Guest: Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon Head Coach 

Randolph-Macon head coach Josh Merkel joins the Basketball Podcast to share lessons from building a national championship program.

In 2021-22, Randolph Macon won its first national championship with the largest margin of victory in NCAA DIII history. The team won a program-best 33 games and capped a remarkable run of success for the program during Merkel’s time there. Merkel has made four trips to the NCAA tourney and has the most NCAA wins in program history. He has been ODAC Coach of the Year five times and was named the Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

The program is 148-38 in Merkel’s seven seasons as head coach. He also engineered a 12-0 record during the 2020-21 campaign. Josh Merkel is the first coach or player to win one of CollegeInsider.com awards in consecutive seasons.

Breakdown

1:00 - Introduction

4:30 - Every Player Doesn't Shoot the Same

7:30 - Player Led Block

10:30 - All-Star Game Concept

12:30 - Building Connection

15:30 - Truth over Harmony

18:00 - Respond to Mistakes

19:00 - Footwork

19:37 - 20:16 - JUST PLAY AD

22:00 - The Mouse Game

25:00 - Two Foot Playing Off Two Foot

29:00 - Ignition and Asking Too Many Questions

32:00 - Language

36:30 - Coaching with Constraints

40:00 - Feedback Loop

40:53 - 41:37 - Dr. Dish AD

45:00 - 50 Point Game

51:00 - Defensive Outstanding Program

53:00 - Valuing Individual Differences

56:00 - Building a Championship Program

58:00 - Conclusion

Josh Merkel’s Bio:

Bio: https://www.rmcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Merkel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshmerkel4

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