Top college coaches gather in Pittsburgh to impart wisdom to WPIAL staffs

Abby Schnable / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Over 200 people spent their Sunday at the RIZE Sports Coaches Clinic to learn from some of college basketball’s greats. Pitt’s Jeff Capel, Duquesne’s Dru Joyce III, Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Arkansas’ John Calipari and Robert Morris’ Andrew Toole joined Hall of Famer Bob Hurley to present to coaches at the newer facility.

RIZE sports was created back in 2023 to provide support to Pittsburgh’s youth basketball programs. This event was created to continue to grow the sport by bringing some big-name coaches in to teach locals about everything from ball screen offense to how to run an efficient practice to defensive transitions. Many coaches from across the WPIAL and the City league flocked to the facility in Leetsdale to attend the free clinic and learn from some big names.

“More than 200 high school coaches and their staff participated, and our focus was on sharing experiences, digging into skills and inspiring our high school coaches ahead of the season,” said Thomas Tull, an entrepreneur who lives in Pittsburgh and is a supporter of USA Basketball and board member for the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Everyone who was part of this event knows the deep impact basketball can have on a young boy or girl’s life. We were honored that they were willing to come and spend their Sunday with us to strengthen basketball in Pittsburgh.”

It’s a testament to Tull’s impact in the basketball world. The part-owner of the Steelers has always made an effort to give back to the community, but this specific mission is special to him because basketball is a big part of his life.

He’s been around many coaches that have inspired him throughout the years. He brought in these six coaches to inspire the current crop of high school coaches so that they can teach the next generation. Tull wanted to give the local coaches exposure to these great basketball minds.

In lieu of a stage, presenters used the court and spoke to the coaches as they took notes from the bleachers. RIZE provided demonstrators — a group of 10 athletes from Carnegie Mellon and Chatham — to allow for a more interactive approach. It allowed people to see the concepts being talked about in action. Some even pulled out their phones to record various drills over the day.

Calipari didn’t rely on demonstrators, but he did use the entirety of the court over the course of his 45-minute session on offensive principals. The Arkansas coach grew up in Pittsburgh and attended Moon Area High School. Not only was he able to give back to the community that helped him to where he is now, but he was able to get in some family time, too.

“Thomas , who I believe is doing a lot to pick up basketball in this area, he asked me,” Calipari said. “It was an easy ‘yes.’ And I get a chance to come home. So I saw my high school coach and my college coach, Joe DeGregorio, Bill Sacco, this morning. Then I saw my aunt, I got to spend time with her, and now I go back. But Thomas, he's doing good stuff, and I think all of us are here because he asked us to be here.”

Capel was up next and he discussed the intricacies of having a good practice. He pulled examples straight from his gym, talking about how Jaland Lowe and some of the other veterans are a big part of how his practices stay lively.

Tull had approached him over the summer about the event, seeing if Capel would be interested and picking his brain for ideas for the event. Capel said he isn’t the best at speaking at clinics, but was eager to help out — especially since he is the son of a coach.

“The game has been so unbelievable to me,” Capel said. “Anything I can do to give back and to help coaches. My dad's career spanned every level of coaching, and I've been fortunate and blessed to be in this thing for a little bit now. So any opportunity I have to share any knowledge that I have with the game I want to.”

Capel is a big advocate for the sport and is a supporter of the WPIAL. His children attend local schools and his daughter, Cameron, recently won a WPIAL championship in Petersen Events Center with Shady Side Academy back in March.

So seeing the 71 head coaches in attendance as well as their staffs for a total of 202 attendees was a sight to behold.

“I'm really impressed with the turnout,” Capel said. “What it shows is that the coaches in Western Pennsylvania, they're serious about it. They want to get better. They want to learn. They want to try to figure out ways to help improve their individual teams, but [also] to collectively improve basketball here in this region.”

The day continued with four more sessions. Hurley presented drills and skills, which resulted in him essentially running a 40-minute practice with the demonstrators.

After a quick lunch break, Mark Few had his turn. The Gonzaga head coach is fresh off his gold-medal win with Team USA in the Olympics. He opened his time by talking about the importance of not only the learning being done in the locker room, but the facility itself.

“Stuff like this impacts so many people,” Few said. “There are so many kids that can use this. We need things like this across the U.S. The world is catching up with us. Places like this are going to be so key for us to continue to be the Number 1 powerhouse in the world.”

Local Division I coaches Joyce and Toole closed off the event by presenting on defense. Joyce taught about defensive transitions — Duquesne’s bread and butter — while Toole talked about defensive practice skills.

As they walked around the room, they were frequently stopped for hand shakes. Many of the coaches in attendance expressed their thanks to Joyce and Toole. Basketball season is right around the corner, so it didn’t go unnoticed that all six coaches were willing to give some of their time despite their busy schedules.

“Our objective is, how does that affect the next person?” Joyce said. “If it has an impact on someone, then hopefully they can carry that. Some how, some way we’ll be able to touch someone else with that type of impact as well, too.”