Episode 179: Jarvis Hayes, Assistant Coach, Georgia State University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Jarvis Hayes, assistant men’s basketball coach at Georgia State University. A former NBA player and standout at the University of Georgia, Hayes was selected 10th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He enjoyed a seven-year NBA career followed by several seasons overseas. After retiring from playing, Hayes began his coaching career as an assistant at Morehouse College. He later joined Georgia State, where he brings a wealth of professional experience and on-court insight to the program. Known for his player development skills and calm demeanor, Coach Hayes has quickly made an impact on the collegiate level. In this episode we talk about what his playing career has taught him about coaching, some of the strongest tendencies to take away as a coach and what mindset more coaches should focus on in the profession.
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Episode 178: Herman Mandole, Head Coach, Manchester Basketball
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Herman Mandole, the head basketball coach at Manchester Basketball. Originally from Argentina, Mandole began his coaching career as an assistant with Club Atlético San Lorenzo and Club Atlético Olímpico. He then served with Argentina’s national team before moving to Japan’s men’s national program, holding both assistant and head coaching roles. In 2022, he took a position in Italy as an assistant and was later promoted to head coach. In 2025, he took over at Manchester and has quickly revitalized the program. His international experience brings a unique perspective to player development and team culture. Manchester made a major leap under his leadership, rising from the bottom of the standings to a top-four finish. In this episode we talk about the first steps he incorporated once taking over as head coach, the building blocks that led to Manchester's turnaround in their program and major differences from international basketball to basketball in the USA.
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Episode 177: Chris Caputo, Head Coach, George Washington University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Chris Caputo, head men’s basketball coach at George Washington University. Coach Caputo began his coaching career as a student assistant at Westfield State before joining Jim Larrañaga’s staff at George Mason. He was part of the legendary 2006 George Mason Final Four run and followed Larrañaga to the University of Miami, where he spent over a decade, eventually becoming associate head coach. In 2022, Caputo was named the head coach at GW, bringing with him a reputation for player development, recruiting, and defensive intensity. He’s helped develop multiple NBA players and led Miami to several NCAA Tournament appearances. At GW, he’s focused on building a competitive, connected culture in the A-10. In this episode we talk about how his first coaching stops came about through connections, what he looks for as a head coach in the hiring of an assistant and mistakes he sees young coaches make when trying to network and grow in the industry.
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Episode 176: Matt McCall, Former Chatanooga and UMass Head Coach, Current NBC Game Analyst
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Matt McCall, former head coach at UMass and Chattanooga, and current game analyst with NBC. Coach McCall began his coaching career as a student manager and later graduate assistant under Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. He went on to serve as an assistant at Florida Atlantic and then returned to Florida as an assistant coach during two Final Four runs. In 2015, McCall was named head coach at Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs to a 29-6 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season. He later took over the UMass program, guiding them through five seasons of transition and growth. Now a respected voice in the media, McCall brings coaching insight to his analyst role with NBC. In this episode we speak on his mindset in his early years of his coaching career, experiences in his 7 years as a head coach and what he has taken away now from the analyst side of the game.
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Episode 175: Steve Ridder, Head Coach, Embry-Riddle University
On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Steve Ridder, the legendary head men’s basketball coach at Embry-Riddle University. Ridder took over the program in 1989 and has since built it from the ground up into a nationally recognized powerhouse. Before arriving at Embry-Riddle, he was an assistant coach at Berea Community High School in Kentucky. Under his leadership, Embry-Riddle won the NAIA National Championship in 2000 and made multiple deep national tournament runs. Ridder has earned over 700 career wins and countless Coach of the Year honors. He also led the transition of the program into NCAA Division II, continuing its tradition of excellence. In this episode we talk about changing a program from a losing program to a winning program, what he looks to instill in his players and coaches and staying loyal to a program for 36+ years.
From young assistants to head coaches, Rising Coaches sits down with some of the brightest minds in basketball to talk about their rise through the profession and what they are working on now.
Österreich