Building A Team Culture | Jim Stergar

What makes a basketball program truly special? 🏀In this episode, Coach Jim Stergar shares decades of wisdom on building culture, keeping practice fresh, and creating traditions players remember for life.

Coach Stergar dives into the story behind the legendary Hog Weasel Game, a tradition that started as a simple inner-squad scrimmage and evolved into a community event players talk about long after graduation. More than just fun, it’s a masterclass in culture-building and buy-in.

We also explore how to keep practices competitive without burning players out, why fun and discipline are not opposites, and how great coaches simplify the game so players can play instinctively. Coach Stergar explains how he structures practice to touch every part of the game, build habits over time, and avoid the trap of over-coaching fundamentals.

This conversation is packed with practical ideas for high school and college coaches, including creative conditioning, competitive practice games, player motivation, and how traditions can anchor a program for decades.

If you’re a coach looking to build something bigger than wins and losses, this one is for you. 🔥

Topics covered in this episode include:• The origin and impact of the Hog Weasel Game• How traditions create long-term buy-in• Keeping practice fresh without losing fundamentals• Simplifying defense and closeouts• Competitive games that teach rebounding and toughness• Conditioning that builds team accountability• Balancing fun, discipline, and player development• Why culture outlasts any single season

If you’re a basketball coach who cares about culture, player development, and long-term program success, make sure to subscribe and share this episode with your staff. 🏀New episodes drop weekly with coaches who are doing it the right way.

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