Slappin’ Glass sits down with the Head Coach of NCAA DII Regis University in Denver, Co, Brady Bergeson. The trio dive into developing peer leadership, “educated start points” in preseason planning, role development, and an always fun “Start, Sub, or Sit?!”
Inside the Episode
Regis University Head Coach, Brady Bergeson, is one of the most respected coaches in college basketball for his ability to teach, communicate, and foster relationships with players, and we were fortunate to dive into all three of those areas in this week’s newest podcast. Here’s a look inside the episode:
3 Key Concepts:
- Fostering “Peer Leadership”: A great conversation about the realities of “peer leadership” on a team and in a locker room, and the ways that Coach Bergeson tries to build that in his leaders. We discuss what great team leaders do in crisis, how they interact on and off the court, and the value of developing a “Leadership Group” to aid in the process.
- Educated “Start Points” in Pre-Season Planning: Coach Bergeson discusses how he and his staff use “educated start points” in the preseason for both schemes and player roles. From these “start points” we then dive into how both small and major tweaks may be made as the season progresses and roles become more defined.
- Teaching Cutting in Half Court Offense: One of the more difficult skills to coach are the whens and hows of cutting in the half court, and Coach Bergeson discusses some of his thoughts and rules for teaching players to cut effectively. Especially highlighted is the “baseline” or “corner” cut on a top-down drive to the middle.
2 Key Quotes from Coach Bergeson
- On true leadership: “I look at it kind of like the law of the jungle when figuring out who your leaders are, and I think it’s important for coaches to be aware that your leader is whoever the eyeballs look at under pressure. You ask the team who the leaders are, they’re gonna know. I can put a ‘C’ on a guy’s chest, but ultimately it’s going to be the guy everyone looks to for answers under pressure.”
- On surrounding yourself with great people early in a career: “One of the best investments is who you put yourself around, and who you put around yourself. I think who you work for matters when you’re growing up as a coach… you’ll fall back on that experience under pressure as your career goes on.”
1 Interesting “Start, Sub, or Sit?!”
- Topic: Preferred skillset of a 5-Man in “Open Offense”
- Options: As a passer, as a driver, as a screener
- Coach Bergeson’s “Start”: As a Driver
Podcast Extras: Beyond the podcast conversation, here are some other pieces of content we put out in conjunction with the episode:
- Brady Bergeson Voiceover Video discussing their “Corner Cuts”
- Brady Bergeson’s full “Start, Sub, or Sit?!” Video