Building Great Teams Takes a Community with Coach Jon Coffman

Student of the Game

In this episode of the Student of the Game podcast, Brad Noll speaks with Jon Coffman, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Purdue Fort Wayne. Brad and Jon discuss the importance of building intentional relationships, investing in people, and falling in love with the process of practice. Jon shares his journey from a career in finance to becoming a college coach, and how he has built a successful program by being intentional, investing in relationships, and creating a platform for fun. He also talks about the challenges and opportunities in college basketball, including the recent changes in name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules.

Quotes

• “A lot of times, I think being present in the moment, you miss out on some amazing conversations with the relationships you do have because I believe everything you need is underneath your feet. The customers, the clients, the players, and the team you have are going to take you wherever your dreams are if you're present.” -Brad Noll [10:26]
• “I think there are so many people right now that need to take a hard look at their preparation. One of the things I heard was ‘amateurs get paid to play, and professionals get paid to practice’. Practice is really where growth happens. Practice is really when the separation happens.” -Jon Coffman [33:10]

Guest Social Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachcoffman?lang=en

Guest Bio

Jon Coffman is an accomplished Head Basketball Coach at Purdue Fort Wayne. He is known for his remarkable leadership and coaching expertise. In 2016, he led his team to Summit League Regular Season Champions, followed by the 2022 Horizon League Regular Season Championship. With 25 years of college coaching, Coffman brings invaluable experience, emphasizing player development. As Purdue Fort Wayne's winningest coach during his nine-year tenure, he consistently drove the program to unprecedented success. His passion, strategic prowess, and unwavering commitment make him a respected figure in college basketball, showcased by his championship wins and impressive coaching record.

Timestamps

[01:02] Jon’s background and journey to becoming a coach

[08:00] Being intentional, investing in relationships, and creating a platform for fun

[11:59] Coaching through core values and the importance of mutual respect

[21:20] Creating an organized and efficient program

[26:00] Recruiting

[45:46] Community engagement and fan-raising strategies

[55:30] Relationships over transactions

[01:23:08] Connecting with people in the digital world

Noll Team Real Estate

SINCE 2003, Noll Team Real Estate HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE IN THE FORT WAYNE AREA FIND THE FREEDOM TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE THEY WANT.

DESPITE CHANGING MARKETS AND BUSINESS TACTICS, WE HAVE REMAINED TRUE TO THIS BETTER AND IMPROVED BUSINESS MODEL BY FOCUSING ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVING OTHERS IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

WHATEVER STAGE OF LIFE YOU ARE IN, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE WISDOM AND TOOLS NECESSARY WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME. WE PUT YOU FIRST TO ENSURE AN ENJOYABLE AND PROFITABLE EXPERIENCE.