Episode 110: Dustin Kerns, Actional Practice and Culture Building Ideas

Episode 110: Dustin Kerns, Actional Practice and Culture Building Ideas

Guest: Dustin Kerns, Appalachian State Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Appalachian State head coach Dustin Kerns joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss actional practice and culture building ideas.

In his first season at the helm of the Mountaineers, Kerns led App State to its best season in a decade. The Black and Gold posted its most wins (18) since 2009-10 and most Sun Belt wins (11) ever. Kern's 18 victories in his first season at App State were the most by a first year head coach for the Mountaineers since 1942. In addition, the Black and Gold posted a +7 win turnaround, which ranked as the third highest in the nation.

Kerns came to Appalachian State from Presbyterian, where he served as head coach for two seasons. He inherited a Presbyterian program that had yet to achieve a winning record in 12 seasons at the Division I level and was coming off a five-win campaign in 2016-17.

He immediately led the Blue Hose to a six-win improvement in his first year before breaking through in 2018-19. Kerns guided the Blue Hose to their first winning record (20-16) and first postseason appearance (CIT) as a Division I program in just his second year on the job. Kerns guided the Blue Hose to their first winning record (20-16) and first postseason appearance (CIT) as a Division I program in just his second year on the job.

A 2002 graduate of Clemson, Kerns climbed the coaching ranks on staff with Buzz Peterson at Tennessee, Mike Young at Wofford and Kerry Keating at Santa Clara.

Breakdown

1:00 - How to Flip Programs so Quick

6:00 - Every Drill has 90 Minutes on the clock

9:00 - Learn to Pace Themselves

10:00 - Shorter, More Intense Practices

12:00 - Things to do to bring out Competition

17:00 - Difference between a Contested and Effective Shot

20:00 - Positive Two

23:30 - Player playing Outstanding Defense

25:00 - Picking music in practice

27:00 - Fun games they done on the road

31:00 - Small Group Things