KYLE PENNINGTON – LITTLE ROCK (AR) CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOY’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH – EPISODE 640
Email – kyle.pennington@littlerockchristian.com
Twitter – @AKPennington
Kyle Pennington just took over as the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at Little Rock Christian Academy in Arkansas. Kyle spent the past 4 seasons as the Head Coach at Russellville (AR) High School where he posted an overall record of 85-27 including a 50-5 record in the 5-A West Conference. At Russellville he was a 4 time conference coach of the year and his teams won the conference championship all 4 years with two elite 8 finishes in the state tournament. Kyle also was selected to coach in the Arkansas Activities Association All-Star Game.
At Russellville, Kyle coached 3 conference player of the years, 11 all-state selections, and 4 current college basketball players.
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Grab your notebook before you listen to this episode with Kyle Pennington, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Little Rock Christian Academy in the state of Arkansas.
What We Discuss with Kyle Pennington
- His success at Russelville (AR) High School and leaving a place better than you found it.
- Be where you’re at
- The opportunity in front of him at Little Rock Christian.
- Building relationships with people and being very intentional so they know that you care about them.
- Telling his players at Russellville that he was leaving
- His conversations with his wife prior to accepting the Little Rock Christian job
- Interviewing the former staff when he first got there to see who might be retained
- His initial conversations with his new players and what he hoped to learn
- The questions his players asked him
- Having Corliss Williamson on staff at Little Rock Christian
- The strengths that each coach on his new staff brings to the table
- Building meaningful relationships with everybody involved in the program
- Creating a player-centered program
- “Learn to be proactive in decision-making.”
- “Align the vision for each player to better the team”
- Watching film to learn his new team and players
- “Be truthful with players about where they’re at.”
- “We want to model the traits that we want to see out of our team.”
- Sacrificing your personal wants and needs for the betterment of the team
- Using the pictures in his office to share personal stories with players and build relationships
- Putting together his summer improvement plan for his new team
- The sense of community at Little Rock Christian
- Using social media to promote the program
- Supporting other sports at the school
- “Winning’s gonna come if we do all the other things correctly, that scoreboard takes care of itself.”
- “I know a team is successful by the last game of the season whether you win or lose, if those guys are in that locker room with tears in their eyes, hugging each other then you’ve been successful.”
- Having a growth mindset and holding people accountable
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TRANSCRIPT FOR KYLE PENNINGTON – LITTLE ROCK (AR) CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOY’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH – EPISODE 640
[00:00:00] Mike Klinzing: Hello and welcome to the Hoop Heads Podcast. It’s Mike Klinzing here without my co-host Jason Sunkle tonight, but I am pleased to be joined by Kyle Pennington, the brand new head coach at Little Rock Christian back for his second tour of duty on the podcast almost three years to the day from his first appearance.
Kyle, welcome back.
[00:00:20] Kyle Pennington: I appreciate you having me on again and crazy, three years almost to the day. So but excited to be with you tonight.
[00:00:28] Mike Klinzing: Definitely does not feel like it’s been three years since that first episode, but since that took place, you had a lot going on and you built the program at Russellville and the state of Arkansas into a winning program, a program that I’m sure as you left it to go to Little Rock Christian, you were very proud of what you’re able to accomplish.
So let’s start there. Kind of give us a quick synopsis of your four years at Russell. How you had success, what it took to have success there. And then as we move forward, we’ll dive into the opportunity at Little Rock.
[00:01:07] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, for sure. I think four years in Russellville and you know again, we had that first interview after that first year.
And so much goes into that and I would recommend any young coaches or any coaches can learn and listen to that first one. Just because so much there of you know, that was my first year as a head coach period. Worked for some really good guys, but there’s nothing like experience.
And that was a great experience. And then the next three years, a great experience, Johnny Johnson, the AD there believed in a young assistant coach and gave me my start there and very grateful for that. But yeah, we had quite a bit of success and, and that was built with players.
Ultimately and there in Russellville for four years, won four conference championships And had 11 All-state selections and I got four current guys playing college basketball. Danye Ma is a kid that just signed with Connor state Juco.
A Juco over in Oklahoma. And he’s a guy that is going to have a, a good career and just really excited that I was there to be a part of the growth of that program. And always been taught to leave things better than you find them and I feel like definitely believes that we did that for sure.
[00:02:41] Mike Klinzing: When the opportunity at Little Rock Christian. Comes your way. When you start thinking about that chance to go and take a new job. Was that something that you were actively looking for an opportunity? Was that something that just because of what Little Rock Christian can be in your mind that it was intriguing?
Just talk about your initial response to that opportunity.
