Hi Coach,

Some of the best coaching education does not come from a drill diagram or a playbook.

It comes from hearing great coaches explain how they think.

Last week, we got to help host some of the smartest coaches in basketball.

These conversations go beyond surface-level coaching talk and get into the decisions, standards, relationships, and habits that shape winning programs.

Here are a few takeaways: 

Dusty May: Fit over fame in modern roster construction

• Talent matters, but fit, coachability, effort, and selflessness often determine whether a player truly helps your program.
• In today’s roster environment, coaches have to evaluate who a player is, not just what their numbers say.

https://astepup.coachesclinic.com/clips/

Tommy Lloyd: Culture, authenticity, and keeping joy in the work

• Culture shows up in daily interactions, not just team slogans.
• Coaches grow faster when they stay curious, authentic, and willing to learn from the people around them.

Tasha Brown and Charlisse Leger-Walker: Mental performance and player connection

• Mental training has to become part of the team’s regular rhythm, not something saved for crisis moments.
• Confidence, leadership, and emotional control can be developed when players are given the right tools.

Shea Ralph: Transforming a program through confidence and relationships

• Rebuilding a program starts with belief, communication, and small signs of progress.
• The right staff fit matters just as much as experience when building a new standard.

Kimani Young: Old-school standards inside championship culture

• Discipline still wins, but it has to be paired with real relationships, daily communication, and player buy-in.
• At UConn, standards are not just talked about. They show up in recruiting, practice habits, staff alignment, player development, and the way every decision impacts the team.

Vic Schaefer: Building teams that thrive in big moments

• Toughness has to be taught and demanded before the biggest moments arrive.
• Great staffs are built on trust, responsibility, and people who understand their role.

Thank you to the team at A Step Up for putting Power Talks Virtual Series together: To access all of the videos you can still find it on link below.

[Power Talks Series]

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep pouring into your players.

A Step Up and the Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches helping Coaches

https://astepup.coachesclinic.com/