Visit https://teachhoops.com/ The fastest way to change your program is not a new offense. It is the people sitting next to you. In this episode we get into how to choose assistants, what to look for beyond basketball knowledge, and the warning signs that a hire is going to cost you more than it gives you. Hire for character before basketball IQ You can teach a system. You cannot teach loyalty, work ethic, or how somebody treats a kid who is not playing. We talk about what to watch for before you ever ask a basketball question. Do not hire a copy of yourself If you are the fiery one, find somebody steady. If you are the teacher, find somebody who can bring energy. The staff should cover your weaknesses, not stack up on your strengths. The truth teller seat Every staff needs one person who will tell you when you are wrong, in private, without flinching. If nobody on your bench will do that, you are coaching alone. We talk about how to find that person and how to make it safe for them to speak. Defining roles before the season starts Scouting, player development, practice planning, film, communication with parents, academics. Write it down. Confusion about who owns what shows up in February when everybody is tired. Ambition and the guy who wants your job Ambition is not a problem. Hidden ambition is. We talk about how to handle an assistant who wants to be a head coach and why that can be great for your program if you handle it right. Volunteers, parents, and former players Each brings something and each brings a complication. We break down the real tradeoffs, especially when you are hiring a parent of a current player. The bench presence test How does this person act during a bad stretch? Do they add to the noise or steady the room? Watch a candidate at somebody else's game before you decide. Letting an assistant go Nobody wants this conversation. We talk about doing it honestly and early instead of dragging a bad fit through a whole season. Character and reliability outrank basketball knowledge every time. Build a staff that complements you instead of echoing you. Protect the person who is willing to disagree with you. Put roles in writing before the first practice. Support an assistant's ambition openly and they will give you everything they have. A bad fit does not get better by waiting. Write down the three biggest weaknesses in how you run your program. Now look at your current staff and ask which of those three is actually covered. Whatever is left uncovered is your next hire. Practice plans, drills, staff development tools, and the full coaching library at https://teachhoops.com/ Join the community and talk staff building with coaches who have been through it. Subscribe to Coach Unplugged so you never miss an episode. Leave a rating and review, it helps other coaches find the show. Have a question or a topic you want covered? Send it in and we may take it on the air. Picking Assistant Coaches: Who Do You Really Want Next to You on That Bench?Building a staff that tells you the truth, covers your blind spots, and does not need the creditEpisode OverviewIn This EpisodeKey TakeawaysCoach's ChallengeResourcesConnect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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