In this week's coaching conversation, Grambling State head coach Patrick Crarey shares insights on Relationships then Championships.

Crarey comes to Grambling State after spending one season as the head coach at Florida A&M. Crarey reignited the FAMU men's basketball program, exceeding expectations and guiding the Rattlers to the SWAC Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2022. He led the Rattlers to a 13-16 overall record and a 10-8 mark in conference play. He also coached Sterling Young, who was named the SWAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year.

Prior to coaching at FAMU, he served as head coach at St. Thomas University for three years, posting a 61-27 record with two consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and three straight winning seasons.

Crarey led the Bobcats to a 22-9, 10-4 record in 2023-24 and were the Sun Conference Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats made it to the NAIA Tournament 2nd Round and finished the season ranked 21st in the nation. The Bobcats regular season success led to Crarey being named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

His coaching journey has taken him from assistant roles at La Sierra University to head coaching stints at Washington Adventist University, St. Thomas University, and Florida A&M. Crarey’s track record of success includes multiple championships and accolades, including the 2014 USCAA Men's Division I National Championship, conference titles, and six NAIA National Tournament appearances. He has guided six teams to 20-plus win seasons, earning Coach of the Year honors in both the ICAA and Sun Conference.

Coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history, Gayle Fulks is entering her ninth season at the helm of the Davidson College women’s basketball program.

Fulks has guided the Wildcats to 123 wins and two postseason appearances, including the 2025 WBIT. In addition to ranking second on Davidson’s all-time wins list, Fulks has coached 15 all-conference performers, while leading her club to a number of record-setting performances along the way.

Along with 18 conference games for the first time in A-10 play, the 2024-25 campaign yet again featured one of the nation’s toughest non-conference slates. The Wildcats rose to the challenge posting 19 victories, their most under Fulks, and a program-best 13 league wins en route to a third-place finish, their highest since joining the league in 2014.

Davidson’s 13 wins in Atlantic 10 play weren’t the only standard set last season. The Wildcats proved to be one of the most efficient and productive teams from the outside making a school-record 241 highlighted by eight games with at least 10 made 3-pointers. They also ranked among national leaders in 3-pointer differential (5th), 3-point defense (1st) and assists per game against (1st). In conference play, no team was better in blocks, points allowed, field-goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense.

Before arriving at Davidson, Fulks gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University, where she worked under Jen Hoover for five seasons, helping to shape the program and refine her coaching philosophy. Prior to her tenure at Wake Forest, she spent a season at UNC Greensboro, contributing to player development and game planning. Her coaching journey began at Longwood University, where she was on staff from 2007 to 2011.

Fulks’ basketball roots extend beyond the collegiate level. She started her career with the WNBA’s New York Liberty in 2007, serving as the Assistant Video Coordinator.

In this week's coaching conversation, George Mason head coach Tony Skinn shares insights on defensive identity and competitive spirit.

A key starter on the 2006 George Mason Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history, Skinn returned to his alma mater after nearly a decade of work as a collegiate assistant coach.

The 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Skinn has put together arguably the best start to a coaching career in school history. He set new program bests for overall wins (47), league wins (24), overall winning percentage (.691) and league winning percentage (.667) for a Patriot coach over his first two campaigns. What's more, Skinn's 66.7 A-10 winning percentage is first amongst active league coaches over their first two seasons in the conference.

This season, Skinn guided the Patriots to the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Patriots earned a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, tallied the program's first NIT victory since 2004 and notched a school record-tying 27 overall victories. The Green & Gold set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.

George Mason tallied a school-record 18 home victories in 2024-25. The Patriots also swept their A-10 home schedule (9-0) for the first time ever and won five-straight A-10 road games for the first time in program annals. The team's 11-game win streak from Jan. 8-Feb. 18 was the second longest in the nation at the time and was just the fourth 10+ game winning streak in school history.

Prior to becoming the head coach of his alma mater, Skinn guided three different programs to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Maryland, Ohio State, and Seton Hall.

In this week's coaching conversation, American University head coach Duane Simpkins shares insights on reflecting on a championship season.

Simpkins has made a significant impact as the head coach of American, leading the program to new heights in the Patriot League. Over his tenure, he has compiled an impressive 38–29. In just his second year, Simpkins led the Eagles to a historic season, winning the 2024-25 Patriot League Championship and earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. American finished 22-13 overall and 13-5 in the Patriot League, matching the program’s all-time record for league wins in a season.

