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.

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.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach T.C. Swirsky, head coach of the Memphis Hustle, the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. Swirsky's coaching journey includes roles as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers and as head video coordinator for the Memphis Grizzlies for 2 years. He joined the Hustle as lead assistant in 2023 and was promoted to head coach ahead of the 24–25 season . In his first season at the helm, Swirsky secured his first career win as a head coach with a 90–85 victory over the Texas Legends and showing to be a great young head coach in the making. In this episode, we talk about being adaptable with an always changing roster, doing your job without expecting any credit, and he gives us an inside look into a day in the life of a G League head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt Wise, the head women’s basketball coach at Samford University. Coach Wise brings a wide range of experience from across the collegiate landscape. He started his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida before moving on to roles at Wyoming and East Tennessee State, where he served as an assistant coach. He also spent time at Little Rock and later joined the University of Alabama as the Director of Video and Creative Content for the women’s program. Known for his energy, creativity, and relationship-building, Wise has built a reputation as a coach who connects deeply with his players. His journey through multiple programs has shaped his philosophy and prepared him for this head coaching opportunity. On this episode we talk about his biggest adjustment stepping into a new head coaching position after a long time assistant, talking about his offensive and defensive makeup for next season and his definition of toughness.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Mike Morrell, head coach of UNC Asheville. Morrell began his coaching career at King University, then served as a graduate assistant and director of basketball operations at Clemson under Oliver Purnell. He had a stint at Charleston Southern before joining Shaka Smart's staff at VCU, where he contributed to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Morrell followed Smart to Texas, serving in various roles including director of program development and assistant coach. In 2018, he was appointed head coach at UNC Asheville. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs achieved a school-record 27 wins in the 2022–23 season, securing both the Big South regular season and tournament championships, and earning an NCAA Tournament berth. In this episode, we discuss takeaways from working with Coach Shaka Smart, the initial changes he implemented upon becoming a head coach, and strategies for maximizing player performance on the court.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Jones, assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. A former standout guard at the University of Pittsburgh, Jones began his coaching career at Pitt University and transitioned into a graduate assistant at TCU, then joined the Jazz in 2019 as a video assistant and player development coach. He was promoted to assistant coach in 2023 under head coach Will Hardy. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from being a player into a first-year coach, building an NBA workout plan before, during, and after a workout, and identifying what players’ development needs are leading into how to implement those workouts.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Nate Bollinger, assistant coach at American University. His coaching path started at D3 York College before moving on to High Point as Director of Player Development. He then served as associate head coach at Saint Vincent College, earning NABC 30-Under-30 honors. Bollinger made the jump to Division I with William & Mary, where he helped the team reach historic win totals. Now at American, he plays a key role as the offensive and recruiting coordinator. In this episode, we talk about his rise from the D3 ranks to D1. We dive into how he builds an offense tailored to his team’s strengths. He shares insights on player development and creating efficient offensive systems. We also highlight the recent success of American's basketball program. It’s a great look into the grind and growth of a rising coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Russell White, the head coach at California Lutheran University. A Cal Lutheran graduate, White returned to his alma mater in 2019 after a distinguished high school coaching career. He began his coaching journey at Chaminade High School, then led Calabasas High School to two League titles. At Crespi Carmelite High School , he transformed the program, securing two CIF Southern Section titles and two CIF state championships, while also earning California State Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016 . Since taking over at Cal Lutheran, White has revitalized the program, leading them to consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including a 23–5 season in 2024–25 . In this episode, we talk about challenges he has faced at the D3 level, the offensive and defensive identity of his program, and his rebuilding of a program at California Lutheran University.