[00:03:10] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think this is gonna sound cliche, but I just try to be really, really good in the moment. Try to be really good wherever my feet are planted and that’s another, another thing that my father taught me and I wouldn’t say that I planned to go to Little Rock Christian, it just kind of happened organically. And but obviously when the opportunity came about you know, it was a no brainer for, for me and my family, my wife, Katelyn, and my little boy Harrison will be six in October. And my little daughter Harley will be three in June.
So crazy how much, since the first time we’ve talked, the family has grown, but you know, it was definitely an intriguing opportunity, once it came about,
[00:04:06] Mike Klinzing: Does somebody call you about it? Do you find out about, do you hear about the opening to the coaching grapevine? How do you get when that the job’s going to be open.
[00:04:18] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. So it was a pretty it was a known fact in the state of Arkansas really all year this basketball season that the previous coach was, was going to retire. He had a really great career at a few different schools in the state of Arkansas. And so people knew that he was going to retire.
It was his last year. And so it was definitely a known throughout the state. I think they interviewed over 30 people for the job throughout the year. And it was a thing for me that I didn’t speak to anybody At Little Rock Christian until after the season was over.
Just my style of doing things, I’m not a guy out here again, seeking the next job or anything like that. I think it’s just important to be where you’re at. And I’m, I’m a man of faith and believe God has a role in that about where my family needs to be.
And so y Once it came up I’ve talked with Johnny Watson, the athletic director at Little Rock Christian and drove down and met him at night. You know, and kind of a respectful way for both of us you, that we can we can meet at night and just talk about this job and see if there’s mutual interest in.
From there went to a formal interview and with, with Coach Watson and the head of school Dr. Gary Arnold. And so you know, I think it’s just a situation that it came about pretty quickly for, for me. And so obviously was excited. And once I talk with coach Watson and, and Dr. Arnold and got a feel for what they wanted out of the program what they wanted to program to be within the school and then the school itself and the culture of the school and what I believe we can do with this program. And so obviously from there took the job and have been on the job here for over a month.
And just excited about where we’re headed.
[00:06:28] Mike Klinzing: What were some of the things that you wanted to ask them or questions that you had about Little Rock Christian, kind of where their philosophy was, where their head was when it came to building the type of high school basketball program that you wanted to be a part of that you want to.
[00:06:50] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think just really more conversation and, and getting to getting to know them as people and getting to know coach Watson. And I think when you’re going to work for somebody and work closely with somebody you obviously want to get along with that person and have mutual respect.
And definitely felt that in our conversations he was very open with me and kept me in the loop on things. And then I think too is just there’s a few things within a basketball program obviously You know, the kids that are in the school that play basketball.
What’s the program currently look like? where do they want the program to be in five years? And then just that part for me is what are their expectations? I think it’s very it’s a good idea to have clear expectations up front, but to understand those on both sides.
And so again, all those things kind of worked out for us and it’s kind of the way it went
[00:07:57] Mike Klinzing: Before we go forward at Little Rock Christian, let’s go backwards to Russellville. When you take the job, you obviously have to go back and have a conversation with the Russellville community with your players.
What was that like? What was your process for meeting with the players, talking to them, explaining. The move that you were about to make and just emotionally, what was that like for you?
[00:08:21] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think everybody does that differently. And for me it was a very emotional time for sure.
Again with it being my first head coaching position and, and the way that we kinda got the program rolling. Again you win 85 games in four years with some really great players and some great people to be around that you’re working with as well. You know, I think that it’d be crazy not to be emotional.
And so the night before telling my team I didn’t sleep real well. And then leading up to that moment, a raw moment with my team is the only way to say it and told them that we were heading to her family who said to Little Rock And it wasn’t a 15 minute deal, you know I sat with them and there were tears and there were hugs and, and those things, and these are guys that I will continue to have a relationship with the rest of my life.
And that’s what my philosophy is, building relationships with people and being very intentional so they know that you care about them. And so that moment was about those guys. That that’s what that moment was about. So you know, it was, it was definitely an emotional and a hard moment to have, but it was needed.
And I know those guys were respected for that.
[00:09:51] Mike Klinzing: What were the conversations like with your wife leading up to the decision to take the job, because obviously there’s more than just let’s take the job. There’s moving the family, getting into a whole different environment, going from a public school setting to a private school setting.
So talk a little bit about what your conversation sounded like with your wife.
[00:10:15] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. You know obviously,
[00:10:17] Mike Klinzing: The wife’s in charge, right. A happy wife, happy life.
[00:10:20] Kyle Pennington: And so I think it was very important that I got her down there after that initial interview with coach Watson, that she came down the next time and toured the school and the facilities and For Harrison, our little boys going into kindergarten.
