Basketball, Engles has just completed his 4th season leading the Lions program. He was no stranger to Columbia, having previously served at as an assistant for several years under Joe Jones before heading across the river to lead the building of the NJIT program.Engles returned to Columbia after spending eight years as head coach for the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Over his final six seasons at NJIT, Engles compiled a 100-88 record, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2014-15 and 2016-17.NJIT had competed at the Division I level for only two seasons when Engles arrived in 2008, and in three years he turned them into a 15-win program. In 2014-15, he directed the Highlanders to a 21-12 record, including an upset at No. 16 Michigan and a postseason berth, advancing to the semifinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).At the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, Engles was named John McLendon National Coach of the Year honors from CollegeInsider.com, received the Peter A. Carlesimo Division I co-Coach of the Year from the Metropolitan Writers Association and was a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year and Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year awards.Engles covers his development under Tim Capstraw at Wagner, Don Harnum at RIder University and Jones at Columbia. and how their mentorship paved the way for his first head coaching role.Price and Engles also discuss the current Lions roster, the lessons learned from a difficult 2019-20 season, and the benefits of an Ivy League degree. Thanks again for listening.

Syracuse University assistant coach Gerry McNamara joins host Pat Price for a wide-ranging talk on his coaching and playing career. McNamara been a fixture in upstate New York since he entered Syracuse as a freshman in 2002, winning the NCAA National Championship as a freshman point guard alongside fellow freshman Carmelo Anthony.Over the next three seasons, McNamara was a candidate for the prestigious John Wooden Award and the James Naismith Trophy, the two top player-of-the-year honors in college basketball. he never missed a start in a remarkable career in which he established himself as a permanent piece in the storied history of the Big East. competitive drive that fueled his legendary career at 'Cuse.Since then he's been one of Jim Boeheim's most trusted advisors, and a mentor to the talent that makes its way to the Carrier Dome -during his tenure he's also been a part of two additional Final 4 teams as a coach. They discuss the value of being an accomplished alumni, bringing credibility to the bench, as well as the premium that he places on player relationships, having been mentored himself by former Syracuse assistant and current Washington head coach Mike HopkinsMcNamara will also talk about the current roster at Syracuse, and the lessons that young squad learned in last year's ACC schedule. They also cover his involvement in the new Coaches 4 Change initiative. Coaches 4 Change was founded by college coaches from across the United States to provide a platform that engages, educates, empowers, and evolves the young voter on yesterday’s and today’s issues of social injustice, systemic racism, and the power of voting. Price and McNamara discuss how coaches from around the NCAA are working towards creating equality.Thanks again for listening!

Alexander Wolff spent thirty-six years writing for Sports Illustrated and is the author or co-author of seven books on basketball, including The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama; the New York Times best seller Raw Recruits; and Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure, a 2002 New York Times Notable Book. In 2011 he received the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award for lifetime coverage of the game. His "Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Odyssey," an account of a year spent chasing basketball around the world, was published in 2002., with 27 chapters on 27 stops.He also served as editor for the brilliant Basketball :Great Writing About America's Game, an anthology which includes some the best collection of basketball writing ever assembled,Wolff joins host Pat Price to talk about his love for the sport, memories from his journey around the globe writing Big Game, Small World and other pieces, his current projects, and the future of sports writing. For many of us, sport is what creates fascinating life experiences. The vehicle of sport. Wolff is one of basketball's greatest advocates, and certainly one of the most well-versed on the global impact of the sport. Thanks again for listening.

FDU Associate Head Basketball Coach Bruce Hamburger joins host Pat Price to discuss his 35+ years in coaching, offering anecdotes, lessons learned, the influence of the legendary PJ Carlesimo, and advice to to young aspiring coaches. Bruce has just completed his 7th season as the associate head coach for the Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball program.Few can match Hamburger's knowledge of the storied basketball scene of New Jersey - Since 1984, Hamburger has coached all three levels of NCAA basketball as well as High School all within the Garden State, sparing a two year trek across the river to serve as an assistant with the WNBA's New York Liberty. Hamburger discusses his earliest influences and opportunities in his hometown of Maplewood, and how early relationships and his own development as a coach paved the way for a long stretch as an assistant to Carlesimo at Seton Hall. The Pirates won two Big East Tournament titles and made six appearances in the NCAA Tournament during his tenure, including the famed 1989 run to the NCAA championship game. The team was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletic Hall of Fame in June 2014.For 11 seasons, Hamburger led Kean University in the uber-competitive NJAC conference. He finished his tenure as the all-time winningest coach in Kean University basketball history, Hamburger returned to Division 1 with roles at St. Peter's and FDU as a valued assistant, bring that experience to both benches - with both teams returning to the NCAA tournament during his time on staff.Price and Hamburger also discuss the excitement around the returning roster for FDU, and the Northeast Conference makeup following the departure of Robert Morris University.Thanks again for listening!

