The Elevation Basketball Podcast

Today we welcome in one of the nations premier college basketball coaches Coach Pat Kelsey. After a highly successful 9 seasons at Winthrop, Coach Kelsey made the jump to the College of Charleston, a program rich in its history and tradition of great coaches. 

Pat Kelsey was named the 24th all-time head men’s basketball coach at the College of Charleston on March 25, 2021.

The fifth all-time winningest coach in the history of the Big South Conference, he resurrected the proud basketball tradition at Winthrop University, averaging 20.7 wins per season over the last nine years in Rock Hill, S.C. No other Big South program can tout more wins overall or more conference wins in that time span.

Kelsey, 45, will lead yet another tradition-rich basketball program as College of Charleston ranks seventh all-time (.685) among the winningest programs in NCAA Division I history with the likes of Kentucky (.762), North Carolina (.735), Kansas (.727), Duke (.710), UCLA (.688) and UNLV (.687).

The 2021 Big South Conference Coach of the Year most recently guided the Eagles to a 23-2 campaign,  a school-record 21-game win streak and Big South tournament title, earning the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid for a third time under his watch.

The brand of basketball that Kelsey instilled in the Eagle program was an exciting one as it gained national recognition receiving votes in both The Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 Polls. The Eagles also ranked as high as No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll and led the conference in scoring offense, averaging 78.9 points per game, which ranked No. 31 nationally.

A two-time finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and finalist for the 2021 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award, Kelsey compiled a 186-95 (.662) overall record and an impressive 110-46 (.705) mark in conference play. Winthrop also won the Big South regular-season title four times – in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

In all, 16 Winthrop players were selected all-conference, while three were tabbed Big South Player of the Year, one Big South Freshman of the Year and two Big South Tournament Most Valuable Player.

His previous coaching stops include his alma mater Xavier (2009-12), where he served as Associate Head Coach under Chris Mack as well as Wake Forest, where he served as Assistant Coach (2004-09) and Director of Basketball Operations (2001-04) under Dino Gaudio and the late Skip Prosser.

Kelsey graduated cum laude in 1998 from Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wyoming, before transferring and playing three seasons at point guard for the Musketeers from 1995 to 1998. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kelsey and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Ruthie, Caroline and Johnny.

PAT KELSEY FILE

CAREER HONORS
· 2021 Big South Conference Coach of the Year
· Two-Time Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award Finalist (2016 and 2021)
· 2021 CollegeInsider.com Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award Finalist
· 2020 CollegeInsider.com Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year Finalist

In this jam packed episode, Coach Mark Cascio joins the show. Highly successful coach from Louisiana, Coach Cascio takes us on his journey from successful high school coach to D1 college assistant at App St University in Boone NC. Widely known for his prowess on the offense end and program development, Coach Cascio has done hundred's of coaching clinics and speaking engagements to one on one consulting through his company courtside consulting. We are so excited to have him as our guest today and pick his brain about modern basketball, decision making and decision training, the use of SSG's. Your gonna love his advise on KPI or Key Performance Indicators and we end the episode with great advise for all coaches on the use of "Marginal Gaines". If you wish to connect with Coach Cascio for more information, he can be reached on twitter @Coachcascio or his email address coachcascio@gmail.com

You will love this episode as two friends sit down and talk basketball. This is one of the most enjoyable episodes we've ever done! I hope you will enjoy as there is tons of great information in this episode.

Listed as ESPN top 40 coaches under 40, UNCA Head Coach Mike Morrell talks about his tenure with Coach Shaka Smart at both VCU and Texas and how that has brought him to UNCA. After tough first season at the helm, Coach Morrell post the second largest turn around in college basketball in over a decade. Coach Morrell talks about the challenges and advantages of coaching at a non football school and the adversity his team had to overcome after beating a nationally ranked Winthrop team only to have to go on a Covid pause for over 30 days. Don't Miss this episode of the Elevation Basketball Podcast with UNCA Head Coach Mike Morrell.

