Coaching Talented Players: Turning Potential into Performance

No coach has ever said, “I wish this team had less talent.”

But we’ve all heard things like, “Of course they won, look at the talent they’ve got,” or “It’s easy to coach when your team is stacked.”

The truth? Coaching talent isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be more demanding than coaching a less gifted group. Talented players often bring high expectations – from themselves, their teammates, the media and everyone watching. In many cases, those expectations outpace a coach’s preparedness to meet them.

Through my coaching career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with teams loaded with elite-level talent. Those rosters don’t just happen, they’re built through targeted recruitment or selections, but team construction is a topic for another day.

This post is about coaching talented players and how to help them, and your team – succeed.

Talented Players Want to Be Coached Hard.

Talented players usually crave tough, intentional coaching. They have big goals, whether that’s earning individual accolades, chasing higher-level opportunities, or leading their team to a championship. They embrace the challenge. They want the smoke.

Holding them to high standards isn’t about being harsh, it’s about showing them how to handle adversity, own their performance and pursue growth. Mental toughness isn’t just developed in big games, it’s forged in everyday habits, accountability and high-expectation environments.

One tactic I’ve found effective is giving direct, specific feedback to your best players in front of the team. It reinforces that no one is above the standard. It also sets the tone – if your most talented player is open to critique, there’s no excuse for anyone else not to be.

Another key is aligning their personal goals with team success. This often requires honest, sometimes difficult conversations about their aspirations and how these goals can fit within the team framework. The message is simple but powerful – individual success is most sustainable when it grows from a strong, unified team environment.

Be Prepared to Match Their Drive.

The most driven players want more – more reps, more film, more feedback. They’ll be in early and stay late. For them, improvement isn’t optional, it’s expected. As a coach, you have to meet them there and sometimes go further. That’s where real, high-performance development happens.

But it’s not always that simple. Talent can also hide laziness. Some players get by on natural ability for years without building strong habits. That’s where coaching becomes crucial – to install discipline, consistency and a work ethic that outlasts natural gifts.

It’s also important to protect talented players from burnout – especially younger athletes. Because they're capable of more, they’re often asked to do more – for multiple teams, coaches or roles. Part of good coaching is knowing when to pull back, protect their long-term well-being and make sure they still find joy in the game.

Build Genuine Relationships.

The best coaching relationships go beyond basketball. Talented players are often defined by their on-court identity, but they’re people with lives, interests and challenges beyond the hardwood.

Showing a genuine interest in their lives off the court builds trust. It opens the door to meaningful conversations and it allows you to coach with more empathy, insight and impact.

It also helps you understand how to manage their emotions, because many elite athletes are intense competitors. Frustration, overthinking and pressure can cloud performance. Building a relationship helps you guide them in real time, especially when the game is on the line and you need them to make a poised, confident play.

Get Their Buy-In and Share Ownership.

Talented players often have a deep understanding of the game and that’s a strength you should use. Talk tactics with them. Ask their opinion. Discuss adjustments. Involve them in decision-making. This fosters buy-in, leadership and accountability. When players feel invested in the process, they take ownership in both wins and losses. They also start to understand their influence on team culture and how being a positive, consistent voice can elevate the group.

Remember, they don’t need the captain title to lead. The way they train, communicate and support teammates sets a tone for the whole locker room.

Stay Grounded When It Doesn’t Work Out.

Not every talented player will align with your program or coaching style. Some bring egos that disrupt team chemistry. Some struggle with humility or resist coaching. Despite your best efforts, not every situation will work out as you hoped.

That’s okay.

Coaching is about growth – for players and coaches. Learn from those moments. Reflect, adapt and stay focused on building a team-first culture rooted in values that go beyond talent.

Final Thought: Talent Is Just Potential.

Coaching talented players isn’t just about helping athletes maximise performance. It’s about helping people develop character, resilience and self-awareness. Talent might open the door, but habits, mindset and effort determine how far someone walks through it.

Inside The Mind of a Coach After a Loss

Every coach deals with defeat differently.

In a world where performance is constantly evaluated and discussed - a single loss triggers a cascade of thoughts that can be as complex as the game itself.

Not all losses are created equal. A heartbreaking one-point loss at the National Championships feels different than a mid-season stumble in a professional campaign.

