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The Basketball Podcast: EP379 with Nicki Collen on Navigating Elite Coaching
In this week’s coaching conversation, Baylor head coach Nicki Collen joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on navigating elite coaching from the WNBA to Baylor.
Nicki Collen has built an impressive coaching career across both the WNBA and NCAA, establishing herself as a dynamic leader in women’s basketball. Currently serving as the head coach at Baylor University, Collen has guided the program with a strong tactical approach, compiling a 102–36 (.739) record in her tenure. Under her leadership, Baylor secured a Big 12 regular season championship in 2022, continuing the program’s tradition of excellence.
Before transitioning to the college ranks, Collen made her mark in the WNBA, serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Dream from 2018 to 2020. In her first season, she led the Dream to a 23–11 record, earning WNBA Coach of the Year honors in 2018. Her ability to develop talent and implement a competitive system was evident throughout her time in the league, where she compiled a 38–52 (.422) overall record.
Collen’s coaching journey began as an assistant coach at Colorado State (2001–2003), Ball State (2003), Louisville (2003–2005), Arkansas (2011–2014), and Florida Gulf Coast (2014–2015). She then transitioned to the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun (2015–2017) as an assistant coach, helping the team improve from a 14–20 record in 2016 to 21–13 in 2017.
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Nicki Collen Quotes:
“I felt like I could make a difference here. I think I had no idea what the weight of expectations would be . . As coaches, we always think our own internal expectations are going to far outweigh the external pressure of what we do. But I will say I don’t think anyone can be ready for following a Hall of Fame coach and a program that has had three national championships.”
“We don’t think about the pro game as relational, we think of it as very transactional . . The reality is you still have to get five people playing with great synergy, you have to have people buy into their roles and be able to help you off the bench. A lot of it is managing personalities and it’s managing expectations and aligning those things and having them feel like they can talk to you.”
“In college . . I believe in teaching the game. I believe in getting them to understand the game better and be able to ask good questions. I always feel like I’m never going to lie to them. I’m never going to tell them a team we play is better than they are.”
“I don’t think players have ever needed more attachment, more affirmation than they need right now . . I think the transformational part is what everyone still wants. It’s just really hard with the circles of people that are around them and the opportunities that are in front of them to make money. I also have to understand, why wouldn’t they want to make money?”
“We have a 76-all game that we play . . we’re going to play with no clock till someone gets to 80. But once one team hits 80, we’re going to stop and put two minutes on the clock. And the beauty of those two minutes is I have unlimited timeouts . . the whole point is to get them to learn to defend in late game situations and our team really buys into it . . I do think like your team learning to be confident and comfortable in those situations goes a long way.”
“The biggest difference to me between college athletes and pro athletes is [in college] if I have a timeout and I can put a play up on a board and, if we’re immediately on offense, I will guarantee you my team is going to execute and score or get a great shot. If we’re on defense, it is 60/40 whether that play is going to be run the way I drew it up. There’s that game slippage.”
“We may run a ton of slot and wing ball screens throughout the course of the game, but when we get in late game and I want to have true control, the ball is going to be in my point guard’s hands and we’re going to play in that middle third of the floor.”
“The only box that you’re in is the box that you’ve created for yourself. My job becomes easier the more things you can do, the more capable you are at different places on the floor . . I’m trying to maximize what you do best and minimize what you’re not good at. My goal all the time is to give everybody the best chance to be successful individually, which then collectively gives us the best chance to be successful [as a team].. So, as much as analytics are really important, I’m still a believer in, ‘If you’re a good jump shooter, you need to take a jump shot.’”
Nicki Collen Breakdown:
Nicki Collen Selected Links from the Podcast:
Nicki Collen
Kim Mulkey
LaChina Robinson
Tiffany Hayes
Alyssa Thomas
Brittney Greiner
Jonquel Jones
Queen Egbo
NaLyssa Smith
Jordan Lewis
Ja’ Mee Asberry
Bill Fennellly
Sarah Andrews
Caitlin Bickle
Karl Smesko
Brionna Jones
Paige Bueckers
Aaronette Vonleh
Rhyne Howard
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