Any High School Coach, Player and Parent will benefit from Anthony's insight on Player Development. He is one of the best trainers I have seen over the years and in this episode he breaks it all down and give adovse to coaches, players and parents on what to look for in a trainer. We have a big discussion on how to make it translate to the games, the coaches roll in the process, the trainers roll in the process and, most importantly, the players roll in the process. 

This might be one of the best episodes we've done yet! Coaches young and old will benefit from this one! We dive deep into some deeply held traditions that may actually be holding your team and your players back from reaching their full potential. We highly recommend you give this one a listen as Tyler Coston of PGC Basketball explains why "SHELL DRILL" is an outdated drill and how your post game speeches are NOT helping your teams.

One of the most successful head coaches in all of WNC talks about winning the locker room first and how he has developed that culture with his young team. Coach Stevens does an amazing job and you will love this episode. 

Fresh off wrapping up their 4th consecutive conference championship, Hendersonville(NC) Bearcat Head Coach Marvin Featherstone joins the show today to talk all things with Bearcat Hoops. Traditional powerhouse in the 70's and 80's, Coach Featherstone uses that old familiar recipe of full court pressure and electric pace on offense taught to him by his former coach at Hendersonville, Bobby Wilkins to remind folks that Hendersonville is a basketball program to be reckoned with!

This is campfire edition, Coach Wheel talks to us about how to properly train our players in the weight room. He will discuss what to look for when starting a program for your players, things to avoid, and tips to make your players perform at their best! This is great episode for all coaches interested in training HS athletes. Can't wait to dive in!

In this episode, Coach Shaun Ali from Hoops Consultant walks us through the steps he uses with his clients on how to study film the correct way. He talks about how to be more efficient, what it too much and what is not enough. If you are interested in learning how to study film with your team or with your players individually, this is the episode for you. This is part 1, in part 2 coming soon we will take the information that coach uses in this episode to walk us through an actual film study session If you interested in contacting Shaun as a consultant, he is on twitter as hoops consultant @shaunali34

In this episode, Coach Matt Smith of the 2023 Lady Volcanoes AAU/Travel Exposure Team from Knoxville Tennessee stops by to get my thoughts on press offense. About 18 years ago, I had a team that was not the most athletic team in world and we got pressed on a nightly basis. Mainly, because we never could seem to break it with any real success! Like most people, I kept trying to beat my head against the wall to get my guys to help each other but the more I brought up more kids to help in the press, the easier it became for the defense to press us. I had to come up with something that gave us the advantage. I came up with what I call the "X" cut press offense and once we got the understanding of the concepts, we have not had to worry too much about the press. Yes, we still have issues turning it over at times vs the press but we have figured out a way to neutralize the athleticism. We have had success at all levels using this press offense. Not only does our entire program run it, but now our girls program and our middle school program as well. We put this in with our travel teams and its been great. We put this in with the Kentucky Premier team that I coached on the elite travel circuit and it was great so If your looking for an advantage in the pressing game or need a new wrinkle to get open shots vs the press, tune in to this episode. If you would like more information on how this works, you came email me at elevationbasketballwnc@gmail.com

In this action packed episode, we catch up with former UNCA Head Coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown who stepped down at the end of last season after a very successful tenure to allow her husband the opportunity to pursue his dream and get a PhD. Coach Mock will talk about her WNC roots and playing AAU with NC high school basketball and UCONN legend, Shea Ralph. Listen as she talks about her journey playing ACC basketball and how that helped shape her leadership style. You won't want to miss how she talks about the decision to walk away from a job and program she loves and helped to build into a championship contender! Will she get back into coaching? What has she learned while being away? Is there anything she would do differently if she gets back into coaching? Tune in and find out the answer to these and many other great questions in Episode 17 of the Elevation Basketball Podcast.

In this episode the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Executive Director Greg Grantham stops by to discuss the state of basketball in NC this year.  Greg is also an executive board member of the National High School Basketball Coaches Board and he is at the forefront of everything basketball across the country. We discuss how the pandemic is not only effecting schools in NC but across the country. We also dive into the hotbed issue of the use of shot clocks in HS basketball, where's it currently at and where's it headed. If you your Hoops Junkie, this is a great episode for you to get first hand info on the state of basketball in our state and our country!!

