On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Vance Catlin, Senior Vice President of Pro Scouting with the Indiana Pacers. Coach Catlin’s career in basketball spans decades, starting with the Pacers before making the transition into college with the Michigan State Women’s program. He would then take a video coordinator role back with the Pacers and working his way up the program serving in multiple scouting and front office roles while also holding a stint with the Indiana Fever. Over the years, he has built a reputation for his sharp eye for talent, his ability to identify players who fit a system, and his commitment to long-term development. Catlin has been a key part of assembling competitive rosters, evaluating both domestic and international talent, and collaborating with coaches and executives to build winning teams. His experience covers every facet of scouting, from early identification to final roster decisions, giving him rare insight into what it takes to succeed at the highest level. In this episode we discuss best practices for growing in an NBA program over the years, a breakdown of the process once talent is identified in an NBA organization and how to separate box score stats from knowing if a player will be good in your system.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Patty Medina, former coach and current Associate Athletic Director at American University. Medina’s career in athletics began on the court, where she coached at multiple levels, including successful stints in both high school and collegiate basketball. She later transitioned into athletic administration, bringing her coaching perspective to leadership roles that have impacted student-athletes and programs across the board. At American University, Medina has been instrumental in overseeing key areas of operations, compliance, and program development. Her unique blend of coaching experience and administrative expertise allows her to bridge the gap between what happens on the floor and what drives success behind the scenes. She has developed a reputation for building strong cultures, guiding coaches, and fostering environments where athletes can thrive. In this episode we talk about the top things an athletic department might be looking for in the hiring process of a potential head coaching candidate, a full breakdown of how a hiring process works at the collegiate level and some great questions to ask in an interview including proper ways to follow up with the department post-interview.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Uzoh, Pro Personnel Scout for the Toronto Raptors. Uzoh enjoyed an impressive playing career, starring at the University of Tulsa where he finished as one of the program’s all-time leaders in points, assists, and steals. He went on to play in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors, including recording a triple-double in his final NBA game. His professional journey also took him overseas, competing in top leagues in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as representing Nigeria in the Olympics. After transitioning from player to evaluator, Uzoh brought his deep understanding of the game to the Raptors’ front office, where he now focuses on pro personnel scouting and player evaluation. His experience spans both the court and the boardroom, giving him a unique perspective on talent identification and development. In this episode we discuss the coaches from his past who have made a lasting impact on his career, the different scouting roles in the NBA and what each entails, some green and red flags to watch for when scouting a player as well as how to incorporate data and analytics into your scouting process.