Small School: Big Time Hoops

The Head WBB Coach at William Penn Jenna Santi joins the pod! She is the brand new HC at her Alma Mater. We talk about the whirlwind that this off season has been. We also talk about her HS and College playing days, her experience as a GA and AC at William Penn and then what to expect from her in year one! It was great getting to talk to Jenna at the beginning of her journey! Thank you for tuning in!

Upper Iowa assistant coach Justin Weiland joins the pod! We talk about his start in coaching as a practice player and AAU coach. We also talk about how he quickly became a HC and the successes/challenges that came during that time. Finally we talk about his stops in the NSIC conference and the work he has done at Upper Iowa! Thank you for tuning in!

The Head WBB Coach at Bemidji State University Chelsea Deville joins the pod! We talk about her journey as a highly decorated player in SD before attending Augustana University. We also reminisce on her time as a GA, AC and Associate HC at Sioux Falls. Finally, we talk about her journey to Bemidji and the spectacular season they had in 2020-21. As always thanks for tuning in!

Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at UVA Wise Jacqueline Kestner joins the podcast. We talk about her playing career, how she got into coaching and her time at UVA Wise. We also talk about different positions within a coaching staff, and some of the obstacles coaches face. DISCLAIMER: There are a few audio errors that I couldn’t fix. My apologies! Thank you for tuning in!

The Head WBB Coach at Missouri Baptist University Sam Pearson joins the pod! We talk about his playing career which had a lot of twists and turns. We also talk about how faith and adversity helped him get to where he is now. Finally we talk about his time at Missouri Baptist, March Madness and why he is optimistic about the future! Thank you for tuning in!

The Head WBB Coach at Briar Cliff University Brita Hand joins the pod! We talk about her coaching start as a student assistant through her time as both a GA and a full time assistant. We talk about Briar Cliff, this past season, COVID and much more! Thank you for tuning in!

The Head WBB Coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana Rachelle Sayers joins the pod! We talk about her playing days at D1 Weber State where she was a multiple time All-Conference performer. We also talk about her time as an assistant and an associate HC at the D1 Level. Finally we take a deep dive into her time at Carroll college and talk a little march madness. Thank you for tuning in!

A WBB assistant coach from Olivet Nazerene in Bourbonnais, Illinois Caleb Johnson the pod. We talk about his coaching journey (which began as a manager), what his time as a GA was like, “The System” and why he thinks Olivet Nazerene is special. It was great talking to a fellow Packer fan. Thank you for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Westminster College in Fulton, MO Talisha Washington joins the pod! We talk about her playing days at Westminster, how she became the HC at her Alma mater, what she has learned in the year + she has been there and more! Big thank you to coach for joining the pod!

First year Head WBB coach at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois Antonio Rivas joins the pod. We talk about his journey, which began at a young age. We also talk about how he became the head coach through a pandemic, what he hopes to see during year 1, and what the pandemic has taught him. Enjoyed getting to chat with Antonio! Thanks for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Barclay College Scott Post joins the pod! He talks to me about his unique coaching journey (which didn’t start until he was 38 years old). He also talks to me about Barclay, his team, and what he has learned over this last year. Heading into year 1 he is fired up! Thanks for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball coach at the University of Pitt- Bradford Kaserra Owens joins the pod. We talk about her quick rise from assistant coach to HC, her time as a player at Pitt Bradford, what she expects in year two for her program and much more! It was great getting to know Kaserra! Thanks for tuning in!

The lead assistant at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa Adam Hocking joins the pod. We talk about his unique journey which began at the middle school level, and how he ended up at Clarke University. We also talked about what makes Clarke special, what he is looking forward to this upcoming season and a lot more! Thank you for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at UW- Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin Kelly McNiff joins the pod! She is back for more! She updates me on how life has been during the pandemic, how she has continued to grow throughout and what she has done to stay positive. We also talk about her conferences decision to push the season back and how she is using the extra time to prepare. As always it was a pleasure having Kelly on!

