The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

with John Beilein,Detroit Pistons (NBA) Senior Player Development Advisor;
Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) Head Coach - 2019 to 2021;
University of Michigan Head Coach - 2007 to 2019;
2019 Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award;
2018 CBS Sports National Coach of the Year;
2018 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Runner-up;
2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year;
2x Final Four appearances (2013, 2018);
2x Big Ten Regular Season Champions (2012, 2014);
2x Big Ten Tournament Champions (2017, 2018);
University of Richmond Head Coach - 1997 to 2002;
1998 CAA Coach of the Year (University of Richmond);
Canisius College Head Coach - 1992 to 1997;
1994 MAAC Coach of the Year (at Canisius College; inducted into the Canisius College Sports Hall of Fame in September 2019)

John Beilein has managed to find a recipe for success with every situation he has found himself in over a long coaching career that has ranged from high school teams, to college underdogs, to major college programs, and now as the head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. Across the decades, Beilein has been able to study the universal truths of what works in basketball no matter the level of competition or the current trends of the sport. In this video, you will get a chance to learn what you should prioritize with your basketball team thanks to the insights of Coach Beilein.

Culture and Values

Even as trends in basketball change, the culture you establish will always have the greatest impact on your program's ultimate success. Coach Beilein discusses how you can set the tone at the top through the actions you take every day. Many examples are further examined such as treating people with compassion, hiring a coaching staff that honor your values, living with integrity, treating yourself right, and more.

A special emphasis is placed on the importance of creating a positive relationship with your players. If you want players to work their hardest for you over a long season, then you will want to hear what Coach Beilein has to say! You will also learn the five core values that Beilein taught to his players at the University of Michigan. Even as the personality of each generation changes with time, the ideas provided will empower you to connect with your players and be a positive mentor.

"Constants" Drills

There are many ways to play the game and new tactics are constantly introduced that will continue to change the style of basketball into the future. Coach Beilein shows you some of the constants that have allowed him to succeed at every stop in his coaching career.

Beilein tells you why and how he prioritizes skill development through the entire year. You will see examples of how drills can be measured to increase accountability with your players, such as with the "Double Mikans" and "60 Threes in Five Minutes" drills. You will also see how to improve the footwork and passing of your players with drills such as the "Perfect Passing Drill" and "Five Star Passing." These drills will teach athletes how to shot fake, pivot in both directions, jump stop, and explode with their first dribble.

Coach Beilein also demonstrates how much of his style of play is tailored to the talents of his players. You will see how he alters his approach to offensive rebounding and transition defense based on the scouting report. This flexible system will help you optimize this phase of the game by changing how many players you send to crash the boards or drop back in coverage. You will also see how the "5-Man Weave" can be used to work on transition defense through different situations. Beilein includes different strategies for weak-side spacing and movement on ball screens based on the ability of your point guard. Additionally, he discusses how they regularly change their tactics for closing out on defense depending on the shooting ability of their opponent.

Whether you're a beginning coach or one with a few years of experience in search of more program consistency, the coaching philosophies and "constants" showcased by Coach Beilein in this video will get you and your team moving in the right direction!

46 minutes. 2019.