Basketball and Life: with Coach Jon Cook

Welcome to Talkin' Hoops: With Coach Jon Cook! Episode 1 is an introduction to Coach Cook and his unique background and a look at his vision for the podcast.

Hi1 I am Coach Jon Cook and I am excited to be jumping into the podcast game! I love talkin' hoops at every level and in every way. From high school to the pros; from coaches to players; from X's and O's to game recaps; from teaching to player development and even just debating the hot topics of the day. If you're a basketball junkie like me, I hope you'll enjoy Talkin' Hoops: With Coach Jon Cook.

I have often referred to the coaching profession as a fraternity or brotherhood, and it is. However, it is also a highly competitive and sometimes ego-driven profession as well. Because of that nearly everyone who has spent any time in coaching likely has members of the fraternity whom he/she dislikes. Likewise, those of us who have spent time in the coaching ranks are likely to have coaches who dislike us. It is just a fact of life in coaching. Except, it seems, for Kirk Lehman. I have been around high school coaching in Ohio for more than 25 years, and I have never heard anyone speak about Kirk Lehman that doesn't seem to absolutely love the guy. That is just one reason that I am so excited to have him on the podcast. Coach Lehman has had a remarkable journey in high school coaching. After a playing career at Ohio University, Coach Lehman was an assistant at Logan High School. He became the head coach at Rossford High School and after a tumultuous ending to his time there, he was out of high school coaching for a number of years before taking over the program at his alma mater, Defiance High School, where he won an improbable state title in 2017. Coach Lehman retired after the 2020 season. Please enjoy my visit with Kirk Lehman of Defiance High School.

How many coaches have a resume that includes a year of high school assistant coaching while working for a tree service, a stint as a Division II assistant, followed by a graduate assistant position under Bob Knight and time spent at a Texas junior college? All of those are a part Brooks Miller's coaching journey. Coach Miller is the head basketball coach at Trine University, an NCAA Division III school in Angola, Indiana. Under Miller's leadership, The Thunder have become a perennial contender in the MIAA, and on the national scene in Division III basketball. Please enjoy my conversation with Brooks Miller of Trine University.