Turnaround time matters too. Bouncing back in less than 24-hours during a tournament or on a double-header road trip, versus having a full week to regroup, requires two very different mental resets.

As coaches, we’re wired to process outcomes through very specific lenses. Here’s how I navigate a loss - and some strategies I use to respond.

Channelling the Emotion

Right after a loss, the dominant emotion I typically feel is anger. Not the kind that explodes in the locker room – unless the moment calls for it - but more an internal frustration.

For those who know me well, it’s no surprise – I hate losing. Not just because I’m competitive, but because winning has become a byproduct of preparation, discipline and commitment – when we’ve done the work, I believe we should win every time we step on the floor.

That belief isn’t rooted in arrogance. It comes from confidence in the process—how we train, how we scout, how we prepare. I take pride in being a coach whose team will never be outworked in those areas.

With time and experience, I’ve learned how to manage that initial emotional spike more effectively.

One of the most grounding things I do is step away from the game briefly and spend time with my family. Just a few minutes with Rachael and our kids brings me back to a joyful reality. Basketball matters, but it’s not everything.

I’ll also connect with coaching peers I trust - people who understand the game and aren’t afraid to offer honest feedback. These conversations help me reflect on the varying layers and push me to think more critically about my own decisions made in real time.

Post-game dialogue with our senior players is also something else I value. They’re processing the loss too and hearing their immediate reactions – both emotionally and tactically, often gives me a more complete perspective before diving into film and adjustments.

Where Did It Go Wrong?

The post-game review begins almost immediately, helping me transition from emotion to analysis. Whether it’s a win or a loss, I usually rewatch the game that same night - not to relive the outcome, but to better understand it.

In most losses, there’s usually contributing factors that stands out - defensive lapses, rebounding discrepancy, an overall lack of execution. Sometimes it’s as simple as a cold shooting night. But every detail matters and the film doesn’t lie.

That said, it’s easy as a coach to drown in the footage, over-analysing every possession.

My rule - keep film reviews simple, applicable and consistent. Players don’t see the game like coaches do, and they don’t need to. The goal is to provide clarity, not overwhelm. Less is often more.

Turning the Page

Once the film is absorbed by the players - whether individually or as a group, it’s back on-court.

Practice becomes the space to correct, reset and rebuild. By this point, that initial anger has faded. In its place is renewed positive energy and determination. This is where the coaching lives. We get back to the technical and tactical work - through instruction, drills and reinforcing the effort standards required to compete at a high level. This is the part of the process I find most fulfilling.

Every coach has their own way of dealing with a loss. This is mine and through it, I’ve learned not to lose sight of what success actually looks like.

It’s not just about the wins and the banners. It’s about growth, resilience and consistency—day after day.

From Mackay to Illawarra: A Championship Reflection.

Looking back on the past twelve months, I’m filled with immense gratitude and a deep sense of achievement.

Capturing the 2024 NBL1 North championship with the Mackay Meteors is a moment I’ll remember forever. To then go on to win the 2025 NBL crown with the Illawarra Hawks—well, it still feels like a dream.

With the roster we had at the Meteors, it was clear that it was a championship-or-bust situation. But from day one, with a strong emphasis on culture, consistency and connection, I knew we had the potential to achieve something remarkable.

Role clarity was essential. With a group this talented, success depended on everyone putting team goals above personal accolades. Sacrificing ego wasn’t optional—it was the foundation of what we built together.

This team didn’t just chase wins—we played for each other and for the legacy we wanted to create. The support from the club and community was incredible. Every home game had a pulse, an energy that lifted us. Our players fed off that atmosphere and it showed in our performance. Finishing with a 10 & 1 home record, we turned the Crater into a true fortress.

On the road, it was all business. While the travel gave us a chance to grow closer off the court, our professionalism never wavered. We embraced the pressure of being the team to beat, knowing every opponent was bringing their best. Though I was disappointed we couldn’t finish the road slate unbeaten—ending 8 & 1—that single loss served as a reality check. It reminded us we weren’t untouchable and sharpened our focus moving forward.

We entered the NBL1 North finals with a quiet confidence. Securing home court advantage throughout added an extra layer of belief, but it didn’t make us complacent. Our preparation was relentless. Scouting was taken to another level, and our coaching staff did an outstanding job making sure every training session matched the intensity we expected from our opponents.