In this 30 second timeout edition, Coach Kallenberg talks about his journey from a young and very successful head coach to not coaching at all, then back as assistant coach and now the Head Coach at William Blount High School in Maryville Tennessee. What did he learn over the years to help him now as he returns to the head coaching roll. In a candid conversation, Coach talks about how to balance his roll as the Head Coach and being a dad of Jenna who is a freshman basketball player at WKU. You don't want to miss this episode.

What can we as basketball coaches learn from our football counterparts? Tune in the 1st episode of 94 ft with me, Brian Carver and I will talk about and several other topics as well. Be one of the 1st 10 people to DM me on my twitter to win a FREE Elevation Basketball Podcast T-Shirt @Coachcarver33. 

In this 30 second timeout edition, Coach Brett Queen talks about how the delayed time off has effected his program. Hoggard High School is a very prominent program from Wilmington North Carolina and has finished 1st or 2nd in their respective league 14 years in row. Coach Queen is well known for having a very meticulous, very focused and prepared program. With limited practice time and the imposed restrictions listen to the adjustments Coach Queen has made to keep his team on top.

This is an episode you don't want to miss. Coach Laws is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the state of North Carolina and runs a prominent football program that we can all learn from. While winning multiple state championships, Coach Laws is a huge "Culture" guy and we will discuss how to build a championship culture in your program. Learn how to get complete buy in from your staff, your players, your community and your administration. Coach Laws talks about what he looks for in his assistant coaches and how important they are to build the culture. What was the key to making it all work.... tune it and find out. 

This is an action packed, energy filled episode where Coach Honey Brown talks about the transition from long time assistant coach to the head coach, replace a friend and mentor, and taking over a program during the pandemic.  You will love this episode as Coach Brown opens up about the moment she learned Coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown was leaving the program and then the excitement of becoming the next head coach. She will go in detail about her prep work to become a head coach and how her responsibilities changed as her rolls changed. 

After a 30 - 0 start to the season last year, qualifying for the State Championship Game only to be told that you can't play the game due to the pandemic, Coach Gutierrez talks about how to deal with that level of frustration for him and his players. He will talk about how to use that as fuel for the off season and the outlook for 2021 season.  This is a great episode that you don't want to miss.

Marc Hart - Owner of System Basketball

Patriot High School Head Coach Boys Varsity 2015 - Present

South Hills HS Head Coach 2012-2015

Baldwin Park HS Head Coach 2001-2012

Background:

Marc was a traditional coach running flex and pack it in defense 2001 to 2008. Went to Dribble Drive Motion in 2008-2016 and had much success turning Baldwin Park from 2008-2012 to one of winningest teams in the San Gabriel Valley. The 2010 Baldwin Park team was historic it went 24-5 and made it to the CIF Quarterfinals in Div 2a. During that season Coach Hart was awarded the Cif Coach of the year award, San Gabriel Valley Tribune Coach of the Year and Coached the All Star Game. That team still holds the record for most wins in a season with 24.

He has been running the Dribble Drive Motion Offense and Walberg Press since 2008. He has co-authored a course with Kurt Guelsdorf on Dribble Drive Motion Offense. It is a 13 chapter online course called Dribble Drive Motion A to Z.

His company System Basketball help coaches around the world through online clinics, film breakdowns, online courses, ebooks, Facebook Groups  and The Baskiepedia Podcast.

I highly recommend you join the system network for all your basketball needs and check out Marc's own Podcast at  The Baskiepedia Podcast.