The Head Women’s Basketball coach at the University of Montana Western Lindsay Woolley joins the pod. We talk about his coaching journey, which includes stops on both the men’s and women’s side. We also talk about the program he has been able to build at Montana Western and what it is like to still be the reigning national champions. He also gives me an outlook on this upcoming season!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Harris Stowe STate in St. Louis, MO Seth McDowell joins the pod! We talk about his journey from D1 Football Player to Head Women’s Basketball Coach. We talk about the journey he experienced in between, and why he is grateful to get to do what he loves. He also takes me through what he thinks is special about Harris Stowe and what he has in store for year 2. Thanks for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri Taylor Possail joins the pod. We talk about his journey from volunteer coach to head coach of the #1 team in the nation. He shares some of the things he learned along the way, and also talks about how he has continued to build the program, what he expects from this year and more! As always thank you for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Lakeland University in Plymouth, Wisconsin Amber Peterson joins the pod! We talk about her journey from player to coach which has brought her across the country, how she found a home at Lakeland and why she is optimistic about year 1 as the HC at Lakeland University! Enjoy!

The Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas Layton Westmoreland joins the pod. We talk about his journey which includes coaching at the HS, College and WNBA level. We also talk about what he thinks makes McMurry special, why he is optimistic about this upcoming year and how he has gotten through the pandemic! Enjoy!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky Kylee Gorby. We talk about her playing days at the NAIA level, how she got into coaching and the sacrifices that came with it. We also talk about how faith led her to Spalding and how it keeps her focused during these uncertain times. As always thank you for tuning in! Enjoy!

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Head Women’s Basketball Coach Fletcher Brown joins the pod. We talk about his journey which includes going coast to coast, the success he has achieved at UMFK (National Championship Appearance) as well as how he has used this time to grow. After meeting Fletcher a year and a half ago it was fun to see our paths cross again! Enjoy!

Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio) Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Cassie Lastivka joins the pod. We talk about her journey to Wilmington, the AAU scene, what drew her to Wilmington and why she is excited about this upcoming season. As always thank you for tuning in! Enjoy!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Webster University in St. Louis, MO Jordan Olufson joins the pod. Coach “O” and I talk about his journey to Webster, his success that he has had since he has been there as well as why he is optimistic about this upcoming year. We talk a little bit about faith, and how everything always happens how it is supposed to. Enjoy!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove PA, Gabby Holko joins the pod! We talk about her journey, which includes a stellar D3 playing career, stops as a GA + a D3 and Juco Assistant before landing her first HC position! We talk about her first year at SU, how she has remained positive and optimistic heading into year 2 and why she is excited about her squad! Big thanks to Gabby for joining the pod! Enjoy!

The Associate Head Coach at Pikeville University in Pikeville, Kentucky Shelby Wheeler joins the pod! She shares about her experiences along her journey which includes a stop at D1 Stetson University as a manager and then as the DOBO! We also talk about what she thinks makes Pikeville special, the coaching staff at Pikeville and the outlook on the upcoming season. I want to give a big thanks to Shelby for being the first coach to record with me for the preseason preview! She is a top-notch individual! As always enjoy!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California Hernando Planells joins the pod! He shares about his extensive coaching career which includes currently serving as the HC of William Jessup, the HC of the New Zealand U19 National Team as well as previously serving as the Associate HC at Duke University and coaching with the Boston Celtics G-League team the Maine Red Claws. We also talk about his business Be Contagious Leadership and the work that he has done outside of coaching. This is another great story, and I promise you his energy will get you excited to take on any challenge! As always thank you for tuning in! *Disclaimer: My personal audio isn’t very loud, we recorded late at night! That’s what happens when you try to connect with the west coast!!*

