Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, great, what else I'm here guy, coach?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
How how are you are you? Guys we're doing this
is Steve Rivera. We have Blake Eager.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
He's with the tourism and go ahead tell her.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Oh no, I'm with Southern Arizona Sports Tourism and Film Authority.
So someone you'll probably made up at some we'll get
what we'll cross pass. We've actually reached out to you
with Garman on that race, so that was a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Brie and I are in the studio right now and
we were the ones that kind of put all that together.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
So thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I'm super excited. I'm super excited about that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And we have relopees from visit two sons, how appropriate.
So we're very cool. Hi, welcome and nicest say hi
to you, coach.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I think we've finally met, but we appreciate your support
with the garment event.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Oh of course, I'm super excited about it, coach.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
In my line of work of it the journalists here
for a long time now, I do this radio crazy
radio show and one of the things we look at
is coaches winning the press conference. Let me tell you
you hit it out of the park, baby, how'd you feel,
and I think.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
You want a lot of people over.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Was that important to you? I had to be important
to you.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Yeah, I mean I don't really think about it as
like winning a press conference. I just really tried to
be my authentic self and give people a look at
who they were getting out of their new head coach
and just tell them what I believe in. And so
there was nothing force so that I was trying to
do with that, but I'm really glad it was received
well because that was truly who I am and what
I'm about, and so just super thankful that people have
(01:26):
embraced me the way that they.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Have since since I've arrived, I think you're starting to
probably get that feel where two soon ins really buy
into authentic selves. That's why you know, we have like
ninety five percent of our businesses or small businesses locally owned.
Same thing with our restaurants, like we want to support
our own. You came off in that press conference like
you're ready to be a twoson in that you are
a twoson in so we are so ecstatic that you're
(01:49):
in our community and just want to say thank you
so much.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh thank you guys. Now that means a lot, and
the community has made me feel like this is this
is my home already, and my family just feels so
excited to be here, so happy to be here. But
you know, as great as as the city is and
how much there is to do in the food and
in the University of Arizona, all those things, I think
the people are will make this place as special as
it is. And it's just everybody's drapped their arms around
(02:14):
me and just made me feel very, very good since
I've gotten here. Now, I do understand I'm undefeated, so
everybody's ugging me right now, but most of them is
the same thing at this time next year, won't.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
We don't allow pragmatic coaches on the show, So let's
good talking to you. Yeah, So the toughest question you're
in be asked today, what's worse the Buffalo winter or
the Tucson summer.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Uh, Buffalo winter, I would say, but I don't even
think the Buffalo winters were as bad as everybody said.
And I might this might be a hot take, but
I don't think the TuS On summers are as bad
as everybody says. So I'm I might just be saying
that because I've been under underneath snow for the last
three years. But I have absolutely been enjoying just be
(03:00):
be summer so far at it's hot, but nothing nothing
we can't deal with, Nothing we can't handle.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So coach, I've been here thirty seven years, almost thirty
eight years. I've met all the coaches, diding stories on
most of them. All of them you know, came from
the country is to the Lopezes, to Loudle since so
I spent.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Twenty five years covering. Uh what an invest in this
all too? What?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What do you A good coach has a secret sauce,
whether they can motivate their kids, get them to play
hard for them, there's something.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
What do you think you bring to this?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah? I think my energy, I think especially at practice
in the games is unmasked. You're not going to find
energy from a head coach the way that you are
with me. I'm really hands on. You know, there's a
lot of coaches that coach at this level that are
you know, public figures and not really accessible to have
personal relationships with their players. And that's not me. Like
I'm in the trenches with them. I'm player development, I'm rebounding,
(03:51):
I'm in there late nights, early mornings with our squad,
and so that's that's something that's really unique and different
about me, just being such a young head coach and
really wanting to be in there with them and be
accessible as a resources, as a coach, as a person.
But yeah, I just think the energy, the competitiveness, the
the juice I bring every single day, I just think
(04:11):
is very very unique and special. And I've played at a
high level and I'm a young head coach and so
you know, I'm able to recruit in a way that
a lot of people can't because I've been there, I've
done it, I've played you know, I've been in your shoes.
There's never a situation that than any of our players
were recruiting are going to be in that I haven't
been in myself. So for them to be able to
see themselves in me, I think is a unique way
(04:33):
to be able to recruit, build relationships.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I mean, it definitely speaks highly and I was Steve
and I talk about this all the time. You're an
age where players can you can relate to players, players
can relate to you. You've played at the highest level
that they're able to kind of see where they're at
right now. The question that I do have, because it
was such a whirlwind when you got here, What was
it like for you when you stepped on campus and
then knowing that you had to essentially just go straight
(04:57):
into recruiting at a very high level. How did you
accomplish that and what were some of the steps that
you had to remind yourself to take during that process.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean I accept in the job site unseen,
so I had never been to campus, and I you know,
we went through the whole process. It was it was
off campus. There wasn't I've never actually been to two
Sound or seen campus. So it was getting a lot
of getting me familiar with campus, with how things work,
how things operate, what, what is what? It was funny.
