Episode 132: Dale Wellman, Playing Fast and Free with the Princeton Offense

Guest: Dale Wellman, Nebraska Wesleyan University Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Nebraska Wesleyan University head coach Dale Wellman joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss playing fast and free in the Princeton offense. Coach Wellman’s system took the program to 22 wins in 2015-16 (their most in 18 years), and then, amazingly to a Division III title in year four in 2018.

Dale Wellman, the 2018 NABC/NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year, enters his fifth season as head men’s basketball coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2018-19. He led the Prairie Wolves to the program’s first-ever national championship in 2018 as NWU finished the season with a school-record 30 victories and only three losses.

Wellman received National Coach of the Year honors from three different organizations for the 2017-18 season. He was also the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year for a second straight season and received West Region Coach of the Year honors. In each of his four seasons, Wellman has received coach-of-the-year recognition.

Breakdown

1:00 - Fast Freedom in Princeton Offense

3:00 - Playing Fast

6:30 - Loyola Marymount Influence

9:00 - Makes and Misses

12:30 - Post ups

15:00 - Defining Shot Selections

18:30 - Reads and Decision Making

21:30 - Sympathy and Empathy

26:00 - Running Full Speed

28:00 - Play Defense in Practice

30:00 - Enjoying the Experience of Playing