Episode 176: Matt McCall, Former Chatanooga and UMass Head Coach, Current NBC Game Analyst
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt McCall, former head coach at UMass and Chattanooga, and current game analyst with NBC. Coach McCall began his coaching career as a student manager and later graduate assistant under Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. He went on to serve as an assistant at Florida Atlantic and then returned to Florida as an assistant coach during two Final Four runs. In 2015, McCall was named head coach at Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs to a 29-6 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season. He later took over the UMass program, guiding them through five seasons of transition and growth. Now a respected voice in the media, McCall brings coaching insight to his analyst role with NBC. In this episode we speak on his mindset in his early years of his coaching career, experiences in his 7 years as a head coach and what he has taken away now from the analyst side of the game.
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Episode 175: Steve Ridder, Head Coach, Embry-Riddle University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Steve Ridder, the legendary head men’s basketball coach at Embry-Riddle University. Ridder took over the program in 1989 and has since built it from the ground up into a nationally recognized powerhouse. Before arriving at Embry-Riddle, he was an assistant coach at Berea Community High School in Kentucky. Under his leadership, Embry-Riddle won the NAIA National Championship in 2000 and made multiple deep national tournament runs. Ridder has earned over 700 career wins and countless Coach of the Year honors. He also led the transition of the program into NCAA Division II, continuing its tradition of excellence. In this episode we talk about changing a program from a losing program to a winning program, what he looks to instill in his players and coaches and staying loyal to a program for 36+ years.
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Episode 174: Kelvin Lewis, Assistant Coach, Troy University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Kelvin Lewis, assistant men’s basketball coach at Troy University. A former standout at the University of Houston, Lewis helped lead the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years. After college, he enjoyed an impressive 11-year professional playing career across Europe, including stops in Finland, Germany, Greece, Romania, and Iceland. He began his coaching career at Troy University as the Director of Player Development and was later appointed the assistant position. Lewis brings a global perspective and a player-first mindset to his coaching. In this episode we talk about what he has learned during his extensive professional playing career across the world, how his playing experiences have shaped his coaching tendencies and a deep dive into the player development side of basketball.
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Episode 173: Jareem Dowling, Assistant Coach, Kansas State
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Jareem Dowling, assistant men's basketball coach at Kansas State University. Dowling began his coaching career at Cecil College in Maryland, where he contributed to a 97–6 record and a 2006 NJCAA Division II National Championship. He then served as an assistant at Slippery Rock University, Morehead State, and Southern Miss, gaining valuable experience at various collegiate levels. Dowling joined Grant McCasland's staff at Arkansas State and later at North Texas, where he was part of the 2021 NCAA Tournament team. In 2022, he became the first assistant hired by Jerome Tang at Kansas State. Since then, he has helped the Wildcats achieve a 45–25 record, including a 2023 Elite Eight appearance. Dowling has also contributed to the development of All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson. In this episode, we discuss his coaching journey, lessons learned from mentors, and advice for aspiring head coaches.
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Episode 172: Bryan Bailey, Assistant Coach, Atlanta Hawks
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we sit down with the Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Coach Bryan Bailey. Coach Bailey carved out an impressive 13-year professional career in Europe after a standout run at Bucknell. He competed at the highest levels across Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Bosnia, Cyprus and Italy. His experience playing in multiple countries gave him a unique perspective on different playing styles and cultures, helping shape his approach to the game. Now, he’s bringing that knowledge to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he’s making an impact with player development and game strategy. Today, we’ll dive into his journey from playing overseas to coaching at the highest level, how to get a player to be a star in their role in the NBA and a typical day in the life as an assistant coach in the NBA.
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
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