Episode 170: Matt Wise, Head Women's Coach, Samford University
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.
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48:42
Episode 169: Mike Morrell, Head Coach, UNC Asheville
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.
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50:23
Episode 168: Chris Jones, Assistant Coach, Utah Jazz
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.
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39:35
Episode 167: Nate Bollinger, Assistant Coach, American University
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.
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47:29
Episode 166: Russell White, Head Coach, California Lutheran University
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.
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
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