The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by David Harris, Associate Head Coach at Northern Kentucky University. Harris played at Ashland University before beginning his coaching career through roles at Florida, VCU, Texas, Navy, and Northern Kentucky. In this episode we discuss the coaching DNA he picked up from Billy Donovan, Shaka Smart, Ed DeChellis, and Darrin Horn, how starting in video gave him a unique lens for teaching and developing players, and the behind-the-scenes lessons he’s learning now that are preparing him for his own head coaching opportunity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Hansen Wong, Manager of G League and International Scouting for the Indiana Pacers. Wong has built a unique career with the Pacers, starting as a video intern and working his way through roles as Assistant Video Coordinator, Video Coordinator, and Director of Basketball Information and Technology before reaching his current position, while also serving as an Advanced Scout for the Nigerian National Team. In this episode we discuss his unique journey from student manager to the NBA and what his NBA interview process looked like, how scouts balance what their eyes tell them with data and analytics, which information matters most when evaluating a player, and whether watching a player live or on film provides the best understanding of their game.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Huger, Associate Head Coach at Temple University. Huger played professionally in Finland, Holland, and Belgium before coaching at Longwood, George Mason, Miami, and Temple, along with serving as the head coach at Bowling Green. In this episode we discuss what European basketball can teach American player development, the lessons from Coach Larrañaga that stayed with him from player to coach, and the toughest parts of leading a program and what he would do differently the next time he’s a head coach.

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On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dexter Gooding, Assistant Coach at the University of Tampa. Gooding played at High Point before transitioning into coaching, with stops at South Florida, High Point, and now Tampa. His experience on both sides of player development has given him a unique perspective on helping athletes improve while continuing to grow as a young coach. In this episode we discuss the biggest challenge he faced transitioning from player to coach, what goes into developing a player before they even step on the court, and the key areas of growth and development that shaped him early in his coaching career.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Hamm, Assistant Coach at Cal State Fullerton. Hamm’s journey includes time as a player at Thomas More, followed by coaching stops at Thomas More, Lindenwood, Saint Leo University, and now Cal State Fullerton, along with experience as a head coach at NKY Elite. His time across different programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build winning environments and continue growing as a coach. In this episode we discuss the common traits he’s seen in programs that consistently win, how coaches can measure their impact beyond their assigned duties, and the most important skills coaches should develop away from the court to continue advancing their careers.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Jay Kuntz, General Manager at the University of Pittsburgh. Kuntz has built his career from the ground up, beginning as a student manager at West Virginia before rising through roles as a graduate assistant, assistant to the head coach, and Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. He now serves as the GM at Pitt, helping navigate one of the most challenging eras in college basketball. In this episode we discuss how he turned a student manager position into leadership roles within high-major programs, what aspiring coaches should be doing early in their careers if they hope to one day become a GM, and a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into constructing and managing a roster in today’s ever-changing landscape.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Deividas Dulkys, Assistant Coach with the Brooklyn Nets. Dulkys played collegiately at Florida State before building a lengthy professional career across Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Italy, and Spain, giving him a unique perspective on the game from both the American and European sides of basketball. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching with stops at the Memphis Hustle, Sacramento Kings, and now the Brooklyn Nets. In this episode we discuss how his years playing professionally in Spain helped shape his coaching philosophy, the biggest differences he noticed between basketball cultures across Europe and the United States, and the adjustments he had to make when transitioning from professional player to NBA coach