On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt Wise, the head women’s basketball coach at Samford University. Coach Wise brings a wide range of experience from across the collegiate landscape. He started his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida before moving on to roles at Wyoming and East Tennessee State, where he served as an assistant coach. He also spent time at Little Rock and later joined the University of Alabama as the Director of Video and Creative Content for the women’s program. Known for his energy, creativity, and relationship-building, Wise has built a reputation as a coach who connects deeply with his players. His journey through multiple programs has shaped his philosophy and prepared him for this head coaching opportunity. On this episode we talk about his biggest adjustment stepping into a new head coaching position after a long time assistant, talking about his offensive and defensive makeup for next season and his definition of toughness.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Mike Morrell, head coach of UNC Asheville. Morrell began his coaching career at King University, then served as a graduate assistant and director of basketball operations at Clemson under Oliver Purnell. He had a stint at Charleston Southern before joining Shaka Smart's staff at VCU, where he contributed to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Morrell followed Smart to Texas, serving in various roles including director of program development and assistant coach. In 2018, he was appointed head coach at UNC Asheville. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs achieved a school-record 27 wins in the 2022–23 season, securing both the Big South regular season and tournament championships, and earning an NCAA Tournament berth. In this episode, we discuss takeaways from working with Coach Shaka Smart, the initial changes he implemented upon becoming a head coach, and strategies for maximizing player performance on the court.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Jones, assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. A former standout guard at the University of Pittsburgh, Jones began his coaching career at Pitt University and transitioned into a graduate assistant at TCU, then joined the Jazz in 2019 as a video assistant and player development coach. He was promoted to assistant coach in 2023 under head coach Will Hardy. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from being a player into a first-year coach, building an NBA workout plan before, during, and after a workout, and identifying what players’ development needs are leading into how to implement those workouts.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Nate Bollinger, assistant coach at American University. His coaching path started at D3 York College before moving on to High Point as Director of Player Development. He then served as associate head coach at Saint Vincent College, earning NABC 30-Under-30 honors. Bollinger made the jump to Division I with William & Mary, where he helped the team reach historic win totals. Now at American, he plays a key role as the offensive and recruiting coordinator. In this episode, we talk about his rise from the D3 ranks to D1. We dive into how he builds an offense tailored to his team’s strengths. He shares insights on player development and creating efficient offensive systems. We also highlight the recent success of American's basketball program. It’s a great look into the grind and growth of a rising coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Russell White, the head coach at California Lutheran University. A Cal Lutheran graduate, White returned to his alma mater in 2019 after a distinguished high school coaching career. He began his coaching journey at Chaminade High School, then led Calabasas High School to two League titles. At Crespi Carmelite High School , he transformed the program, securing two CIF Southern Section titles and two CIF state championships, while also earning California State Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016 . Since taking over at Cal Lutheran, White has revitalized the program, leading them to consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including a 23–5 season in 2024–25 . In this episode, we talk about challenges he has faced at the D3 level, the offensive and defensive identity of his program, and his rebuilding of a program at California Lutheran University.

On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast we’re joined with the former longtime head coach at John Carroll University, Coach Mike Moran. Coach Moran, a legendary figure in Ohio basketball, built a remarkable career over four decades at both the high school and collegiate levels. After beginning his coaching journey at Elder High School, he led Villa Angela-St. Joseph to two state championships and nine district titles over 11 seasons. In 1992, he became head coach at John Carroll University, where he compiled a 460-230 record, capturing 10 OAC titles, and making 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2004. Known for his signature platoon system and emphasis on team-first basketball, Moran cultivated a culture of selflessness and relentless effort. He also coached John Carroll’s golf team for 32 years, guiding them to six NCAA appearances. His impact on generations of athletes has earned him induction into the John Carroll and Ohio Basketball Halls of Fame. In this episode we dive more into recruiting tactics, the story of some unique tendencies from Coach Moran and growing a program as a Head Coach over the years.

On today’s episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast we’re joined with Coach Fran Dunphy, the former La Salle Head Coach and one of the all-time winningest coaches in Philadelphia history.Coach Fran Dunphy has spent over 30 years on the sidelines, leading two of Philadelphia’s most storied programs: the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. During his 17 seasons at Penn, he guided the Quakers to 10 Ivy League championships and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, establishing a standard of excellence within the conference. In 2006, he became the head coach at Temple, where he continued his success with eight NCAA Tournament berths and multiple Atlantic 10 titles over a 13-year span. With a remarkable 580 career wins, Coach Dunphy is widely respected not only for his coaching acumen but also for his leadership, humility, and unwavering commitment to student-athletes. In this episode, we dive into how starting his career coaching at Army had helped his career, how to help your assistants and players grow to be head coaches and how to get the most out of your players and assistants as a Head Coach.

Today on the Rising Coaches podcast, we get the opportunity to speak with the current assistant coach at Georgia State University, Coach Sean Flannery. Sean is a Cleveland, Ohio native and graduate from John Carroll University where he led all Divisions (1,2 and 3) in Assist to turnover ratio. Sean Served internships with the NBA Summer league and team USA basketball over the years, which ended up helping him grow into his GA role at Xavier. He currently is an assistant and pivotal part at Georgia State and is also a Rising Coaches Member.