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky Jeff Hans joins the podcast. Coach Hans has led Thomas More to unprecedented heights in his 9 years as head coach. 229-21 record, Two National Championships (W/Two Undefeated Seasons), 7 conference championships and countless other accolades. He takes me through his incredible 9 year run at Thomas More and the players/moments that made it special. We also talk about his other coaching stops, which have ranged from D1-D3. His journey is one that is truly special and I look forward to sharing it with you all. As always thank you for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri Amy Eagan joins the pod. She inherits a program that is coming off of a 32-0 season in her only season as an assistant coach in the program. Prior to her time at Drury she was the head coach at Truman State, her Alma Mater. We talk about her time at Truman as both a player and a coach. We also relive her other previous stops on her coaching journey, why she left coaching for a short stint and everything she has learned along the way. I really enjoyed this conversation and as always thank you for tuning in!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan Charlie Averkamp joins the pod. He finds himself in a unique position taking the head coaching position during a pandemic. We talk about how this has been a unique transition for him. We relive his time at Benedictine University where he led BenU to a 98-35 record which included a 20-0 conference mark in 2019-20. He talks about the wins, the memories and the people that made it a special place. We also talk about his playing days at Edgewood college and his unique journey into coaching. As always thank you for tuning in! ****Disclaimer: I apologize in advance about some of the noises throughout the pod. My mic made the decision to be super sensitive and pick up every noise within a five block radius***

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa Bob Amsberry joins the pod. With over 20 years of head coaching experience and 400+ wins he shares the triumphs and struggles he has faced as a coach. We talk about life before coaching and how one chance encounter changed his life. He also takes me through his time at Rockford College, how he started 0-25 in his first year and how he was able to turn the program around. We also broke down his time at Wartburg, the incredible 5 year run they are currently on holding a 131-20 record. As always thank you for tuning in! Enjoy!

The Head Womens Basketball Coach at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa Justin Heinzen joins the pod. Heading into year 14 as the head coach at Loras he has amassed a 202-122 record with 12 winning seasons, 2 conference championships and 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances. The last two years the DuHawks have combined to go 47-10 with back to back NCAA tournament at large bids.We talk about the growth he has seen from his program, why these past two years have been so special and how the DuHawks got to this point. We also talk about his unique journey into college basketball, his start at Lakeland University, and the things he learned a long the way. We also talk about how he became the head coach at Loras, he reflects on those first few years and he gives some advice on how to be successful early in your career. As always thank you for tuning in!

The Head Womens Basketball Coach at NAIA Concordia Nebraska Drew Olson joins the pod. Concordia is a perennial championship contender under Coach Olson. During his time at Concordia he has amassed a 385-98 record to go along with a national championship and two national runner ups. We talk about his journey as a collegiate athlete at Concordia and how that community shaped him. We also talk about his stops as a collegiate coach and how fate led him to his Alma mater. We also talk about his faith, how he incorporates it into everything he does and why he believes it is a big part of his success. Concordia is coming off of a 32-2 season which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about how it felt to have the opportunity to defend their national championship taken away from them and some of his favorite memories from this past year. Coach Olson is as genuine as they come and offers some great advice for young coaches. Also this is officially episode #10 of the podcast! Thank you to everyone who has supported, and listened to the Pod!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at D2 Michigan Tech Sam Hoyt joins the pod. The Huskies are one of the perennial powers in the GLIAC. Coach Hoyt is no stranger to success. During her playing days at Michigan Tech she amassed a 103-22 record with a national championship game appearance. She was twice named an All-American and left the school top 10 in scoring. We talk about some of her best (and worst) playing memories. We also talk about her journey which has included stops at D1 Youngstown State, and D2 schools Northwood and the University of Sioux Falls. She also tells me about what it means to her to be the head coach at Michigan Tech, and why she loves the community of Houghton. Finally, we talk about some of the difficulties she has faced during her journey and she speaks about how she is advocating/helping her players grow as individuals on and off the court.