Throughout my coaching journey, I’ve come to learn that, in many cases, the pressure of winning a semifinal outweighs even that of a Grand Final. Southern Districts Spartans gave us a real battle, but in the end, we came out on top with a hard-fought 100–90 win—punching our ticket to the Grand Final, a best-of-three series against the Brisbane Capitals.

We had taken care of the Capitals 92–73 earlier in the regular season, but we knew they were a different team by the time the Grand Final rolled around. The series came down to matchups and there were key areas where we felt we had the edge. Offensively, our pace was designed to challenge their D-trans, while on the other end, our defensive versatility allowed us to throw multiple looks at their elite pick-and-roll game and floor spacing.

In Game 1, we controlled the tempo for most of the contest. As expected, they made their runs—good teams always do—but we absorbed the pressure and made the necessary adjustments. Our 91–79 win was a testament to our defensive focus and with the quick turnaround to Game 2 the following night, recovery became just as crucial as preparation.

There are always nerves heading into a Grand Final close-out game and we opened Game 2 with a few uncharacteristic mistakes. But we regrouped quickly and found our rhythm in the second half. Big-time plays from our marquee players helped steady the ship and our offensive execution in key moments led to crucial baskets. Defensively, our endurance and physicality shone through. The group was conditioned to push through fatigue—thanks to a high-performance program that had been fuelling us since day one of the pre-season.

When the final buzzer sounded and the scoreboard read 102–80, we were officially NBL1 North Champions—a season of dominance brought to its rightful conclusion. The emotions were a mix of relief and exhilaration. Relief in meeting the expectations that had followed us all year, and pure joy for the players and staff who were tasting championship glory for the very first time. This wasn’t just another title—it was the result of countless hours refining our system, a moment that etched our names into Mackay Basketball history.

2024 NBL1 North Champions - Mackay Meteors. Picture: Kieron Place.

There was no downtime between seasons as the NBL1 campaign transitioned straight into NBL25 and a new quest with the Illawarra Hawks. It was a step up to the national stage—an opportunity to contribute over a full season at the pinnacle of Australian professional basketball. Different coaching roles come with different responsibilities and I was excited to be back in the Gong once again, working alongside Head Coach Justin Tatum (JT).

JT leads the Hawks with a rare blend of authenticity and the innate ability to inspire confidence in those around him. His coaching presence—undeniably one of the most distinctive in Australia—sets the tone for the entire group. A firm believer in collaboration, he genuinely values the input of his coaching staff, which empowered me to lean into my strengths: attention to detail, a commitment to building a strong defensive identity and an unrelenting drive to win.

The NBL is filled with exceptional talent and each game brought its own set of challenges. But with a shared vision and a connected group of players, both on and off the court, we gained momentum as the season progressed.

No championship is achieved without facing adversity. While many external experts doubted our potential, belief within our locker room remained unshaken. Our core was united — a perfect blend of experienced veterans hungry for a title and young, rising talent eager to make an impact. With our system, chemistry and depth, we knew we could compete with anyone.

As the playoffs neared, the intensity grew. Finishing the regular season at 20 & 9 - Minor Premiers — a first in Hawks history — was a major achievement, especially in such a fiercely competitive league. We had been tested along the way, and we were ready for the finals challenge.

Fast forward and the Melbourne Grand Final series was an absolute battle—gruelling, intense and emotionally charged from start to finish. Game 5, in particular, will always stand out in my memory, filled with unforgettable moments and storylines. Ultimately, it was a 114-104 victory on our home court, a win that will be remembered for years to come, and a title that truly belonged to the entire Illawarra community.

When we clinched the 2025 NBL Championship, it felt like the consolidation of a pursuit that spanned two teams, two leagues and two unforgettable locker rooms. It reinforced that success at any level is built on the same core principles: culture, effort and belief.

2025 NBL Champions - Illawarra Hawks. Picture: Sam Tolhurst.

I’m incredibly proud of the impact I’ve had, but I’m even more excited about the future. Whether you’re coaching junior basketball on a Saturday morning, or at the NBL level, the goal is always the same — help players reach their highest potential and build something lasting.

If there’s one lesson I’ve taken from this most recent pursuit, it’s that basketball is about more than just winning. It’s about the people, the passion and the purpose behind it all. And in both Mackay and Illawarra, I found all three.