Episode 147: Mike Kelly, Turning It Around from One Year to the Next

Guest: Mike Kelly, Cairns Taipans’ Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, Cairns Taipans' head coach Mike Kelly joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss turning it around from one year to the next, plus how to install a competitive team culture and empower your players.

Coach Kelly is the current head coach of the Cairns Taipans of the NBL in Australia. His Cairns Taipan team went from 6-22 in his first season, to 16-12 in his second season. He began his tenure with the club in 2018 as head coach. In just his second season Kelly tripled the team's wins and lead the team to the NBL semi-finals. In the 2019 season, he won the NBL Coach of the year award and established the Taipans as a contender. Prior to coaching with the Taipans, Mike Kelly was a successful associate head coach in the NBL with Melbourne United. Kelly made a major impact in Melbourne and had an influence on the team's 2017 title run.

Breakdown

1:00 - Next Level

4:00 - On the Right Track

7:00 - Establishing Culture and Philosophy

11:00 - Offseason Priorities

16:00 - Competitiveness

18:30 - Ideal Personnel

20:30 - Winning Mindset

24:00 - Right Direction

26:00 - Establishing Roles

30:00 - Multiple Conversation

32:00 - Keeping it Simple