In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Chris Holguin joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on NBA Defense and Using CLA.

Chris Holguin is entering his 10th season with the LA Clippers, where he currently serves as an Assistant Coach. A native of El Paso, Texas, Holguin’s path began as a student manager at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He went on to coach high school basketball at the Maret School in Washington D.C., served as Operations Assistant at his alma mater UTSA, and worked with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League before joining the Clippers in 2016. Since then, he has advanced through roles including Video Coordinator, Player Development Coach, and Two-Way Coach, steadily building his reputation within the organization.

Over the past decade, Holguin has worked extensively with rookies, two-way players, and NBA veterans while also traveling globally to train Clippers All-Stars. Known for his defensive focus and passion for player development, Holguin has become a trusted voice who thrives on growth, connection, and teaching, making him a valued part of the organization for nearly a decade.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Canisius head coach Jim Christian joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on their offensive DNA.

Jim Christian brings nearly two decades of NCAA Division I head coaching experience to Canisius, with a proven track record of success across multiple programs. He owns over 300 career wins and is recognized as one of the most accomplished coaches in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history, holding the league’s highest winning percentage (.700) and earning MAC Coach of the Year honors twice.

Christian led Kent State to five postseason appearances from 2002–08, including two NCAA Tournament berths and three NIT bids. He later guided Ohio University to a 49–22 record in two seasons, winning a regular-season MAC title and earning NABC District Coach of the Year honors. At Boston College, he oversaw the program’s most successful season in nearly a decade, highlighted by a win over No. 1 Duke and a postseason return in 2017–18.

He also served as head coach at TCU and held assistant roles at Kent State, Pittsburgh, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky, and St. Francis (Pa.). Most recently, Christian was part of Kent State’s staff during back-to-back MAC Championship game appearances and a 2023 NCAA Tournament berth.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, ShootXP founder and skill acquisition expert Mark Upton joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on better coaching and skill development.

Mark Upton is a globally respected coaching and skill acquisition expert with over two decades of experience shaping youth sport and learning design. His career began in Australia, sparked by a childhood passion for basketball and a deep curiosity about how people learn. That early interest evolved into a professional journey spanning sport science, coaching, performance analysis, and applied research.

Throughout the 2000s, Mark worked with professional teams, national sporting organizations, and institutes of sport, helping coaches build game-like learning environments and understand athlete development through performance systems and skill acquisition science. His early writing and speaking engagements positioned him as a thoughtful contributor to the emerging online dialogue around coaching and learning.

In the 2010s, Mark’s influence grew through thought leadership and blogging, where he challenged traditional coaching methods and advocated for nonlinear pedagogy, deliberate play, and practices that foster decision-making and adaptability. His work encouraged coaches to move beyond isolated drills and embrace complexity in training design.

By the late 2010s, Mark embraced a neo-generalist philosophy, expanding his focus beyond sport to include systems thinking, organizational development, and human learning. His writing at markupton.life reflects this broader perspective, offering insights that bridge disciplines and help people navigate complexity in learning environments.

In the 2020s, Mark founded ShootXP, a basketball development platform that integrates skill acquisition science, technology, and analytics to support youth players, coaches, and families. ShootXP emphasizes long-term growth over short-term success, helping users understand that real development comes through challenge, struggle, and meaningful engagement—not trophies or shortcuts.

Today, Mark continues to influence the global coaching community through ShootXP, his writing, and consulting. His work consistently promotes optimal challenge, exposure to higher levels of play, and the value of creativity and adaptability in sport. He remains a leading voice in rethinking how athletes learn and how coaches can design environments that truly foster development.