Basketball To Business

What's up basketball trainers, parents and athletes?Today we’re joined by Tucker Richardson — a former Division I guard at Colgate University who knows firsthand what it’s like to be overlooked in the recruiting process. From battling the challenges of being under-recruited to carving out a successful college career while beginning his professional basketball career, Tucker has turned his experience into a mission: helping athletes and parents better understand the fast-changing world of basketball recruiting. That mission led him to create Hacking Hoops, an online community built to guide families through the maze of exposure, training, and opportunity.In this episode, Tucker opens up about his journey from being under-recruited to thriving at the Division I level. Along the way, he breaks down how the high school recruiting landscape has changed, the role of AAU, and why skill development and the right trainers matter more than flashy promises.He also tackles the big questions parents often ask — from w

In this episode, I sit down with longtime friend and fellow basketball visionary Collin Castellaw — someone many know from Shot Mechanics, but whose journey has taken him far beyond shooting tutorials.We go deep into Collin’s evolution from coach and content creator to co-founder of PlayersTV, a fast-growing, multi-million dollar, athlete-owned media company redefining sports and culture content. He opens up about how Shot Mechanics was more than just a YouTube channel — it was his “PhD in online business” and laid the groundwork for understanding digital strategy, community-building, and scalable content.Collin walks us through the gritty early days of Players TV, the “silent grind” behind the scenes, and the bold pivot during the 2020 pandemic that turned obstacles into momentum. From building an ad-friendly tech stack to helping fans become owners alongside athlete investors, Collin shares the real playbook behind their push toward “Athlete Content 2.0.”If you’re an athlete, coach, or creative trying to bu

If you're passionate about basketball, content creation, or building a brand from the ground up, this episode is a must-listen. Ian Hietala joins us to share his journey from aspiring trainer to one of the most promising voices in basketball edutainment—blending skill, strategy, and storytelling to make a lasting impact.In this episode, Ian Hietala takes us through his journey as a rising force in the basketball training world, blending education and entertainment to create impactful content for the next generation. He shares how his youth, discipline, and dedication to daily content creation give him a unique edge, while his media agency and online training serve as core revenue streams.Beyond the content, Ian opens up about the importance of building relationships in the training community, learning from mentors, and embracing experimentation—both in business and in training methods. From optimizing his tech stack to setting realistic financial goals, Ian emphasizes the value of consistency, authenticity, a

What's up, basketball trainers? It's been a while. I hope everyone's enjoying the weekend. Let's go straight to business, shall we?In this episode, I'm back with three of the most respected voices in the basketball training world—Peter Danyliv, Shane Hennen and Micah Lancaster—to unpack the major shifts transforming the industry today. If you're a basketball trainer running your own business or dreaming of starting one, this conversation is a must-listen.Together, we explore how the training game has moved beyond just cones and court work into a new era shaped by content creation, personal branding, and social media influence. We dig into the realities many trainers face today: standing out in a crowded online space, building legitimacy without compromising on quality, and turning training into a scalable business.You’ll hear real talk about:

You post daily. You train hard. You got talent. So why aren’t you booked out? This Sunday, we’re unpacking what’s really holding back basketball trainers. Spoiler: it might not be your skills — it might be your systems.Will be posting the link  soon.

What's up basketball trainers? I hope everyone had a warm and relaxing holiday season! New year, new goals, new strategies, but same goals - growing our basketball training business as we grow into better versions of ourselves year after year. And so, let's start this year with an engaging conversation with Coach Shane Hennen. In today's podcast episode, Coach Shane reflects on his journey over the past three years, discussing the contrasts between his upbringing in a small town and his current life as a prominent basketball trainer. He shares insights on evolving goals, the balance between content creation and in-person training, and the importance of building a local presence through social media. Shane also delves into navigating brand deals and the grind behind his success, emphasizing the dedication required to thrive in the competitive landscape of basketball training. 00:00 Reconnecting After Three Years02:00 Life Lessons from Small Town Living05:55 Evolving Goals in Basketball Training10:04 Balancing

What's up, basketball trainers? It's been a while since our last half-time break episode here at Basketball to Business podcast. So, let's go straight to business, shall we? For today's episode, we'll be joined by Coach Justin Furtado. He is the founder of BTG (Beyond The Game), a basketball coaching business. In our conversation, Coach Justin shares his journey from a small town in Northern California to launching BTG (Beyond The Game), his basketball coaching business. He opens up about the challenges of transitioning to a big city and turning his passion into a sustainable enterprise. Moreover, Coach Justin dives into key aspects of his business, including pricing strategies, marketing breakthroughs through email campaigns and social media ads, and tackling seasonality in the industry. He also highlights the importance of community engagement, trust-building, and networking, as well as his vision for global expansion through camps and clinics. 00:30 A little background about Coach Justin 01:55 How It All