We laughed about it the first few UH visits we had.
(05:26):
I was joking with the players. I was like, I'm
on this visit with you right now. I have no
idea what building is what or where my office is, Like,
I don't know anything. So, yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It was.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
It was a really really unique thing to be able
to come in and you know, have to recruit the
caliber of players that we had to recruit, but also
get to know my surroundings and my new environment the
same time they were, but it was it was it
was you know what what you signed up for. I've
taken over enough programs to know what those first thirty
days look like. And there's a lot of sleepless nights,
there's a there, You're on your phone from morning till night.
(05:58):
You know, there's a lot going on. But to be
on the other side of it and see who we
were able to sign and you know how competitive we
think will be this year, it was it was definitely
worth it all.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So no disrespect to every riddle your younger coach than
in twenty fifteen. In that time, do you do you
kind of have an eye and maybe noticing what Arizona's
doing and maybe ASU just because you're up the road
and you're, you know, in the same state doing what
you do?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Did you have that going back.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
In the day, To be honest, I you know, I
wasn't really paying attention to what was going on at
either of the you know, Power four schools in our state.
I was just kind of consumed with what we were doing.
But I come from that, you know, I've coached every
team that I've ever coached like I was a Power
four coach, you know, those those poor kids at every riddle.
I mean I was coaching them like we were at Yukon,
(06:44):
you know. So it's not something that like I'm looking
at the higher levels and seeing what they're doing. I've
been there, I've done that, I've lived that life.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I've been in that environment.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
I've played for a national championships, and I know how
to how to run a program that way, and I've
done it my whole career. And I think that's why
I'm sitting in the seat I'm sitting now, is because
I have approached every job like I am at the
Power forward level. And that's how I've always coached our
players and how I've run our programs and the culture
I've tried to create everywhere, the championship culture, you know.
I think that's a big part of why I am
here in this day.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
My guy here has played a couple of years, a
few years in pro ball, so he knows this.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Let me ask you this. You've been in the business.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
A while now, do kids, and I firmly believe their
kids appreciate being coached and you know, being hard, hard edged,
and you know maybe a time when you need to
kick him in the button. The other times you knew
no one to you know, Kim a hug.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Do you still do you believe that?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Oh, one hundred percent. I'm a big product of who
I played for in Jeff Walls at Louisville, and he's
one of the toughest coaches in the country. And people
joke about, you know, being able to survive his program
for four years, and I was one of those that
did that. But the way that he coaches is really
really unique because he's firm, He has standards and expectations,
and he holds you accountable for those every single day.
And that's what I do. And we're upfront in the
(07:59):
recruiting process. And as much as people say, oh, she's
smiled all the time and she's so pleasant to be around, like,
I'm hard to play for and I'm I'm gonna hold
our players accountable and and and Arizona's not a place
you can come unless you want to be coached and
you want to be coached hard. And I fully admit that.
And I'm self aware enough to know that we need
a special type of player to come in here because
I'm gonna push them every single day to be their best.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I've seen some videos, Like I said, how have the
the the players received you in those in those workouts.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I think they're receiving it really really well. They're responding,
they're they're working their butts off, they're you know, really uh,
just working hard for us and giving us everything they have.
And you know, again that transparency and the recruiting process.
None of them thought they were coming here and it
was anything was going to be easy. They all knew
what they signed up for, so that makes for a
much easier transition when they know, you know what to expect.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Are you done with the roster size? Are you done
with everything?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, we're done with the roster's diet. Everybody's on campus
right now. We're about two and a half weeks into
summer practice, and it's been really fun to get them
out there and start building really ships and seeing what
we're working with. And we have everybody on campus right
now except for two of our players are playing for
their national teams and so we will not get them
for the next uh. They'll be they'll be here in
the next week or two, but those are the only
(09:13):
two that are missing right now.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Well, coach, we appreciate your time. We know you got
to get get out of here. Thanks for spending some
time with us. We'll talk to you again as we
get closer to the season.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Thank you guys so much, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Thanks Coach a Tael Lauren we said, HI, will do
all right. Thanks Coach Burke, thanks for everything. Cool cool,
Next surprise, I thought this was tomorrow.