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at St. Cloud State University Lori Fish joins the pod. The Huskies are coming off of a 23-7 season which saw them win the conference tournament for the first time since 2008-09. We talk about that accomplishment and what it was like having that opportunity taken away due to the pandemic. We also talk about her journey from big time player in St. Cloud to a first team all conference performer at South Dakota State. She also takes me through her experiences as a high school coach, a GA at her Alma Mater and her time at the D1 level. We talk about why returning home was always something she wanted, and we relive some of her favorite moments from her coaching career. As always thank you for tuning in and ENJOY!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Brad Fischer joins the pod. UW- Oshkosh and Fischer are the benchmark for success in women’s basketball in the state of Wisconsin. Fischer’s accolades as the head coach at UWO: 185-47, 20+ wins each season, 7 First or Second place conference finishes, 6 NCAA tournament appearances. We talk about how he has been able to do it and some of the memories he has made along the way. We also talk about his journey as a collegiate player and coach. He also tells me about why during his climb as a coach he took a “Sabbatical” year and how that has led him to be so successful as a coach. We also talk about why he believes the Wisconsin girls and women’s basketball is in a great place. Finally we finish with some rapid fire questions and coach gives us some unique answers! This was a longer interview but it was a truly great one!

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin Lauren Busalacchi joins the pod. Ripon is coming off of a 20 win season and their 4th straight with 17+ wins. We talked a lot about her ability to create culture and what has allowed her to be so successful at Ripon. We also talked about the struggles she faced at the beginning of her tenure, and the changes she realized she needed to make. She also tells me about her playing days at Clarke, how she pursued her Doctorate and coaching career at the same time, and what she learned along her journey. Finally we talk about how learning about Tribal Leadership changed her life (This is an awesome story!) and she tells me about why she is excited for the future of Ripon WBB.

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin Chaia Huff Joins the pod. Coach Huff is coming off her most successful season as the head coach at Edgewood finishing the year 25-3. A truly remarkable feat for a program that just four years ago went 0-25. We talk about that tough year and the journey it took to get to this year. We also talk about the fact that she didn’t play college basketball, how she got her start in coaching and her stops along the way that brought her to Edgewood. She tells me why this season left her wanting more and what makes her excited about the future (25-3 this year with NO SENIORS.. I mean come on!)

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville Kelly McNiff joins the pod. Coach McNiff is coming off of her first year as a collegiate head coach. Hear from her about her time as a player at UW-Oshkosh, where she finished with a 98-15 record. We also discuss her time as a high school head coach, where in four years she compiled a 96-11 record and was able to raise that gold ball. She also tells me about what it was like to return to her alma mater as an assistant coach and how they were able to make 5 NCAA tournaments in 6 years. Finally we talk about year 1 as the head coach at UW - Platteville and where she sees her program going in the future.

The Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls Blake DuDonis joins the pod. Coach DuDonis is coming off of year #1 as a collegiate head coach. Hear from him about his experiences as a D-1 assistant, SEC analyst and scout for the Washington Mystics. We also discuss how he ended up at UW- River Falls and why the Falcons are built for success. He also discusses how he uses his voice to promote change and why he feels a personal responsibility to be a mentor, advocate and ally to others. Finally we talk about our first Women’s Basketball WOW moment, Blakes dance moves and what we miss most during this pandemic. (Hint it’s food related!) *Disclaimer: This Podcast taught me about the frustrations of technology!! Hope you still enjoy*

The Head Womens Basketball Coach at Dakota State Dave Moe joins the pod. Coach Moe led the Trojans to a 17-14 record, 10 game winning streak and a conference final four appearance in year three at DSU. Hear from him about his experiences at both Mayville State and Dakota State, and how taking time away from the game he loved brought him to where he is today. We also discuss why he is excited for the future of DSU Womens basketball and listen to us relive our epic 89-88 2OT game from this season. He also gives us the positives he’s taking from the current pandemic and how he is getting creative to keep pushing his program forward.

The Head Womens Basketball Coach at Viterbo University Lionel Jones joins the Pod for Episode #1. We talk about how he led the V-Hawks to the conference championship game in just his second year as head coach, how he is known for rebuilding programs, and where he sees his program heading in the future. We discuss his various stops on his coaching journey which range from the NBA to the youth leagues outside of Cleveland, Ohio and how he picked up 310 wins as head coach along the way.

Hear why Jovahn Masters, Viterbo Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach decided to create the Small School: Big Time Hoops Podcast.