Notre Dame Men's Basketball Coach Mike Brey joins host Pat Price to discuss all things Irish. So where did the name Fighting Irish originate? The host will outline the varying stories of it's origin. As a member of a randomly assembled group of players nicknamed the Maryland All-Stars, Mike Brey first experienced Ireland in March of 1981 playing in a tournament in Cork. He returned in 2008 as head coach of Notre Dame for the Emerald Hoops Basketball festival. Mike and Pat share stories from both trips, including the classic finish to the Notre Dame vs. Ireland game.Brey discuss the influences of family, Morgan Wooten (DeMatha HS), and Coach K on his development. He also outlines the excitement around the next few seasons of Notre Dame Basketball, and the initiatives that both the ND program and the NABC are undertaking to address both racial inequality and the pandemic shutdown. Thanks again for listening!

Andy Toole, Head Coach of the Robert Morris Colonials joins host Pat Price in today's episode. Toole has headed up the program at RMU for ten seasons, in addition to a few seasons as an assistant. He has worked alongside an enthusiastic administration in building a conference title contender year in, year out, and he talks about how the support outside of the coaching & fans - that behind the scenes work by the college - is boosting the basketball program, including this past week's announcement of a move into the Horizon League. We discuss the abrupt stop to their successful season, with the pandemic shutdown occurring within days of them capturing the 2020 Northeast Conference Tournament title. One upside has been increased family time- downsides include the challenge of effectively manage the recruiting process at that level during a shutdown.Andy and Pat discuss creating a healthy competitive culture within a team, and Andy shares some practical ideas that worked for his squad this past year.He also shares insight into how his philosophy has shifted on a number of areas over the past ten years,For fun, we re-visit that famous win over Kentucky in the 2013 NIT 1st round, and his play call in the final seconds that set up the victory.Finally, there's a healthy discussion on the transfer epidemic in Division 1 basketball. Having been on the wrong end of the transfer wire multiple times, you'll be surprised by Andy's take. Thanks again for listening.

ESPN basketball analyst and international draft expert Fran Fraschilla joins host Pat Price in today's episode. It's a lively discussion covering Fraschilla's love for the sport, particularly the influences that international basketball has made on the U.S. game. After a successful coaching career with stops at Manhattan, St. John's and New Mexico, Fraschilla has spent the last 17 seasons on the more comfortable side of the court, as a talented announcer on the ESPN broadcasts. His in-game analysis has made him one of the top announcers in the sport. His niche with ESPN was serendipitous, as he was asked to be the lead international analyst for the NBA draft. This proved to be a great fit, as his genuine interest in the sport fueled his research in both the international players and the FIBA style of play in general.He discusses fine details of the game, and how the FIBA style has become so influential in the modern USA game. He also offers career advice to young professional players and coaches, and the responsibilities they have as international travelers. We finish with a discussion on his evolving point of view on the NCAA NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) issues with elite players. Thanks again for listening!

Basketball Hall of Fame journalist Jack McCallum appears on a special extended episode of Basketball Journeys. His recently released Dream Team Tapes Podcast has topped the charts over the past few weeks. Fueled by the success of the recent Last Dance documentary, the outstanding content McCallum produced brings basketball fans down memory lane.Irish Examiner sportswriter Kieran Shannon joins Pat Price in the studio, and the stories from McCallum fly fast & furious. The Sports Illustrated writer covers his appointment as the basketball writer for the publication in 1985, and the 30 years of writing since then , including covering Larry BIrd, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and the legendary Dream Team who catapulted the NBA into the stratosphere with their performance at the 1992 Olympics.Was Isaiah Thomas' omission from the team strategic or personal? Jack goes into detail with plenty of first hand accounts of discussions with the main characters. We also hear the details of how compiling all of the interviews from that era led to the idea of launching the Dream Team Tapes Podcast. Who's the biggest influence on the next version of the Dream Team? Jack has some theories. Thanks again for listening.

We chat with Philadelphia 76ers Assistant Coach Kevin Young, now in his 4th year with Brett Brown. We talk shutdown operations for players & coaches, and the opportunity for learning during this time, as well as tracing his steps to the NBA. Young's path to the front row with the historic franchise was long and challenging - personally, financially, and otherwise. Landing an unexpectedly early role as a head coach in Ireland put Young on a different track. Learning the ropes of management and leadership at 23 on an international stage matured Young, and when he returned to the US, he jumped at the opportunity to become a low-level assistant in the then-fledgling NBA Development League. During that time in what Young calls "the wild wild West", he went from driving the team van to head coach with three different franchises. 9 years in the D League set Young up for the call-up to the NBA. Thanks again for listening.

