Eric Olen: 5-Out Ball Screen Motion Offense

with Eric Olen,
University of New Mexico Head Coach;
UC San Diego Head Coach from 2013 to 2025;
2025 Big West Regular Season Champions;
2025 Big West Tournament Champions;
2x Big West Coach of the Year (2024, 2025);
2025 NABC Pacific District Coach of the Year;
3x CCAA Regular Season Champions (2017, 2019, 2020);
4x CCAA Tournament Champions;
2x CCAA Coach of the Year (2017, 2020);
All-time winningest coach in UCSD history (240-119)

Coach Eric Olen shares his 5-Out Ball Screen Offense and how he successfully employed it to lead UC San Diego to a Big West Conference Championship, an impressive 30-5 record, and an NCAA Division I Tournament berth in their first-ever year of D-I NCAA tournament eligibility.

Ball Screen Concepts
Coach Olen begins by explaining his offensive philosophy built around concepts rather than set plays. His system is anchored by three main principles: set a ball screen anytime and anywhere, define each player's role, and connect actions through a single player. This structure promotes freedom within rules, creating unpredictability that keeps defenses honest and helps players play with confidence. The connection through one player ensures seamless flow and eliminates confusion about where or who sets the next screen.

5-Out Spacing
Coach Olen demonstrates three primary spacing alignments within the 5-Out Ball Screen Motion: 1 Behind, 2 Behind, and Empty.
1 Behind features one player behind the ball screen (often a corner lift), while 2 Behind positions two players behind the ball for balance and spacing. The Empty alignment creates an open corner ball screen on the wing, ideal for attacking driving lanes and forcing defensive shifts.

Ball Screen Reads
Once the screen is set, the ball handler and screener each have specific reads, dictating the movements of off-ball players. For example, if the ball handler refuses the screen, the screener automatically pops. Each spacing has its own built-in reactions to ensure continuous flow and pressure on the defense. Olen's emphasis on decision-making and spacing teaches players how to read and counter defensive adjustments in real time.

Q&A and Live Demonstrations
Throughout the session, Coach Olen engages in live Q&A, fielding real coaching questions that lead to deeper insight into how his teams maintain rhythm through multiple ball screen actions. He shows how to start with a random screen, connect to the next, and maintain tempo without resetting the offense.

Drills and Transition Flow
To reinforce these concepts, Coach Olen concludes with three on-court drills that train players in reading defenses, reacting correctly, and flowing naturally from transition into the 5-out motion. These drills make the system teachable and repeatable at any level of play.

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67 minutes. 2025.