In Season- A Basketball Coaches Podcast

With the last game for the Boys and Girls programs arriving today, there is a ton to talk about on this Podcast. For the first time in 51 Years the Packers have a Conference Champion as the boys pushed to 17-0 claiming the title earlier this week. Coach Mac discusses the road that lead to this moment and what it means to this program. Coach Junker and the girls continue to fight to find their footing ahead of the post season, pushing to be playing their best basketball at the right time. 

Both Coaches discuss the insights from their teams over the past two weeks and what lies ahead in the post season, what their section seedings look like and where they expect to fall come playoff time next week. It is called March Madness for a reason, anything can happen and it is by far the most exciting time of the year if you are a fan of basketball and of Packer Hoops. 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

If there is anything the past year has taught all of us, it is be ready for the unexpected. For both the boys and girls programs schedules matchups and opponents changed over the past two weeks. On this episode Coach Mac and Coach Junker share how the last two weeks of gone for their teams and what they are seeing from their squads as the last few weeks of the regular season approach. 

Both Coaches share where the basketball landscape is right now in the state of Minnesota and what they would like to see changed to continue to grow the sport in the State. 

Looking ahead the boys and girls programs eye their last few games and look at how they both build their roadmaps to the post season. 

After a two week break this episode is well worth a listen! hope you enjoy!!! 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

After another weeks slate of games the SSP Boys Basketball program lead by Coach McCollister has pushed themselves to 9-0 highlighted by a key conference win against previous undefeated Mahtomedi. Despite what many might see as an "overnight" success, Coach Mac has been building to this moment for years with a lot of lessons that have helped him be prepared for a season like this. Coach Junker and the SSP Girls Basketball tested themselves against the best in their conference this week to find out where they stack up. After some tough lessons, the answer is that the girls have the ability to compete with the teams at the top, it's just a matter of finding the consistency to make the changes the expectation and not the exception. 

Both coaches in this episode reflect on some important lessons that have guided their journeys to get to where they are now and what they are still learning about the game and their teams as they attempt to keep pushing South St. Paul Basketball forward in the the record books, the eyes of the basketball community, and in life. 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

Another week into the Coach Mac and Junker Recap their respective weeks with the Boys' program continuing to roll and reaching new heights the program has never experienced while Coach Junker and the Girls' program continue to find their way culminating in a huge 54-52 win against conference opponent Hastings on Friday Night. Coaches discuss their views on when and where they can make their impact during a game and when are you coaching too much or not enough. 

This episode both Coaches discuss the balancing act that is building a program, where they find themselves right now versus the expectations they may have had after year 1. It's a job that is never finished and each teams path is going to be different. This episode dives deep into how both coaches are helping their teams find out who they are and what their programs represent. 

THIS MAY BE THE EPISODE YET, DON'T SKIP A MINUTE AND DON"T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

In a season like, teams need to be ready for anything and everything. That was certainly the case for Coach McCollister and the boys as the navigate schedule changes and adjustments due to the pandemic. For Coach Junker and the girls, this week was another week of lessons and growth as they ramp up to play the heart of their conference schedule. 

Other this weeks podcast include...

-Week 4 recap of games and events

-Mental emotion toll of navigating the challenges of the season

-Finding success despite your teams flaws 

-Coaching influences and inspirations for both Coach Mac and Coach Junker 

-What kinds of adjustments do coaches make playing a team multiple times 

-How players can make their coaches better

-Preview of upcoming opponents

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

In this weeks podcast Coaches McCollister and Junker break down their respective game weeks highlighted by Boy's Basketball monster overtime win against conference juggernaut the Tartan Titans ending a losing streak dating back to 1994. Both coaches also break down what it means to each of them to be a "program coach", defining roles for players, and how they personally navigate the emotions and lessons learned from both wins and losses.  

The season is starting to ramp up and both teams have there sights set on moving forward, a great episode this week and hopefully many more to come. 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

Both Coach Junker and Coach McCollister knew this season was going to be different, it didn't take long to find out. While Coach Mac and the boys started off their season with two great wins over Hastings 92-70 and Mound Westonka 71-57, while Coach Junker and the girls were the first team in the state to be impacted by the pandemic resulting in their first game being cancelled. Both coaches discuss and share what each of their weeks were like, the challenges and successes each group experienced and how both programs move forward this week against two more conference opponents. 

If you wanted to know what coaching in during a pandemic is like, this is an episode to tune in to... 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

In this episode Coach Mac and Coach Junker recap the first week of practices and returning to hoops. Both coaches break down their philosophies and styles of play and how they go about preparing for the first games of the season. This year brings new challenges and obstacles and with that both coaches talk about their approach to making adjustments in order to make sure their players stay healthy, safe and find success. A great episode and we hope you enjoy!  

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020. 

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on

 Twitter Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac

 Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker

 South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB

In this episode Coach McCollister and Coach Junker share their coaching backgrounds and the roads that lead them to South St. Paul and reflect on their first seasons with their programs. Both coaches also share what the journey has been like preparing for the 2021 season and some of the expectations and obstacles that lay ahead to start the season. 

A special thanks to the players, families, coaches, and community members of South St. Paul for supporting both of our programs and for weathering the year that was 2020.   

If you enjoyed this episode or want to know more about SSP Boys and Girls Basketball please subscribe and follow on Twitter 

Coach Mac Twitter- @coachmmac 

Coach Junker Twitter- @SSPCoachJunker 

South St. Paul Girls Basketball Instagram: @SSPGirlsBB