Love In Basketball

This episode is a conversation with R-Jay Barsh. I found this to be a conversation filled with generous silence. Coach Barsh explores his journey of listening to his own heart and own mind through silence and challenge, to ground and center in his gifts rather than chasing the perceptions of others. Along the way he highlights the power of feedback loops, laying your arrogance down, and empathetic listening.
R-Jay Barsh is an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Boise State University. Coach Barsh has been an assistant coach for the Broncos for 2 seasons, and Boise State is coming off a 19-win season with an appearance in the NIT. Prior to Boise State, Coach Barsh previously served as the head coach at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. While with SEU, Coach Barsh led the Fire to three NAIA Division II National Tournament appearances, including an NAIA Fab Four run. Coach Barsh was also an assistant coach at Tacoma Community College, and the University at Puget Sound. His time at TCC included three Western Region titles and an NWACC championship.
Further Resources:

• "Practicing Servant-Leadership" edited by Larry Spears and Michele Lawrence
• "Forgiveness and Power in the Age of Atrocity" by Shann Ray Ferch
• 12. Shann Ray Ferch, Ph.D. - Professor of Leadership & Forgiveness Studies, Gonzaga University
• "The Obstacle is the Way" by Ryan Holiday

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Adam is here today with a programming update.
We had taken some time away from producing episodes of the podcast in April and May. We used this time for restoration, recording conversations with guests, and improving the podcast. A couple big life transitions took place for Adam during this time as well, and some time away from the podcast helped to give him a bit more space.
While we returned in June with three profound conversations, some of those transitions are still taking place for Adam. And it’s made producing episodes in a way that provides a fuller picture and deeper understandings of servant-leadership, a bit more difficult. So we’re taking a step back again to provide a bit more grace and ensure each episode is of the quality we’re wanting.
We’ll return as soon as we’re able. Our first episode back will be a solo episode exploring Adult Human Development Models and Servant-Leadership.
In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our previous episodes. Catch up on the conversations you haven’t yet listened to, or maybe even revisit the episodes you have. And if you’re new to the podcast, our foundational episode, 1. What Is Servant-Leadership?, offers a great place to begin.
And we have some really impactful episodes already recorded that will be coming up here soon. Each conversation features deeper understandings and actionable insights to support you on your journey towards becoming a servant-leader.
Thank you for your grace, patience, and understanding during this time. We're so excited to continue to explore servant-leadership and share Love In Basketball with you.

This episode is a conversation with Chris Acker. I found this to be a conversation filled with partnership. Coach Acker explores what it looks like for him to walk alongside, and partner with the student-athletes he serves to support the achievement of their goals, a collective effort, and build community, rather than imposing coach-led goals that resulted in the diminishment of others previously in his career. Along the way, he explores cultivating an awareness of others’ needs, listening well vs. listening poorly, and why the best ability might be availability.
Chris Acker is an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at San Diego State University. Coach Acker has been an assistant coach for the Aztecs for two seasons, and is recognized as a top-five assistant coach in the Mountain West Conference by his peers. San Diego State is coming off a Mountain West Conference championship, and a trip to the NCAA tournament. And during his first season at San Diego State, the Aztecs finished with a 30-2 record, starting the season 26-0. Prior to San Diego State, Coach Acker served as an assistant coach at Boise State, and Hawaii. And Coach Acker also previously served as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at West Los Angeles College for two seasons.
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This episode is a conversation with Robert Lucero. I found this to be a conversation filled with empathy. Coach Lucero explores some of the ways he routinely takes the perspectives of those he serves, both his staff and his student-athletes, while reflecting on how ego, an inward mindset, and maybe lack of empathy might have resulted in a bit more diminishment of others previously in his career. Along the way, he highlights honest and loving communication, building community or giving others a place to belong, and serving first.
Robert Lucero is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Westlake High School in Austin, TX. During his seven seasons as head coach of the Chaparrals, Coach Lucero has compiled a 210 win - 34 loss record. His tenure includes two appearances in the state tournament, one in 2018, and again this past season. Westlake’s 2020-21 season ended with a top-25 national ranking, a 30-2 record, an undefeated run through district play, and advancing to the State Championship game. Coach Lucero has also been named District Coach of the Year three times, All-Central Texas coach of the year two times, and TABC Class 5A Coach of the Year. Prior to Westlake High School, Coach Lucero also served as the head coach at Hays High School for one season.
Further Reading:

• Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

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This episode is a conversation with Rick Croy. I found this to be a conversation filled with healing, and exploring the healing potential of servant-leadership for ourselves and others. Coach Croy explores his recognition of the opportunity to help make whole those with whom he comes into contact, using healing in leadership as a force for transformation and integration. Along the way, he highlights creating an environment that allows for others to share, listening without trying to fix, and shifting focus from the career and professional hunt towards greater service to others.
Rick Croy is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at California Baptist University. During his 8 seasons as head coach of the Lancers, Coach Croy has compiled a 182 win - 63 loss record. CBU earned an NCAA tournament birth each season of Coach Croy’s tenure in Division II competition from 2014-2018, and the Lancers broke the NCAA record most wins in the first two seasons of the transition period into NCAA Division-I men’s basketball. In addition to time as an assistant coach at UC Riverside and St. Mary’s College, Coach Croy was also a highly successful head coach at Citrus College, winning the California Community College Athletic Association state championship in 2008. From Citrus College to CBU, each season of Coach Croy’s career as a head coach has finished with a winning record.
Further Resources:

• "The Servant As Leader" by Robert Greenleaf
• 10. Frank Allocco, Sr. - Univ. of San Francisco Athletics

With the end of the college basketball season, the Love In Basketball podcast will also take a break for a few weeks. We’ll use this as time for restoration, improving the podcast, and recording new conversations with guests. We won’t be off for too long, so stay tuned. Maybe revisit conversations, listen to previous episodes you haven’t yet listened to, or continue your learnings on servant-leadership with resources provided through the show notes.
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