Jared here. This episode, I’m joined by Luke McConnell - Head Coach at Saint Francis University - for a conversation that blends program-building, personal growth, and the mindset that manufactured one of the most improbable Conference Championship runs of the 2024-2025 season.

He walks through how Saint Francis found its identity late in the season, bought into one another, and played their best basketball when it mattered most, culminating in the first NCAA Tournament appearance for St. Francis in 34 years. Coach McConnell goes through the nuts and bolts of some of the most important decisions that drove winning, including his team’s late-game philosophy—why they don’t use timeouts in certain crunch time situations—and how that trust gets built in practice, film, and repetition.

When we turn to the player development piece, Coach McConnell explains why decision-making and spacing are at the heart of how he teaches the game. You won’t want to miss how this plays into the way he evaluates recruits ability AND character.

Of note, Coach McConnell took the reins of a program he’d been part of for over a decade—just weeks after becoming a first-time father. We talk not only about what the position means to him, but also how his leadership lens is impacted by the arrival of his baby daughter.

This is a “look under the hood” episode with tons of ideas that both players and coaches can easily apply to their own practices. And it's coming from someone who’s taken the journey from GA to Head Coach at his alma mater. If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach looking to understand what development really looks like at the college level, this one’s worth your time.

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Luke McConnell

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