What's up, basketball trainers? In our podcast episode today, I had a great conversation with Justin Wakefield, a basketball trainer and educator, where we explored a range of topics related to coaching and player development. We discussed the importance of having thick skin as an educator, effective techniques for teaching players of all ages, the ideal training schedule, and the concept of "your body is your level" in basketball. We even reflected on our experiences in industries like sales and hardwood flooring and how those lessons have influenced our coaching styles. The conversation also touched on key themes like time management in training, using basketball as a tool for growth beyond the game, the importance of relationships and networking in the basketball community, and the different cultures of the sport in various markets. And towards the end, we emphasized the value of showing love, being a good person in the industry, and staying true to yourself through perseverance while buildin

What's up, basketball trainers? Hope everybody had an awesome Labor Day weekend! Appreciate you guys waiting for this final episode of our special podcast series with Coach Peter, Coach Tyler and Coach Micah. In today's episode, we continue to explore the myths and challenges of being a training professional, discussing the importance of cultivating customers through valuable educational content, the role of social media in generating revenue, and the need to balance entertainment with education. We also touch on the different success between in-person and online training, highlighting the necessity of strong communication with online clients. And finally, we'll share share with you our aspirations to expand into other sports and our hopes for the industry's growth and coexistence. Takeaways: Developing customers is more important than having fans, and providing solid educational materials is crucial to attract clients. Social media can generate revenue, but it requires finding the righ

What's up, basketball trainers? Part two of our special podcast series with Coach Peter, Coach Tyler and Coach Micah is here. In this episode, we explore the importance of building a personal brand and understanding the business side of training professional athletes, from setting boundaries with clients to navigating the challenges of getting compensated by NBA organizations. We also delve into the complexities and rewards of the basketball training industry, highlighting the need to consistently showcase your value. Takeaways: Building a brand and putting out content is crucial for basketball trainers to showcase their value and attract clients. The economics of training pros can vary depending on factors such as opportunity cost and travel fees. Trainers need to understand the business side of their profession and set boundaries and expectations with clients. There is a perception that trainers should not be compensated for their time, which is not the case in other industries. Getting paid

What's up, basketball trainers? It's been a while since our last episode. And so, we're back with a special podcast three-part series, where we'll dive deep into the business side of basketball training. This series will be split into three parts, with the first part airing today. For the second time around, we're thrilled to have with us coaches Peter Danyliv, Tyler Leclerc, and Micah Lancaster. Together, we'll explore a range of topics, from shifting focus from NBA players to younger athletes, to the challenges of monetization and dealing with agencies. Tune in as we uncover the myths of training pros and share valuable insights on building a successful training business. Part 1: Shifting Focus and Valuing Your Craft as a Basketball Trainer In this first episode, we debunk the myth that training professional athletes is the ultimate marker of success, revealing the often low expectations many pros have for their training. The conversation highlights the shift from focusing on NBA p

What's up, basketball enthusiasts? I turned 31 yesterday, and I'm feeling one year wiser! I had some quality time to recharge and reflect, so I thought I'd share a few "beyond the court" thoughts since it's been awhile: Taxes, and how crucial it is to understand tax obligations, especially the differences between an LLC and an S-Corp. Passive income is often misunderstood; the IRS defines and taxes passive income differently. Also, our training income is always considered active business income. Using basketball training to build, not live Recognizing and maximizing the flexibility we have in our business decisions. Taking time to recharge, like I did on my birthday, is essential even though it made me feel guilty initially Overcoming constraints in our business And just to let you all know, I'm opening up spots for consulting to help other trainers avoid the mistakes I've made and succeed in their own businesses. If you're interested in coaching or advice, fe

What's up, basketball trainers? I wanted to share how a series of seven emails, written by a highly competent high school senior intern, generated a couple of thousand dollars for our upcoming league. Some takeaways from this short podcast: Email Campaigns Can Be Profitable The effectiveness of how an email list is used is more important than the size of the list. Segmenting the list and ensuring high deliverability and engagement rates are crucial. Selling through email can increase earnings per hour since the effort to set up emails is minimal compared to the potential revenue generated. Regularly sending out offers helps gauge audience interest and preferences, providing valuable data beyond just generating sales. It's essential to fully utilize the features of email campaign tools to maximize their potential and benefit the business. Finding and mastering tools that can be game-changers for the business, such as CRM, chat widgets, automation tools, and email campaigns, can significantl

Hey everyone! I want to share some insights from books like "Essentialism," "Ultimate Sales Machine," and "The Four-Hour Work Week" that I've been exploring. Although I haven't implemented all of these strategies myself, I find the daily questions they suggest to be really valuable for improving time management and productivity. Here are seven questions I think are worth asking. Pick one of these to ask yourself each day: If this was the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied? What will I say no to today? Is this decision a "Heaven YES"? What is the obstacle or constraint holding me back from what's important? If I only had two hours of work this week, what would I focus on? Should I apply the reverse pilot test? Do I need to reset my calendar with a zero-based time budget? These questions help me stay focused and prioritize effectively. I hope they can be useful for you, too!

