Last week saw Michigan coach Dusty May confer with Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy and Charlotte Hornets assistant Josh Longstaff, following a day with the Miami Heat staff, in a testament to his pursuit of excellence and learning. One of his learning resources is the Slappin’ Glass Podcast, a word-of-mouth hit among coaches that has gained renown for its insightful interviews and content tailored for coaching professionals. Having featured A-list coaching talents such as Rick Pitino, Mike D’Antoni, and John Beilein, the podcast has become a learning platform for coaches and basketball fanatics alike.
The podcast was conceived over drinks in Berlin by former teammates turned coaches, Dan Krikorian and Pat Carney. Krikorian had transitioned from a music career into coaching, becoming the head coach at his high school alma mater, and later, at Chapman University. On the other hand, Carney had a 12-year professional basketball career in Germany, after which he shifted into coaching too. The friends stayed in touch and often shared ideas about basketball tactics, which eventually led Krikorian to suggest they turn their analysis into a podcast.
The suggestion gained traction a year later when they were discussing the motion offense of Division III Yeshiva University. Intrigued by Yeshiva’s offense, which mirrored Bob Knight’s system at Indiana, Krikorian and Carney set up a Zoom call with Yeshiva’s coach, Elliot Steinmetz. Krikorian motioned to record the call, which could be their podcast’s first episode. After the first installment published in August 2020, they started their weekly podcast routine, which initially attracted a small audience but soon grew as they featured popular basketball personalities.
The Slappin’ Glass Podcast has gained notoriety due to the insightful discussions on various coaching techniques, rather than focusing on scintillating narratives. Its hosts’ consequent research enables them to quiz their guests on intricate subject matter, making their podcast an insightful educational resource for coaches. Their signature segment, “Start, Sub, Sit”, asks guests to rank different topics, making it an engaging and informative platform.
Krikorian and Carney’s strong bonds with figures like Jeff Van Gundy have helped them invite well-known personas to their podcast. However, they take the most pride in their podcast not necessarily depending on significant names for success, instead providing an opportunity for talented but unrewarded coaches to share their expertise. The podcast has grown to have multiple sponsors, averages 30,000 – 40,000 downloads per month and has a newsletter boasting over 7,000 subscribers.
Apart from growing their podcast, this venture has given the pair an opportunity to develop meaningful relationships within the basketball fraternity, bolstering their coaching careers. Carney joined Martin Schiller, the head coach of the German under-20 national team, after an interview with him and Krikorian now enjoys an enviable network of advisors. Their success in crossing borders and sharing a wealth of international basketball coaching wisdom stands as proof of the changing global basketball dynamic.