There's no short or simple description of Rus Bradburd. Wins a national championship as a little-used reserve on the legendary North Park College team in the late 70's, only to be cut as a senior. Desperate to stay in the game, he scatters resumes around the country. Spends several years as assistant coach to the legendary Don Haskins at UTEP, where he successfully lands the talented Tim Hardaway. He learned as well under Coach Lou Henson at New Mexico State, before ditching - so he thinks- the basketball for the pen and the fiddle - the Irish fiddle, that is. He falls in love with Ireland (not the first fella to do so, by the way), launches his writing career, and is a currently a Fulbright-awarded lecturer in creative non-fiction at New Mexico St. That's some journey.The recent author of All the Dreams We've Dreamed takes us through his career, and highlights the plight of coach Shawn Harrington (main character in the book) and his efforts to help Shawn gain independence.

Bryan Mullins joins host Pat Price, sharing stories and lessons on his remarkable rise in NCAA Basketball. As one of the nation's youngest Division 1 Head Coaches, Mullins is thriving in that rare opportunity to return to his own alma mater and lead the program.This follows a special apprenticeship under Porter Moser at Loyola University of Chicago, including their fabled run to the 2018 Final 4. Helping to build a program from a last place conference finish all the way to the most coveted weekend in NCAA basketball, and the relief of having now-famous Sister Jean helping to keep the spotlight pressure off the players during that historic journey. We discuss the building blocks he is now putting in place at Southern Illinois, and the lessons learned at Loyola, including being non-negotiable about high-character players representing the university. Mullins also shares a few stories from his time as a professional player in France, as well as his selection to the Ireland National Team under then head coach Jay Larranaga (now with Boston Celtics).

Mike Taylor has crisscrossed the globe as a top international coach. Taylor covers his travels from western Pennsylvania to Kansas to Europe, including his current roles as Head Coach with the Poland National Team as well as the Hamburg Towers of the German Pro League.Taylor's influences as a coach's son are obvious, and we'll hear the development opportunities that came via packing up the car and heading to some of the top teaching camps in the USA. The opportunity to become a head coach at a young age allowed Taylor time to develop* his philosophy. He discusses at length the importance of character in young aspiring professional player. He also covers his own personal growth that was influenced by travelling abroad and experiencing new cultures, as he puts it, becoming "a citizen of the world". Taylor has brought success to multiple programs, including spearheading the rise of Poland basketball in the international basketball circles and guiding the Hamburg Towers into the German Bundesliga in his first season.*We are offering free online discussions and consultancy on program, coach, and player development over the coming weeks. Contact us at info@patpricesport.com For more information on international team travel and consultancy services, click here

Coach Don Showalter joins us on the Basketball Journeys Podcast, sharing his insight based on 50 years in the sport. Coach Showalter is the Director of Coach Development for USA Basketball, and also serves as head coach of the USA U16 and U17 teams. He and his teams have captured a remarkable 10 Gold medals at the FIBA World Championships, as well as over 600 wins at the Iowa high school level. He has been selected to coach in the McDonalds All-American game, the Jordan Brand Classic All-Star game, and the Hoop Summit.Coach Showalter covers his earliest influences in the game, the importance of mentors in coaching, his high school coaching career, and how defining "fun" sets the stage for player development, at all levels. We also learn the decisions that went into the eventual dominance of USA Basketball at the international level, and the value of the FIBA towards player and coach improvement. Finally, Showalter shares his views on early entry to the NBA, as well as some memories from his travels with USA Basketball.

Mike Procopio entertains with a detailed recount of his improbable journey in the sport. Who'd have predicted that the scorekeeper for the local AAU club would rise in so dramatically to the highest levels of the game? A passion for player development, fostered by strong mentors, allows Procopio to hone his craft. He is eventually tapped by the NBA as a development coach, including a 4 year stint as a strategic game management coach for Kobe Bryant. Procopio goes to detail in describing how the opportunity came about, and gives a behind the scenes account of his role in the Lakers vs Celtics Finals. After the 2010 Finals, Bryant called Procopio his Jack Bauer, referring to the television character from the show “24.” Sprinkled wiith self-deprecating humour and honesty, Procopio's story is a lesson in chasing dreams.

Regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation as well as one of the most likable coaches in NCAA basketball, Chuck Martin shares the story of his terrific career, criss-crossing the USA from South Bronx to South Carolina. Martin shares tales of NYC high school basketball, grassroots camps,and coaching stops in several high-major programs including St. John's and Indiana, as well as the Final 4 season with Derrick Rose while an assistant to John Calipari at Memphis. Martin also details his season in the front office with the Oklahoma City Thunder under GM Sam Presti.Martin shares his views on the the importance of friendship in the business, the challenges of recruiting in the social media era, NCAA transfer guidelines and how it has shaped the culture at University of South Carolina.

Jay Larranaga joins host Pat Price as they deep dive into Jay's rise from European pro player to becoming the right hand man of Brad Stevens. Jay shares behind the scenes stories on his development, including the massive influence of his father, a successful pro career, Ireland national team, the importance of continuous learning, NBA D League and his 8 seasons on the bench with one of the most storied franchises in NBA history.