If you are interested in joining System Basketball, The DDM or any of Marc's products, please click on the links below:

https://systembasketball.podia.com/a/pdlw4

https://systembasketball.podia.com/system-basketball-community/pdlw4

https://systembasketball.podia.com/5-out-dribble-drive-motion-offense-marc-hart/pdlw4

https://systembasketball.podia.com/aaron-fernandez-small-sided-games/pdlw4

In this edition of the 30 second timeout, we welcome in Will Trumm. Coach Trumm is one of the most successful AAU coaches in the entire south east and runs one the largest and best fall exposure leagues in the entire country. Coach Trumm is from the Knoxville Tennessee and we are checking in with to see how high school basketball season is going in Tennessee and get a wrap up on the Elite 80 from this past fall. You love hearing Coach Trumm's prospective on the relationship between high school coaches and AAU coaches. Thank you for listening and hope you enjoy!

Welcome to our 30 second timeout editions, these short episodes are packed with great conversations as we check in with coaches from all across the country. Stay tuned for our next full length episode but until then, enjoy these great basketball conversations.

In this episode, 3x Big South Coach of the Year, Ronnie Fisher talks about how to build and sustain a championship defensive culture. Coach Fisher's teams have routinely ranked among the nations best defensive teams. The unique part of that is that he has done that at two different schools using to complete different styles of play. How did he build them in one of the nations best defensive programs and sustain that mind set even when he went to another program, well tune in and find out! Truly one of the best persons you will ever meet, Coach Fisher opens up about the things that make his program great! Stay tuned for the section on his "Toughness Chart" you will want to get your hands on a copy of this. Thanks again for listening the to the Elevation Podcast.

In this episode we break down the 2 side break in great detail. This is the episode to answer all your questions about playing with pace and space, creating big advantages, small advantages, the terrible two's of defense and how to make better decision making skills in our players. Brent does an amazing all the questions that Aaron and I had to help us to really understand the 2 side break concept. Even if you have no idea what this is or plan to use the 2 side break, you can learn a ton from this episode as we discuss concepts that can improve skill in any offense!

In this episode, we dive into the challenges of coaching and recruiting at the D3 level. We attach many of the myths about D3 basketball. Don't think  your team is as athletic or as big as your competition, do you want a wrinkle on defense that is unique, than this is the episode for you! Coach Neeley takes a look at his unusual 2-1-2 zone defense which is unlike any other that you've ever seen. Don't sleep on this episode, I promise you are going to learn a lot.

In this campfire, get your pen and paper ready! Coach Davis will deliver the goods! Coach Davis is a 5x Hall of Famer, in his 28 years as a Head Coach, his teams have won an amazing 21 championships. Playing a break-neck pace, his teams have led the nation in scoring 5 times and averaged 103 points per game in 2010. Moving on to WInthrop was like throwing gas on a fire, his philosophy lined up perfectly with Coach Pat Kelsey. Coach Davis will take us on a journey of how to play fast, things he's learned along the way, what he's learned from Pat Kelcey. Pay close attention to the section on how to make your practices better, more game like, and more competitive.  Even if you don't play fast, you will learn a lot from this episode of the Elevation Basketball Campfire with Coach Dave Davis.

In today's episode, Coach Hill will talk about how to rebuild a program from the ground up. Coach Hill was a highly successful Division 2 coach at Valdosta State which was a program that he built into a perennial National Championship contender. He inherited a program at WCU that has been on hard times. The last real success the program enjoyed was 2008-2010 when current Tennessee Lady Vols coach Kelly Harper was at the helm. Coming off a 2 win season, WCU made a late coaching change in July of 2019. Coach Hill agreed to take on the task of rebuilding this program into a contender again. You will enjoy his heartfelt honesty as he lays out the blueprint to make any program into a contender. 

This is our first episode and we certainly hope you enjoy it! It was never really intended to be a PODCAST but after taping a interview about leadership in coaching with my good friend Anthony Barringer, I decided to make it my 1st episode of the Elevation Basketball Podcast. Coming from a college coach whos won a national championship, Anthony provides an excellent look at what it took to be a leader of a program at the highest level. A huge thank you to our sponsors on the episode the WNC SPORTS NETWORK and for everyone who has supported all our projects here at Elevation Basketball. We look forward to our coming episodes.