Secrets to a Great Half Court Offense: A Proven Plan to Improve Execution

with Jarrod Calhoun,
University of Cincinnati Head Coach;
Utah State Head Coach from 2024 to 2026;
2026 Mountain West Conference Regular Season Champions;
2026 Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions;
2026 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year;
Youngstown State University Head Men's Coach from 2017 to 2024;
2023 Horizon Coach of the Year;
2023 Horizon Regular Season Champions;
2023 NABC District 12 Coach of the Year;
Holds program records for most conference wins and most wins in a four-year span;
Fairmont State University Head Coach from 2012 to 2017;
2017 Division II NCAA National Championship Runner-up;
4x NCAA Tournament appearances;
West Virginia Assistant Coach from 2007 to 2012 (with Bob Huggins);
Walsh University Assistant Coach from 2004 to 2007;
2005 NAIA National Championship;
Cincinnati Student Assistant from 2003 to 2004 (with Bob Huggins);
played at Cleveland State (for Rollie Massimino)

Jerrod Calhoun focuses on teaching your players ‘how to play’ versus running set plays. The emphasis on player decision-making develops versatile athletes who can adapt to any system. 

In addition, you’ll also learn that by teaching players how to read defensive cues, your offense becomes more unpredictable, harder to scout and much more difficult to defend.

Swap Offense

Coach Calhoun shows how to construct an offense that features free-flowing movement and multiple cuts and screens. Multiple actions in the half-court are a challenge for any defense and the head coach of the Penguins unveils his ‘Swap Offense’ – a diverse, strategic attack that contains numerous variations of cuts and screens that keep the defense under constant attack.

Some of the sets and action that are taught in this video include 5-out spacing techniques that emphasizes scoring within the first 6 to 8 seconds of the shot clock, hard-to-guard dribble-handoff (DHO) actions that occur ‘uphill’ and multiple cuts that take advantage of defensive switching and help

Coach Calhoun also includes offensive sets to run after made baskets and after free throws. These sets build on the basic offensive principles presented and add an extra element of aggressiveness to your offensive toolkit.

‘Fast Series,’ Drills & Program Building Tactics

Coach Calhoun introduces his ‘Fast Series,’ which is a spread look with 5-out formations and, once again, creates multiple double- and single-tag situations for the defense. This offense also utilizes more uphill dribble-handoffs which place the defense in high conflict.

Coach Calhoun also moves through scenarios he calls ‘playing after the play.’ Once your players have moved through one of your spread sets out of the Fast Series, he demonstrates how you continue to use the spread formation and play through multiple options such as ‘Middle,’ ‘Quick’ and ‘Strong Quick.’ During this time, you will learn how to utilize step up screens to create paint and rim touches, as well as how to combat strong denial teams.  

Coach Calhoun shows you shooting drills and drills that work on spacing, improving your situational pick-and-roll offense, passing and cutting. 

As an added bonus, Calhoun also takes the time to discuss program building and shares a variety of ideas that coaches can use to build their program including community outreach, monthly student-faculty dinners, and fundraising methods.

Improve your offensive production with this excellent video about building a conceptual offense!

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars. ‘Unique ideas presented in a compelling, high energy style. Excellent! Coach Calhoun provides concepts a high school coach can use that many have never seen –this information will give them an advantage!’

61 minutes. 2023.