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Elevate Your Game

Stop Guessing—Start Knowing Your Shot

by Shawn Jones on Apr 6, 2026

I’ve asked this question more times than I can count: “How’d you shoot today?” And I usually get the same answers. “Pretty good.” “Solid.” “Felt good.” And every time, I find myself thinking the same thing… based on what? Most players aren’t really sure. They’re…

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Let Them Compete

by Shawn Jones on Mar 30, 2026

One thing I’ve always believed as a coach—athletes want to compete. It’s in them. Sometimes it’s loud and obvious, sometimes it’s buried a little deeper, but it’s there. The question is whether we’re giving them the opportunity to bring it out every single day. Too…

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I Can’t Lie to Myself

by Shawn Jones on Mar 23, 2026

There’s a quiet battle that every athlete fights—and most don’t talk about it. It’s not about talent. It’s not about coaching. It’s about honesty. If we’re being real, we’ve all lied to ourselves at some point. We tell ourselves we worked harder than we did….

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Why Great Programs Never Stop Looking for an Edge

by Shawn Jones on Mar 23, 2026

If you spend enough time around championship programs, you start to notice something. The coaches who win the most are rarely the ones who relax. In fact, they’re usually the ones working the hardest to find the next edge. That’s exactly what you see when you…

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Why Defense Still Wins Championships

by Jordan Green on Mar 16, 2026

“Defense wins championships.” You’ve heard it a thousand times in locker rooms, film sessions, and postgame interviews. It’s one of the oldest sayings in sports, and yet every season it keeps proving itself true. In an era of highlight plays, deep threes, and fast-paced offense,…

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Talk Early. Talk Often. Win Together.

by Shawn Jones on Mar 5, 2026

Communication is one of the most powerful tools a team can develop. First and foremost, off the floor, the number one component of effective communication is listening. Teach your players, and yourself, that listening is just as important, if not more important, than talking. Second,…

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The Coach’s Advantage (Ed. 10): The Little Things Win

by Shawn Jones on Mar 3, 2026

This week’s edition of The Coach’s Advantage is live on Substack — delivering another three-part edge: one play, one drill, and one mental strategy you can plug into your program immediately. Edition Ten focuses on the small details that separate good teams from great ones….

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How to Hold Players Accountable AND Keep Their Confidence Intact

by Shawn Jones on Mar 2, 2026

There is a fine line between holding players accountable and still allowing them the freedom to find confidence in themselves and their skills. Coaches want perfection, or at least they should. Will they ever get perfection? No. That’s why they should push for it and…

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The Coach’s Advantage (Ed. 9): Prepared Before the Pressure

by Shawn Jones on Feb 24, 2026

This week’s edition of The Coach’s Advantage is live on Substack — delivering another three-part edge: one play, one drill, and one mental strategy you can plug into your program immediately. Edition Nine focuses on preparation before pressure hits. We break down a Princeton quick-hitter…

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Discipline Wins. Relationships Sustain.

by Shawn Jones on Feb 24, 2026

I’ve been an Athletic Director and Head Coach in Texas for 30 years. Balancing discipline and accountability in your program is like walking a rope 30 stories above the ground. You either find balance, or you fall. Over the years, I’ve learned some valuable lessons…

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