Mark McGonigal is starting his second season as a Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach at Columbia University. In McGonigal's first season Columbia went 16-12 under Head Coach Kevin Hovde and secured the program’s first winning campaign in 10 years.

Prior to Columbia McGonigal served as an assistant coach at Cornell in 2024-25, where he helped guide the Big Red to a second-place finish in the conference and to the Ivy League Tournament Championship game. McGonigal spent 2016-23 on the staff at his alma mater, Richmond, which included four seasons as Director of Basketball Operations. He was elevated to an on-court assistant position in 2023.

Before his time at Richmond, McGonigal coached for the National Collegiate Scouting Association (2012-16). While there, he worked with student-athletes to evaluate their skill level on the court and their academic profile to guide them to college opportunities that would be the right fit. He began his career as an assistant coach at Holy Spirit HS in New Jersey in 2011.

As a player Mark was a four-year member of the basketball team at Richmond after joining the team as a walk-on and played in 27 career games.

On this episode Mike and Mark discuss how his basketball journey from South Jersey pickup games to Division I coaching, shaped his approach to the game. He explains why player development needs a balance of skill work and live play, where athletes learn to read the game and make winning decisions. Mark shares how preparation, film, and intentional practice design help coaches build stronger teams. He also describes the importance of earning players’ trust and building relationships with the people involved in recruiting. Finally, he discusses the Ivy League’s distinctive mix of basketball, academics, and long-term opportunity.

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You’ll want to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Mark McGonigal, Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach at Columbia University.

Website - https://gocolumbialions.com/sports/mens-basketball

Email - mm6870@columbia.edu

Twitter/X - @MarkMcGo3

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On this episode Mike & Jason discuss every Eastern Conference team’s over-under outlook, from title contenders to the bottom of the standings. Mike and Jason revisit last season’s predictions before debating which teams could exceed expectations and which may fall short. They examine roster changes, defensive upgrades, depth concerns, injuries, and the uncertainty surrounding teams such as Boston, Cleveland, New York, and Indiana. The hosts also discuss how anti-tanking rules and roster turnover could make the playoff race especially unpredictable. It’s a candid NBA preview for fans looking for team-by-team analysis, betting angles, and bold calls.

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John Verduin is the Founder of DYSports, starting the business in 2018 while he was earning his MBA at Seattle University. DYSports specializes in hosting basketball tournaments designed for boys’ and girls’ youth teams in grades 3 - 11 who are developing their skills. DYSports events are ideal for teams looking to compete against opponents of similar talent, providing an environment where growth and improvement are prioritized. John grew up in Seattle where he played multiple sports, including football and basketball at Ballard High School. He later continued his basketball journey at Willamette University in Oregon. Through his experiences, both as a player and coach, John recognized the need for more competitive levels for youth athletes to develop their skills. His mission is to create environments where kids can compete, improve, and foster a passion for the game.

On this episode Mike and John discuss how he built youth basketball tournaments around developing teams that are often overlooked by elite-focused events. John shares how the idea grew from his own experiences as a coach and from seeing the impact of repeated blowouts on players, parents, and coaches. John discusses how DY Sports works to create more competitive matchups, including its team-screening process and use of AI as the company scales. He also explains why the organization limits tournaments to three games and how facility relationships, local demand, and market fit shape expansion. Throughout the conversation, John offers a broader perspective on youth sports and the importance of creating opportunities for kids to compete, develop, and stay in the game.

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You’ll want to take a few notes as you listen to this episode with John Verduin, Founder of DYSports.

Website - https://dysportsllc.com/

Email - jverduin@dysportsllc.com

Twitter/X - @dysportsllc

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Brandon Rhodes is the Senior Vice President and General Manger of Emerging Sports at GameChanger, a technology company that builds simple and powerful products for youth sports teams and their communities.

On this episode Mike & Brandon discuss GameChanger’s growing role in youth basketball and its goal of making the experience better for coaches, parents, players, and club directors. Brandon shares the new tools for capturing full-game video, tracking statistics, generating player insights, and creating highlights that coaches can use for teaching and families can use to celebrate progress. The conversation also explores how GameChanger can reduce administrative work through centralized schedules, rosters, RSVPs, and team communication. For larger clubs, Brandon explains how a unified dashboard and organization-wide messaging can create consistency across multiple teams. The episode highlights how technology can help basketball programs spend less time managing logistics and more time developing athletes.

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Pay close attention and take some notes as you listen to this episode with Brandon Rhodes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Emerging Sports at GameChanger.

