Who's ready for another season of hoops.  Let's recharge our batteries and get ready for the grind.

This week's episode I sit down with all of the other 4A girls basketball coaches who have advanced to the Final 4.  Coach Craig McGill from New Hope, Coach Jason Roberson from Prattville Christian, and Coach Terrie Nelson from Priceville.   This is a very different, but fun episode.  Enjoy.

A short episode about the upcoming Regional playoffs and a GREAT nugget by Simon Sinek

This episode takes a slightly different turn as we first celebrate my two seniors a day after our Senior Night. Then we get a parents perspective.  We talk about the growth he has seen through his daughter from basketball, and lends a little advice to parents as well.

I invite my two 2023 Seniors Elizabeth & Bailey, to join Coach Hodge and myself to talk about leadership.  There are so many ways for players to lead, my two seniors are very different but equally great.

This week we not only have an outstanding coach, but someone who coaches the leading scorer in the country.  Coach David Armstrong consistently has Baker as one of the best teams in the state of Alabama.  Now he does it with Labaron Philon, a junior averaging 40 points a game.  This week's episode talks about some of the added things to deal with while coaching a player of this magnitude.

Coach Joye Lee McNelis joins us to talk hoops.  If you want to know why her teams are tough and gritty - check out this episode.  Coach McNelis talks about coaching through her bout with lung cancer, tough career decisions, and what she thinks is necessary to be an assistant coach in her program.

If you havent been a frequent listener, or if you've loved every episode, this one is for you.  This is clips from the past year.  The guest list includes.... Jerry Hernandez - intro and parent meeting Mike Neighbors & Paw Paw Neighbor Quotes Ravon Justice - Leon Barmore Story Bobby Champagne - From HS to Final Four Mark Gottfried - Loyalty Tim Miller - Parent missing the mark Rick Pietri - Coaching evolution Chad Prewett - Bruce Pearl Story Bob Starkey - Shaq & Kobe Dan Horwitz - Game touches Kristy Curry - Leon Barmore

I catch up with an old coaching buddy, who is doing so many good things these days.  I met Coach Jamy Bechler over 20 years ago when he was a young Head Coach at LeTourneau University in Texas.  Today he is an author, Leadership Expert, and motivational speaker.   Be sure to check out Jamy's podcast - Success is a choice.  Also visit his website at www.jamybechler.com for all the great things he has going such as the Leadership Playbook.

Here we sit at the midway point of our season.  Lot's to improve upon, but also so much to be proud of.  You'll here from two former Lady Bulldog players - Tori Sudeiha and Sarah Elizabeth Freeman.  Sarah Elizabeth's story is LEGENDARY. We talk about being 14-2, and while most would assume it's smooth sailing, there are always fires to put out.

This is a celebration with several former coaches and players looking back over the years.  Some funny and sappy stories to share.  I also share for the first time "the letter" -  the letter some anonymous parent sent asking me to resign for a "job poorly done".   I share this letter to illustrate that we will all have detractors, just don't let them rob you of your passion. To my players, coaches, parents, and friends....Thank you!!!!  Here's to the next 400.

Coach Danny Broussard enters this season as the 9th all-time winningest basketball coach in the Nation with 1,082 career wins.  Danny has been at STM for 41 years and has only had one losing season.  Coach Broussard has also won 6 state championships and advanced to 17 Final Fours.  This is a fun chat with one of the best coaches in the country.

Coach Sam Purcell, the new head coach at Mississippi St, joins us this week.  Coach Purcell has been a huge part of the University of Louisville program over the past nine seasons.  Coach Purcell talks about some of his mentors on his path to has new job in the SEC.     Join us for this fun interview with this dynamic new addition to the SEC.

This week we sit down with the new coach at Coastal Alabama, Cedric Yelding.  Cedric is known locally for is playing days at the University of South Alabama, and more recently coaching at Daphne High School.  Cedric is an outstanding coach, and someone we can all learn from.

Coach Donnie Quinn is one of the most successful coaches I know.  He's had a tremendous run in women's basketball on both the High School and Collegiate levels.  He's won state championships in both Louisiana and Alabama.   Donnie stands out to me because of his "thinking outside the box" mentality.  He has a very unique formula for attacking a full court press that not enough people utilize.  This nugget alone is worth the listen.

Darnell Archey became a household name when he helped Butler defeat Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament.  Today he is the head coach at the University of Mobile. Coach Archey talks about his path through the basketball world as a player, and to where he is today, as a head coach.  Coach Archey talks about some of his accomplishments as a player including his time competing against current Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl.

Coach Ish is "one of a kind".  He has literally succeeded in just about every level imaginable.  He is also one of the funniest guys on the planet.   While most people prefer to "find a quiet spot", to conduct a podcast, not Coach Ish.  During this episode John Ishee is working the barbecue, and killing bees, among other things as he doesn't skip a beat on his endless stories.  This is an instant classic.

Kristy Curry is the Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Alabama.  One of only 10 coaches in the country with 100 wins at 3 different schools - Alabama, Purdue, Texas Tech.   Our friendship began many years ago at the Leon Barmore Camps, and I've followed her success throughout the past three decades. One of the nicest people on the planet, but don't let that fool you, she's one of the fiercest competitors in the game.  This was a fun episode to record.

45 year coaching veteran, Coach Larry Tidwell joins us in this week's episode.  Coach Tidwell join Coach Brooks Williams and her staff at ULM this season.  We discuss a wide range of things in this episode.  Come sit under the learning tree with this Hall of famer.

This topic cannot be talked about enough.  The coach /parent relationship is vital for any team or program to have ultimate success.  We invited Coach Jerry Hernandez back, the author of the "Athletic Trinity', to discuss with us some more ideas about this dynamic. For a team to succeed, and for the player to have the best possible experience, the coach and parent must work together.