So it was important for her to see that and feel like it was a fit for our family. You know, so and, and she was excited and that was a good, a good thing and kind of the funny part is I was, I was off doing an interview. And she was with someone else kind of touring and, and looking through the school and, and meeting with people.
And so when we finally got back together I could see it in her face she didn’t have to say a word you know, her eyes lit up and that was a good feeling. Right. And again, as a God thing to me, I feel like we, we, we both knew as soon as we saw each other, again, that this was going to be a great opportunity for for our family.
And that, that these guys in this team there’s program that it was a great fit for me as a coach,
[00:11:37] Mike Klinzing: Where are you on the moving process?
[00:11:40] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, so I am we are, we are right in the thick of it. We, we close on our house in Russellville of next Friday and then you know, With the market the way it is.
I’m not sure how it is up there, but here in Arkansas, it’s a good time to sell. It’s a tough time to buy. And so we have secured a house in Little Rock and we close about 20 days later. Then then closing on the first house, the house that we’re selling in Russellville. And so not bad of a gap early in this market, to be honest.
So got some guests and the lot and up the movers and, and some storage space for those 20 days. And then, and then we’ll move it into the new house and by mid June, we will get completely settled and. I have an aunt and uncle that live in live here in Little Rock that have been gracious enough to let me stay with them through the week.
And then on the weekends, I go back to Russellville and try to help the wife pack and play Mr. Mom for a little while.
[00:12:54] Mike Klinzing: Yeah, it’s just taking a new job, right. There’s no other complications that go along with their ICO. Exactly.
[00:12:59] Kyle Pennington: Right. You know, and that’s why you know, these questions, I love how just kinda raw you’re getting with them because I think it’s important for others to know I think a lot of people think, Hey, you get a new job, there’s this flashy thing.
And it is, it’s great. You know, we’ll get into all that. But the you know, this, this side of it you, you’ve definitely got, got some things that here for a month. The thing I keep telling my wife is anytime that’s like, this is, we know it’s the right decision. And, and it won’t be like this part for long, you know?
And it’s only gonna make us stronger for sure.
[00:13:36] Mike Klinzing: Sometimes it’s hard to see that in the moment, but that’s a hundred percent, right. It’s sometimes difficult to see it as you go through and pack it up and moving and anybody. Moved at all, especially when you have kids, the amount of stuff that you got to pack up and move, and yet still have access to.
And all that. It’s just I, I remember those days, I remember those days. Well, I moved when let’s see my daughter was probably two and my son was about four months. So I can definitely relate to trying to get everything packed up and just, yeah, it’s, it’s a lot of it’s a lot of work a lot more than I think sometimes people haven’t done it perceived from the outside.
So kudos to you for getting that done for sure. All right. So let’s jump ahead now to Little Rock Christian, you get the job who are some of the first people, stakeholders that you feel like you got to talk to in order to get a handle on where the program is. So you can start to figure out, formulate what you want to do and what you need to do.
In order to build the program and you want it to be, so who are those conversations?
[00:14:47] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. So the coaches that are on staff already within the program that was, other than the athletic director and the head of school and the, and those people that the coaches on staff that was, it was very important that I meet with them and, and try to meet with them immediately, you know get got down to Little Rock Christian and they had, I met the players and met the coaches briefly.
But then I just I wanted to meet with, meet with the assistants and, and the junior high coaches immediately, and just kind of get their feel for where the programs at, where they want to see it go and how we can do that together and, and if they see themselves continuing to be a part of that.
And so that was important. And where then my point from there is being very intentional about where these guys sit on this bus, what seed are they in moving forward. And so I think those conversations really helped me with that. And speaking to each of those guys and help see where the program was at.
And then immediately after that was having one-on-ones with the players and, and just kind of seeing where they’re at personally. Again, I’m building relationships with people is the most important part of this. And anybody that tells you differently, maybe they can do it that way.
But this is our way of doing it. And so just meeting with those guys and what were things that, how do they feel where are they at right now as a basketball player, but where they’re at as a person and I’m trying to help guide them forward. And so those, those were the conversations that were had in the first week to week and a half,
[00:16:46] Mike Klinzing: What were some of the insights that you took away from your conversations first with the coaches and then from the players?
So you can either lump those together into one answer, or maybe you came away with some different insights from the coaches and from the players advice.
[00:17:02] Kyle Pennington: So, I think just overall that this program wasn’t in dire straits, you know coach Finley, I’m the guy that was here before has done a heck of a job throughout his career and has won state titles here in the state of Arkansas.