Website - https://gc.com/basketball

Email - brandon.rhodes@gc.com

Twitter/X - @getgamechanger

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On this episode Mike & Jason discuss the Guardians’ playoff hopes, the Browns’ surprising 2–1 start, and the Cavs’ upcoming season. They then unpack NBA Media Day storylines, including Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers controversy, Brandon Ingram’s injury, and LeBron James’s comments about wanting to play for the Knicks. The hosts debate whether Philadelphia can contend with LeBron, question the fit of its stars, and analyze Jalen Duren’s contract situation and Detroit’s roster construction. They also hit on storylines involving Dennis Schroder, Buddy Hield, Kristaps Porzingis, and Stephen Curry. To close, they continue their state-by-state NBA player rankings, debating standouts from Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, and Maine.

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Xavier Silas is the Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach and is in his 4th season at Virginia Military Institute. He has twice been named to the Silver Waves Media Mid Major Coaches watch list as a name to watch as a future head coach at the Division I level. Silas came to VMI after being an analyst for the University of Missouri men’s basketball program.

During the 2022-23 season, Silas served as head coach of the Guaynabo Mets of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), the highest professional basketball league in Puerto Rico.

Prior to coaching in Puerto Rico, he worked for both the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76’ers in a similar role as both the director of player development and offensive coordinator for each franchise’s G-League affiliate.

As a professional basketball player, Silas had playing stints with the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers. As a member of the NBA G-League, he played for the Iowa Wolves, Northern Arizona Suns, Bakersfield Jam and the Maine Red Claws. Silas also played for various professional teams in Argentina, Germany, Greece, Israel and France throughout his playing career.

After beginning his collegiate career at the University of Colorado at Boulder (2006-08), he transferred to Northern Illinois (2009-11) where he earned First Team All-MAC honors and First Team NABC All-District 14 accolades.

On this episode Mike & Xavier discuss Xavier’s journey from growing up around the San Antonio Spurs to becoming associate head coach at VMI. He shares how embracing a role, setting aside ego, and becoming exceptional at a specific skill helped him on his professional basketball career as a player. Silas explains how he teaches shot efficiency with a simple “dollar” analogy and uses film, relationships, and high standards to help players improve. He also reflects on building Colorado Prep, recruiting for fit at VMI, and creating a coaching staff where assistants are trusted to lead and challenge ideas. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes daily work, shared purpose, and helping players reach their potential.

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Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.

Grab your journal and a pen before you listen to this episode with Xavier Silas, Men’s Basketball Associate Head Coach at Virginia Military Institute.

Website - https://vmikeydets.com/sports/mens-basketball

Email - silasx@vmi.edu

Twitter/X - @xaviersilas

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Ken King is the author of the new book, Pyramid Scheme - How sport became an empire, why it is collapsing, and how we rebuild the game. Ken is the Executive Director of Calgary Minor Basketball, a non-profit of over 7000 athletes, 1500 coaches, and 300 officials. He is also the Principle/Founder of Boost Innovation Inc., a Calgary-based technology company building a portfolio of sport performance and coaching applications. He holds fifteen years of experience in high-performance collegiate basketball coaching and government affairs connected to Canadian sport. King’s work sits at the intersection of sport technology, athlete development, and systems design, and he contributes regularly to national sport development conversations through research, writing, and direct policy engagement.

On this episode Mike and Ken discuss why youth sports increasingly operates as an expensive, restrictive system that funnels money and opportunity toward a small elite group. Ken shares how pay-to-play models, early specialization, overtraining, and limited alternatives contribute to athlete burnout and dropout. The episode also examines why coach effectiveness should be measured by player experience and retention rather than credentials or playing history. King highlights the crisis in referee retention, arguing that organizations must protect officials, hold abusive adults accountable, and provide meaningful administrative support. The conversation concludes with a vision for rebuilding youth sports through more affordable entry points, easier exits, multi-sport opportunities, and accessible ways for every child to keep playing.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.

Make sure you have your notebook at your side as you listen to this episode with Ken King, author of the new book, Pyramid Scheme - How sport became an empire, why it is collapsing, and how we rebuild the game.

Website - https://www.justkenking.com/

Email - coachkenking@gmail.com

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenboost/

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On this episode Mike & Jason discuss Kawhi Leonard’s surprising $115 million extension with the Toronto Raptors and the fallout it leaves behind for the Clippers. They question whether Toronto can contend with Kawhi’s injury history and whether Los Angeles received enough in return for a franchise-altering star. The conversation then turns to Jalen Duren’s contract demands and whether Detroit’s core of Duren, Cade Cunningham, and Ausar Thompson can succeed in the playoffs. They also evaluate young players and rising teams, including Amen Thompson, Keyonte George, the Utah Jazz, and the NBA’s upcoming rookie class. The episode closes with thoughts on Doc Rivers’ retirement, the best basketball players from Illinois and Indiana, and the Cleveland Browns’ unexpected win.

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