All right, great, what else I'm here guy, coach?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
How how are you are you? Guys we're doing this
is Steve Rivera. We have Blake Eager.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
He's with the tourism and go ahead tell her.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Oh no, I'm with Southern Arizona Sports Tourism and Film Authority.
So someone you'll probably made up at some we'll get
what we'll cross pass. We've actually reached out to you
with Garman on that race, so that was a little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Brie and I are in the studio right now and
we were the ones that kind of put all that together.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
So thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I'm super excited. I'm super excited about that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And we have relopees from visit two sons, how appropriate.
So we're very cool. Hi, welcome and nicest say hi
to you, coach.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I think we've finally met, but we appreciate your support
with the garment event.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Oh of course, I'm super excited about it, coach.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
In my line of work of it the journalists here
for a long time now, I do this radio crazy
radio show and one of the things we look at
is coaches winning the press conference. Let me tell you
you hit it out of the park, baby, how'd you feel,
and I think.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
You want a lot of people over.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Was that important to you? I had to be important
to you.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Yeah, I mean I don't really think about it as
like winning a press conference. I just really tried to
be my authentic self and give people a look at
who they were getting out of their new head coach
and just tell them what I believe in. And so
there was nothing force so that I was trying to
do with that, but I'm really glad it was received
well because that was truly who I am and what
I'm about, and so just super thankful that people have
(01:26):
embraced me the way that they.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Have since since I've arrived, I think you're starting to
probably get that feel where two soon ins really buy
into authentic selves. That's why you know, we have like
ninety five percent of our businesses or small businesses locally owned.
Same thing with our restaurants, like we want to support
our own. You came off in that press conference like
you're ready to be a twoson in that you are
a twoson in so we are so ecstatic that you're
(01:49):
in our community and just want to say thank you
so much.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Oh thank you guys. Now that means a lot, and
the community has made me feel like this is this
is my home already, and my family just feels so
excited to be here, so happy to be here. But
you know, as great as as the city is and
how much there is to do in the food and
in the University of Arizona, all those things, I think
the people are will make this place as special as
it is. And it's just everybody's drapped their arms around
(02:14):
me and just made me feel very, very good since
I've gotten here. Now, I do understand I'm undefeated, so
everybody's ugging me right now, but most of them is
the same thing at this time next year, won't.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
We don't allow pragmatic coaches on the show, So let's
good talking to you. Yeah, So the toughest question you're
in be asked today, what's worse the Buffalo winter or
the Tucson summer.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Uh, Buffalo winter, I would say, but I don't even
think the Buffalo winters were as bad as everybody said.
And I might this might be a hot take, but
I don't think the TuS On summers are as bad
as everybody says. So I'm I might just be saying
that because I've been under underneath snow for the last
three years. But I have absolutely been enjoying just be
(03:00):
be summer so far at it's hot, but nothing nothing
we can't deal with, Nothing we can't handle.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So coach, I've been here thirty seven years, almost thirty
eight years. I've met all the coaches, diding stories on
most of them. All of them you know, came from
the country is to the Lopezes, to Loudle since so
I spent.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Twenty five years covering. Uh what an invest in this
all too? What?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What do you A good coach has a secret sauce,
whether they can motivate their kids, get them to play
hard for them, there's something.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
What do you think you bring to this?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah? I think my energy, I think especially at practice
in the games is unmasked. You're not going to find
energy from a head coach the way that you are
with me. I'm really hands on. You know, there's a
lot of coaches that coach at this level that are
you know, public figures and not really accessible to have
personal relationships with their players. And that's not me. Like
I'm in the trenches with them. I'm player development, I'm rebounding,
(03:51):
I'm in there late nights, early mornings with our squad,
and so that's that's something that's really unique and different
about me, just being such a young head coach and
really wanting to be in there with them and be
accessible as a resources, as a coach, as a person.
But yeah, I just think the energy, the competitiveness, the
the juice I bring every single day, I just think
(04:11):
is very very unique and special. And I've played at a
high level and I'm a young head coach and so
you know, I'm able to recruit in a way that
a lot of people can't because I've been there, I've
done it, I've played you know, I've been in your shoes.
There's never a situation that than any of our players
were recruiting are going to be in that I haven't
been in myself. So for them to be able to
see themselves in me, I think is a unique way
(04:33):
to be able to recruit, build relationships.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I mean, it definitely speaks highly and I was Steve
and I talk about this all the time. You're an
age where players can you can relate to players, players
can relate to you. You've played at the highest level
that they're able to kind of see where they're at
right now. The question that I do have, because it
was such a whirlwind when you got here, What was
it like for you when you stepped on campus and
then knowing that you had to essentially just go straight
(04:57):
into recruiting at a very high level. How did you
accomplish that and what were some of the steps that
you had to remind yourself to take during that process.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yeah, I mean I accept in the job site unseen,
so I had never been to campus, and I you know,
we went through the whole process. It was it was
off campus. There wasn't I've never actually been to two
Sound or seen campus. So it was getting a lot
of getting me familiar with campus, with how things work,
how things operate, what, what is what? It was funny.
