Mike Neighbors, assistant coach for the LA Sparks, shared his insights on transitioning from college to professional coaching, emphasizing the importance of pace, player development, and feedback loops in the WNBA. Neighbors discussed his philosophy on assistant coaching, highlighting the need for clear communication and alignment with players' roles.

He also touched on the challenges and opportunities in women's basketball, including the impact of social media and financial pressures on young players. The conversation covered Neighbors' approach to defensive strategies, practice efficiency, and the evolving role of analytics in coaching. The episode concluded with Neighbors expressing his excitement about joining the Dallas Wings and continuing to contribute to the growth of women's basketball.

Episode Breakdown:

01:46 College to WNBA: Why the Transition Felt Like Being a Rookie Again

03:06 Assistant Coach Best Practices: The 5 Things You Want / 5 Things You Don’t

09:30 Sustaining a 30-Year Coaching Career (and What Happens When You Lose a Job)

12:17 Playing Fast the Right Way: Pace, Shot Quality, and Transition Defense

15:54 When to Tap the Brakes: Turnovers, Bad Shots, and Shot Distribution Rules

23:29 Short Roll Playmaking as a Superpower (and Why It’s Hard at Lower Levels)

25:52 Coaching Confident Scorers: Green Lights, Shot Selection, and Immediate Feedback

30:44 Conceptual Offense: Triads, Sequencing Actions & Creating Flow

34:30 Offensive Rebounding vs. Transition Defense (WNBA Lessons)

36:35 Efficient Practices: Combo Drills, No Lines & Maximizing Every Minute

39:21 Motivate vs. Inspire + The ‘Curse of the Clinic’ (Make It Fit Your Team)

42:21 Defense in the Pros: Versatility, Guarding the Ball & ‘Death Shots’

47:04 If I Went Back to College: Faster Feedback Loops, Standards & Protecting Players

Ryan Cottingham, the head coach of Spring Arbor University's men's basketball program, shared insights into his approach to building and sustaining a successful small college basketball program. He discussed the importance of creating a strong team culture based on core values of integrity, toughness, and unity, and highlighted various initiatives such as "Fun Week," leadership teams, and individual player meetings to foster this culture.

Cottingham emphasized the role of player-led initiatives, regular recognition of individual achievements, and the involvement of parents in team activities to create a supportive environment. He also connected the program's success to its emphasis on developing players' decision-making skills and resilience, while maintaining a competitive yet respectful approach to the game.

Episode Breakdown:

02:17 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching at a Small College

05:14 Core Values and Team Culture

09:09 Preseason Fun Week

13:31 Iron Teams and Leadership Development

16:32 Culture Meetings and Heart and Head Sessions

24:13 Circle of Trust: Building Team Unity

28:44 The Power of Gratitude in Sports

29:55 Individual Player Meetings: A Deeper Connection

34:32 Service Projects: Giving Back to the Community

38:50 Recognizing Excellence: Weekly Awards

43:10 Post-Game Team Time with Parents

45:32 Connecting Culture to On-Court Success

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Thompson joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on integrating science, skill, and human connection

Clayton Thompson serves as the Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he sits at the cutting edge of professional sports science and player development. With a background as an R&D Engineer and a Master’s in Business Administration, Thompson is a vocal advocate for dismantling the traditional silos between "strength and conditioning" and "on-field skill." His philosophy is built on the belief that human movement should be treated as a unified system, rejecting the narrow label of "Strength Coach" in favor of a model that integrates biomechanical data, force-plate analytics, and technical skill acquisition.

Before joining the Dodgers, Thompson refined his data-driven approach at Driveline Baseball, the industry leader in data-informed performance training. His career also includes pivotal roles at TCU (Texas Christian University) and Sanford Health, where he bridged the gap between collegiate athletics and clinical sports science. By applying engineering principles to the kinetic chain, Thompson has become an expert in optimizing rotational power and deceleration—concepts that are as vital for a pitcher's delivery as they are for a basketball player’s jump shot or step-back.