# Ep 1999 Picking Assistant Coaches: Who Do You Really Want Next to You on That Bench?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/basketball-coach-unplugged-a-basketball-coaching-podcast-174496/ep-1999-picking-assistant-coaches-who-do-you-really-want-next-to-you-on-that-bench
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/basketball-coach-unplugged-a-basketball-coaching-podcast-174496/ep-1999-picking-assistant-coaches-who-do-you-really-want-next-to-you-on-that-bench.md
Podcast: [Basketball Coach Unplugged (A Basketball Coaching Podcast)](https://stenobird.com/podcast/basketball-coach-unplugged-a-basketball-coaching-podcast-174496)
Published: 2026-08-21T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://teachhoops.com/
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/p.podderapp.com/3154757013/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG4314684726.mp3
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Duration seconds: 843

## Resource

Visit https://teachhoops.com/ The fastest way to change your program is not a new offense. It is the people sitting next to you. In this episode we get into how to choose assistants, what to look for beyond basketball knowledge, and the warning signs that a hire is going to cost you more than it gives you. Hire for character before basketball IQ You can teach a system. You cannot teach loyalty, work ethic, or how somebody treats a kid who is not playing. We talk about what to watch for before you ever ask a basketball question. Do not hire a copy of yourself If you are the fiery one, find somebody steady. If you are the teacher, find somebody who can bring energy. The staff should cover your weaknesses, not stack up on your strengths. The truth teller seat Every staff needs one person who will tell you when you are wrong, in private, without flinching. If nobody on your bench will do that, you are coaching alone. We talk about how to find that person and how to make it safe for them to speak. Defining roles before the season starts Scouting, player development, practice planning, film, communication with parents, academics. Write it down. Confusion about who owns what shows up in February when everybody is tired. Ambition and the guy who wants your job Ambition is not a problem. Hidden ambition is. We talk about how to handle an assistant who wants to be a head coach and why that can be great for your program if you handle it right. Volunteers, parents, and former players Each brings something and each brings a complication. We break down the real tradeoffs, especially when you are hiring a parent of a current player. The bench presence test How does this person act during a bad stretch? Do they add to the noise or steady the room? Watch a candidate at somebody else's…

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