Simpkins joined American after eight seasons on the coaching staff at George Mason, where he helped guide the Patriots to multiple program bests within the Atlantic 10, including an 11-win A-10 campaign and a 20-13 overall finish in 2022-23.

His coaching career also includes stints at UNC Greensboro, Towson, and on the high school level at St. Albans, Sidwell Friends, and Bishop O’Connell. In 2020, he was named one of the country’s Top 50 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants by Silverwaves Media and has been invited to numerous national leadership and coaching development programs.

A DMV basketball legend, Simpkins earned McDonald’s High School All-America honors at DeMatha Catholic under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten. He was a three-time All-ACC Honorable Mention selection at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16 runs.

In this week's coaching conversation, South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez joins the Basketball Podcast.to share insights on zone offense, relationships and practice.

Fernandez has carved out a 25-year head coaching career at South Florida with multiple accolades. He is the program’s all-time winningest coach, has claimed American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors twice in 2018 and 2021, and has led the Bulls to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and secured four Conference Championships, including two Conference Tournament Championships (2020-21 & 2024-25) and two Regular Season Titles (2020-21 & 2022-23). Fernandez's influence extends beyond his program, as he is set to become the WBCA President from 2025-27. His coaching has produced nine WNBA Draft Picks and Signees, and twenty-four of his former players are competing professionally worldwide.

Fernandez has also demonstrated success against top-tier competition, with twenty wins against top 25-ranked teams. He has also achieved considerable consistency, with fourteen straight nineteen-win seasons and twelve twenty-win seasons. During the 2024-25 season, he recorded his 485th career victory. Under his leadership, South Florida won the 2008-09 WNIT Championship, defeating the Kansas Jayhawks.

Throughout his career, Fernandez has recruited and coached over forty all-conference players, two Associated Press Honorable Mention All-Americans, three members of the USF Athletics Hall of Fame, two AAC Players of the Year, two AAC Newcomers of the Year, four AAC Freshmen of the Year, one AAC Defensive Player of the Year, one AAC Most Improved Player, and seven WNBA draft picks. His contributions to the sport were further recognized with his induction into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay's Hall of Fame on June 8, 2022.

This year Fernandez will return to USA Basketball for his second assistant coaching stint with USA Basketball as an assistant for the 2025 Women's U19 National Team. He previously served in the role for the 2024 Women's U18 National Team and was also a court coach at the 2018 USA Women’s U18 National Team Trials.

In this week's coaching conversation, CIA Bella Vista College Prep Brandon Rosenthal joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on career management and high school coaching.

Rosenthal brings a wealth of experience to his coaching career, encompassing six years of professional experience, nine years at the collegiate level, and one year in high school.

In his inaugural year as head coach at CIA Bella Vista College Prep, Rosenthal revitalized the basketball program, transforming it into a championship contender, and was named the 2024-25 EYBL Scholastic Coach of the Year. Bella Vista College Prep competes in the EYBL Scholastic Conference, widely recognized as one of the most competitive leagues in high school basketball.

Prior to Rosenthal's arrival, the program had struggled, holding a one-and-eleven conference record. Under his leadership, the team achieved a remarkable turnaround, finishing with a nine-and-two record in conference play. This success earned them the title of regular season co-champions and an invitation to Chipotle Nationals in his debut season, spanning from 2024 to 2025.

During the 2024-25 season, CIA Bella Vista College Prep achieved a twenty-and-four overall regular season record. The team reached rankings as high as number two by MaxPreps, number four by Slam, and number five by ESPN. Notably, the team secured the most top ten wins and the most top twenty-five wins of any team in the nation, and played what was considered the toughest schedule in the country. The program received an invitation to the 2025 Chipotle Nationals. Additionally, the team became the first from Arizona in forty-two years to win the Beach Ball Classic. Rosenthal also oversees an academy of seventy boys and girls, which has produced two All-Americans.

Brandon Rosenthal's extensive assistant coaching experience includes roles at various levels. He served as an Assistant Coach for the Santa Cruz Warriors (2023-2024), where he contributed to the team's G-League Franchise of the Year title, Winter Showcase Semi-Finals appearance, and G-League Playoffs Quarter-Finals appearance, while also seeing five players called up to the NBA. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Coach, Director of Scouting & Player Development at Arizona State University (2019-2023), supporting the team in various capacities and contributing to a 2023 NCAA Tournament appearance. His experience also includes positions as Video/Player Development Coordinator for the Phoenix Suns (2017-2019), Assistant Coach for the Northern Arizona Suns (2016-2017), Video Assistant for the Houston Rockets (2015-2016), and Interim Assistant Coach/Director of Basketball Operations at Santa Clara University (2012-2015), where he was part of the 2013 CBI National Championship team.

