In Episode 11 of Lessons from the Sidelines, Tom Crean sits down with renowned strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert to discuss leadership, discipline, accountability, and building championship-level culture. From his journey through Wisconsin and Michigan to helping shape the culture of the Los Angeles Chargers alongside Jim Harbaugh, Herbert shares lessons on trust, consistency, mental toughness, and getting the absolute best out of athletes. The conversation dives into player development, handling uncomfortable situations, creating buy-in, and why true growth comes from repeatedly doing the hard things at an elite level.

In our tenth episode, Tom Crean sits down with George Washington Head Coach Chris Caputo to discuss NIL, the transfer portal, roster building, and the evolving landscape of college basketball. From managing locker room dynamics and player expectations to the importance of “friend-raising,” leadership, and community building, this episode explores what it takes to run a program in today’s game. Caputo also shares insights on player development, navigating team success, and why playing your best basketball late in the season is the ultimate separator.

In our ninth episode, Tom Crean sits down with Chicago White Sox Assistant General Manager Nick Hostetler to discuss scouting, player evaluation, clubhouse culture, and the balance between analytics and the eye test. From social media background checks to five-tool development and leadership lessons from baseball legends, this episode dives into what it really takes to build a winning organization — on and off the field.