Episode 213: Josh Merkel, Lessons From Building a National Championship Program
Guest: Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon Head Coach
Randolph-Macon head coach Josh Merkel joins the Basketball Podcast to share lessons from building a national championship program.
In 2021-22, Randolph Macon won its first national championship with the largest margin of victory in NCAA DIII history. The team won a program-best 33 games and capped a remarkable run of success for the program during Merkel’s time there. Merkel has made four trips to the NCAA tourney and has the most NCAA wins in program history. He has been ODAC Coach of the Year five times and was named the Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
The program is 148-38 in Merkel’s seven seasons as head coach. He also engineered a 12-0 record during the 2020-21 campaign. Josh Merkel is the first coach or player to win one of CollegeInsider.com awards in consecutive seasons.
Breakdown
1:00 - Introduction
4:30 - Every Player Doesn't Shoot the Same
7:30 - Player Led Block
10:30 - All-Star Game Concept
12:30 - Building Connection
15:30 - Truth over Harmony
18:00 - Respond to Mistakes
19:00 - Footwork
22:00 - The Mouse Game
25:00 - Two Foot Playing Off Two Foot
29:00 - Ignition and Asking Too Many Questions
32:00 - Language
36:30 - Coaching with Constraints
40:00 - Feedback Loop
45:00 - 50 Point Game
51:00 - Defensive Outstanding Program
53:00 - Valuing Individual Differences
56:00 - Building a Championship Program
58:00 - Conclusion
Josh Merkel’s Bio:
Bio: https://www.rmcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Merkel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshmerkel4
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