Episode 151: Rob Paternostro, Building Competitive Players and Teams

Guest: Rob Paternostro, Leicester Riders' Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Leicester Riders' Head coach Rob Paternostro joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss the importance of pressure defense and how to incorporate competitiveness in practice.

Coach Paternostro has been the head coach of the Leicester Riders in the British Basketball League for 13 years. In 2008 he was hired by the Riders for his first basketball coaching position. Rob immediately proved to be a natural at coaching and led Leicester to a BBL Championship in his first season. Paternostro also took home the Coach of the Year award and established his name as one of the top coaches in the BBL. Since then Paternostro has continued to rake in the trophies and awards.

Over his 13 year stint with the club, Paternostro has become the team's most decorated coach. He obtained six total Coach of the Year awards which is the most in the history of the BBL. More importantly, Paternostro's coaching has translated to winning games. Currently, Rob has a record of 379 -141 ( 4th all time ) and never has had a losing season with the Riders. This success has continued into the postseason. Each year that Paternostro has coached the team has at least made it to the quarter-finals of the BBL Championship. Also, the Riders have won the BBL Championship four times as well as five Cup victories.

Paternostro also had a decorated career as a player. He attended Southern New Hampshire University where he was the school's all-time assist leader and earned a place in the NCAA division 2 Hall-of-Fame. After graduation, he began his professional career in the BBL with the Birmingham Bullets. During his first season, he made an impact immediately by scoring over 10 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from three. He continued to have success in the BBL and also played professionally in Spain and Belgium.

Rob Paternostro's immense amount of basketball knowledge and experience has made him an all-time great coach. Currently, Leicester is sitting at the top of the BBL with expectations of taking home another title.

Breakdown

1:00 - British Basketball League

4:00 - Competitive Cauldron

6:00 - Tracking Real-Time Stats

9:00 - Types of Rewards

12:00 - Calling Fouls on Practice

16:00 - Multiple Defensive Coverages

18:00 - Recruiting Smart Players

20:30 - Learnings working at ESPN

23:30 - Use of Press

27:00 - Using Ball Screens

30:00 - Decisions on Ball Screens