What's up, basketball trainers? This podcast is long overdue, but surely worth sharing. I’ve been reflecting on some insights from a few books I've listened to, and I want to share my thoughts: First, the quality of the questions we ask can significantly impact our growth. For example, asking "What are my customers doing regardless of me?" can help us understand and ride the waves of demand in our industry. It’s crucial to recognize that trends don't last forever, so while we capitalize on them, we should also prepare to transition off them when necessary. Additionally, observing what customers are figuring out on their own can highlight areas for innovation. One standout idea for me is addressing frustrations with the traditional AAU setup by looking at successful foreign models, like the club culture in Europe. I also plan to focus more on why our top 10% of customers buy, as understanding this can enhance our marketing and customer relationships. It’s essential to conside

What's up, basketball trainers? Today, I’m just giving you an update to maintain consistency and connect with you all. We're currently down 30% in trainees and revenue year over year, which isn't great news. However, we're improving our skills, systems, and team communication, which I'm happy about. We've had some growing pains with our lease relationship, but we're moving forward. If you own your own gym, kudos to you! I haven’t experienced those specific challenges, but I understand both sides have their struggles. Right now, our rent is increasing by 50%, and we just moved all our equipment out of the gym. Despite these challenges, I feel a sense of peace and excitement to continue learning and improving. One key thing I’ve learned is the importance of "hiring" to buy back your time, as Dan Martell suggests. For instance, hiring a high schooler interested in business can help you focus on growth. Big companies spend a lot to identify problems, as defin

Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to the podcast. If you're a basketball trainer, I hope you find some valuable insights here. SN: If you're watching online, don't mind the Disney shirt—I'm recording all at once, so yes, it's the same shirt from Monday. I'm really fascinated by Disney from a business perspective because they generate $60 billion a year and their stories resonate with both kids and adults. But today, I'm not here to talk about Disney. Instead, I want to share something unorthodox: my interest in ants. I was observing ants recently and reflecting on Proverbs 6:6-8, which teaches about diligence and preparation. Ants work tirelessly without a boss, stockpiling food for winter. This proverb reminds us to adopt good habits now to avoid laziness and prepare for tougher times ahead. I see a parallel between ants and us. Like ants, we can achieve much more together than alone. This is why I'm keen on finding another basketball training partner with flexible hours—it&#

What's up, basketball trainers? In today's quick podcast, I want to share a challenge we're currently facing in our basketball training business, Hoops University. This season is usually peak time for us, with kids out of school, but we're not technically a higher learning institution despite our name. I recently realized, similar to how medical residents learn under supervision, we could adopt a similar model. Instead of focusing solely on marketing and recruiting, our main constraint right now is having enough trainers to meet the demand. The idea is to transition from being owner-operators to just owners, by bringing in people who are eager to continue their basketball education under our guidance. I've been thinking a lot about recruiting and training new trainers. Finding the right teammates can feel like college basketball again with the camaraderie and teamwork. However, it's crucial to ensure they meet our standards and are well-received by parents. Inspired by Dan Martell'

I was catching up with Daniel Fowler, reminiscing about our basketball days and how we've transitioned into new careers. We agreed that reliability and camaraderie are key in pickup games, values we learned at Furman University. Daniel also shared his journey from being a basketball player to a financial advisor, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he faced. Hearing about his intense financial exam studies and the personal financial habits he's developed as an advisor was inspiring, showing how the discipline and integrity from our basketball days continue to shape our lives. Takeaways from this podcast episode: Reliability and camaraderie are important in pickup games and can contribute to a positive experience. Values such as caring, urgency, and diligence learned from basketball can be applied to business and other aspects of life. Transitioning to a new career requires taking a leap of faith and being open to new experiences. Studying for financial exams can be challenging, but

What's up, basketball trainers?In today's episode, I discussed two intriguing topics: the similarities between pickup basketball and running a basketball training business, and a thought experiment about the replaceability of coaches versus trainers. Reflecting on my early morning pickup game, where we lost by two points, I realized how both scenarios involve performing without an audience, emphasizing personal standards over external validation. This mirrors our backend work in training, where we strive to over-deliver despite fatigue or life's challenges. Competing in pickup games is akin to our business approach—focusing on personal goals rather than competing against others, ensuring we provide high-quality training regardless of external pressures. I also delved into the debate of whether it's easier to replace a coach or a trainer. While coaches might seem easier to replace due to their higher teachability and the less rigorous demands of running practices, trainers offer a more speciali