In this week's coaching conversation, Mount St Mary's head coach Donny Lind joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on exceeding expectations.

Donny Lind just completed his first season as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mount St. Mary's University. In his debut season (2024-2025), Lind orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the Mountaineers. Picked 11th out of 13 teams in the MAAC preseason poll, Lind guided the team to a 23-13 overall record and a 12-8 mark in conference play, finishing tied for fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

The season was highlighted by a run through the MAAC Tournament, where the Mountaineers secured victories over Marist, Merrimack, and ultimately Iona in the championship game. This MAAC Tournament title marked the university's first championship in any sport since becoming a full MAAC member and earned them an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

In the NCAA Tournament, the #16-seeded Mountaineers achieved the program's third-ever NCAA Tournament win with an 83-72 First Four victory over #16 seed American. Their inspiring tournament journey concluded in the First Round against #1 seed Duke.

Donny Lind's impressive first year at the helm has garnered him recognition as a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, which honors the top first-time head coach in Division I college basketball. The team's 23 wins represent the highest win total for the program as a Division I institution and the most wins in a season for Mount St. Mary's since the 1986-87 season. Notably, his First Four victory also gave him the most wins for a first-year head coach in the Mount's history, surpassing the legendary Jim Phelan's first-year record.

Before taking the head coaching position at Mount St. Mary's, Lind built a strong foundation as an assistant coach at several programs:

VCU (Video Coordinator, 2010-2013): Lind began his post-graduate career at VCU, contributing through film analysis, analytics, and assisting with player development under Shaka Smart.

Mount St. Mary's (Assistant Coach, 2013-2016): In his first stint at Mount St. Mary's, Lind served as the recruiting coordinator and helped assemble what is considered the winningest class in school history. The team won the NEC Tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament during his time. The Mountaineers consistently led the NEC in key offensive categories during his tenure.

Radford University (Assistant Coach, 2016-2021): Working under Mike Jones, Lind was part of a staff that led Radford to back-to-back Big South regular-season titles (2018-19, 2019-20) and the 2017-18 Big South Tournament title, resulting in the program's first NCAA Tournament win in the First Four. He was recognized as a Top 50 Impactful Low Major Coach in Division I.

UNC Greensboro (Assistant Coach, 2021-2024): Lind continued his successful assistant coaching career at UNC Greensboro, again under Mike Jones. The Spartans earned a #2 seed in the SoCon during his tenure.

Donny Lind's return to Mount St. Mary's has already proven to be a significant success, marked by a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament victory in his very first season as a head coach. His ability to connect with players and implement an effective coaching strategy has clearly resonated with the team, setting a promising trajectory for the program's future.

In this week's coaching conversation, Northern Colorado head coach Steve Smiley joined the Basketball Podcast to share insights on the "over ourself" philosophy and grading success.

Steve Smiley has established himself as a formidable head coach at Northern Colorado, leading the Bears with a strong overall record of 89–71 (.556) in NCAA competition. His leadership was instrumental in securing the Big Sky regular season championship in 2025, a testament to his ability to develop winning teams and foster a competitive culture.

Smiley's success hasn’t gone unnoticed—his efforts were recognized in 2024 when he was named Big Sky Co-Coach of the Year. He also owns the second highest winning percentage in Northern Colorado’s Division I era, equaling Jeff Linder for the most postseason wins with six, who he succeeded in March 2020.

Smiley's experience in the Big Sky goes beyond his four years at UNC as he was an assistant coach at Weber State from 2014-16. Before Weber State, Smiley spent six years as the head coach and Athletic Director at Sheridan College.

In the six years with Sheridan College, Smiley posted a 153-43 overall record and led Sheridan to four North Sub-Region 9 titles and two runner-up finishes. Smiley was twice named the North Region Coach of the Year. During his time at Sheridan, Smiley had 21 players sign to play NCAA Division I basketball and 38 players moved on to play at four-year colleges.

Prior to his stint at Sheridan, Smiley spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota where he collaborated with the winningest coach in NCAA history, Don Meyer. During his time at NSU, the Wolves posted a 50-12 record. Smiley was also the assistant head coach at Black Hills State University during the 2005-06 season. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M International during the 2004-05 campaign.