We laughed about it the first few UH visits we had.
(05:26):
I was joking with the players. I was like, I'm
on this visit with you right now. I have no
idea what building is what or where my office is, Like,
I don't know anything. So, yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It was.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
It was a really really unique thing to be able
to come in and you know, have to recruit the
caliber of players that we had to recruit, but also
get to know my surroundings and my new environment the
same time they were, but it was it was it
was you know what what you signed up for. I've
taken over enough programs to know what those first thirty
days look like. And there's a lot of sleepless nights,
there's a there, You're on your phone from morning till night.
(05:58):
You know, there's a lot going on. But to be
on the other side of it and see who we
were able to sign and you know how competitive we
think will be this year, it was it was definitely
worth it all.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
So no disrespect to every riddle your younger coach than
in twenty fifteen. In that time, do you do you
kind of have an eye and maybe noticing what Arizona's
doing and maybe ASU just because you're up the road
and you're, you know, in the same state doing what
you do?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Did you have that going back.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
In the day, To be honest, I you know, I
wasn't really paying attention to what was going on at
either of the you know, Power four schools in our state.
I was just kind of consumed with what we were doing.
But I come from that, you know, I've coached every
team that I've ever coached like I was a Power
four coach, you know, those those poor kids at every riddle.
I mean I was coaching them like we were at Yukon,
(06:44):
you know. So it's not something that like I'm looking
at the higher levels and seeing what they're doing. I've
been there, I've done that, I've lived that life.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I've been in that environment.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
I've played for a national championships, and I know how
to how to run a program that way, and I've
done it my whole career. And I think that's why
I'm sitting in the seat I'm sitting now, is because
I have approached every job like I am at the
Power forward level. And that's how I've always coached our
players and how I've run our programs and the culture
I've tried to create everywhere, the championship culture, you know.
I think that's a big part of why I am
here in this day.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
My guy here has played a couple of years, a
few years in pro ball, so he knows this.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Let me ask you this. You've been in the business.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
A while now, do kids, and I firmly believe their
kids appreciate being coached and you know, being hard, hard edged,
and you know maybe a time when you need to
kick him in the button. The other times you knew
no one to you know, Kim a hug.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Do you still do you believe that?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Oh, one hundred percent. I'm a big product of who
I played for in Jeff Walls at Louisville, and he's
one of the toughest coaches in the country. And people
joke about, you know, being able to survive his program
for four years, and I was one of those that
did that. But the way that he coaches is really
really unique because he's firm, He has standards and expectations,
and he holds you accountable for those every single day.
And that's what I do. And we're upfront in the
(07:59):
recruiting process. And as much as people say, oh, she's
smiled all the time and she's so pleasant to be around, like,
I'm hard to play for and I'm I'm gonna hold
our players accountable and and and Arizona's not a place
you can come unless you want to be coached and
you want to be coached hard. And I fully admit that.
And I'm self aware enough to know that we need
a special type of player to come in here because
I'm gonna push them every single day to be their best.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
I've seen some videos, Like I said, how have the
the the players received you in those in those workouts.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
I think they're receiving it really really well. They're responding,
they're they're working their butts off, they're you know, really uh,
just working hard for us and giving us everything they have.
And you know, again that transparency and the recruiting process.
None of them thought they were coming here and it
was anything was going to be easy. They all knew
what they signed up for, so that makes for a
much easier transition when they know, you know what to expect.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Are you done with the roster size? Are you done
with everything?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah, we're done with the roster's diet. Everybody's on campus
right now. We're about two and a half weeks into
summer practice, and it's been really fun to get them
out there and start building really ships and seeing what
we're working with. And we have everybody on campus right
now except for two of our players are playing for
their national teams and so we will not get them
for the next uh. They'll be they'll be here in
the next week or two, but those are the only
(09:13):
two that are missing right now.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Well, coach, we appreciate your time. We know you got
to get get out of here. Thanks for spending some
time with us. We'll talk to you again as we
get closer to the season.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Thank you guys so much, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Thanks Coach a Tael Lauren we said, HI, will do
all right. Thanks Coach Burke, thanks for everything. Cool cool,
Next surprise, I thought this was tomorrow.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.