And just different things that each coach shared that they think within the program that’s been done really well. And then things they’d like to see. And, and I think that those some of those conversations I think are you just want to make sure they understand that and that they feel valued with, with me as the head coach I want to make sure those guys know that I value each of their opinions and what they bring to the table.
And then with the players too is Yeah, obviously different styles of play or, or how they how they see themselves continuing to grow as a player within the program. And I had players ask me questions And why are you here?
And, And how do you play, what’s your philosophy? And so it was a good first week and a half to 10 days of just having conversations with those people. And it, it’s, it’s something that you can’t, you can’t get back. And I think that’s why it’s very important to do it early.
And, and it’s raw, it’s in the moment you’re going to get everybody’s emotions and, and that’s important. Because I think you want to, again let them know that we’re here. To get this thing rolling then we’re going to do that with you. And so there were good conversations for sure.
[00:18:50] Mike Klinzing: Did you end up bringing back most of the staff or where are you in that process?
[00:18:55] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, so I did bring back most of the staff shuffled around a little bit of, of where they were. You know, I had Corliss Williamson who played college basketball for the Razorbacks and, and won a national title.
And then played in the NBA for various teams He is a volunteer assistant with us. He does a heck of a job. He is a very detail oriented with the players. And so speaking with him and, and seeing where the things that he, he brought to the table for us which is so much, it’s invaluable, all the things he can bring to the table coached in the NBA.
And so he was already on staff as a volunteer assistant and I thought it was great to keep him keep him at the high school level in that seat. Coach Leonard Blocker is a guy that he was the eighth grade coach. And he was just at the lower level. He did not Coach on the high school level.
And so he’s good with player development. He’s got two sons that are, are highly recruited basketball players. One will be a senior this year. He’s actually at Sunrise Christian and he’s got three sons, excuse me. But two that are older and one that’s quite younger, but the two older ones the senior Laden is at sunrise Christian.
And then Landrum is a junior for us at Little Rock Christian. And so he has really developed them as players. And so I really thought it was valuable, that he could help do that for all of our players. And I think it’s important to see him do that.
And he dips down to the elementary ages and, and works with them with his younger son, licensed some other, some other kids within the school. And and so we, we kept him on but he, he is the head seventh grade coach which is the first, first coach that’s actually within our program. So he, he sees the kids first and again with player development, I just thought being very intentional with that, I think that’s a great a great spot.
And then he’s also assistant coach. With me at the high school. And so he’s involved with us on the day to day with our high school program and what we do and then what we implement. And so you know, another guy that’s very valuable to us. David Torres is a coach who has a ton of experience you know, 37, 38 years of coaching and the state of Arkansas.
He’s, you know an older coach, but he has a ton of energy and ton of positive energy that he brings to the table. And so I thought he was important. He was a guy that was the head ninth grade coach. They had junior hockey coach here in Arkansas. Ninth grade is, is like w is like the head junior high.
And so I actually moved him up to be an assistant at the high school. I think he’s a guy that just brings a lot of wisdom and again, just being very intentional with with our coaching staff and where they’re at with us in each seat. And so I’m very, very happy to have a coach Torres up there with us And in that seat.
And so and then Andrew counts counts was the seventh grade coach previously and he’s moved up and, and he’s coaching. The junior high now. So he’s, he’s coaching eighth and ninth grade basketball. And the younger coach you know, few years of experience. But man just, he’s a sponge.
He’s just soaking up anything and everything from all the coaches And watches, lots of film. And it’s just a, you can tell that he is wanting to continue to learn and continue to get better. And so he’s going to be a heck of a coach as well. So you know, very excited about, about our staff and, and the spots that we have them in.
Think that it’s going to be very good for our kids. Think that they’re going to this serve our kids a Little Rock Christian, and that’s the main point of, of being very intentional is how can we best serve. The student athletes at, at Little Rock Christian. And so with our staff, with where they’re at and again with their seat on the bus, I think that I think we’re headed in the right direction for sure.
[00:23:35] Mike Klinzing: Once you have those guys in place and you solidify that they know their role they’re going to be a part of the program moving forward. What, from a standpoint of thinking about building the program into what you want it to be, what’s the first step or two that you took after you looked and sort of surveyed the landscape.
What were the first one or two things once you had the staff in place that you started to focus on?
[00:24:07] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. You know, it’s funny you asked that question because the first question that I asked our staff was what were the first three things that needed to be. Addressed or, or done, what are the most, three important aspects that to get this program rolling?
And so obviously got some different answers. Got some that were the same. And so for me, it’s, it’s a few things you off the floor. Number one is, is, is that we build meaningful relationships with everybody involved in our program. You know, obviously the players are who we’re centered around.
We want to be a player centered program. So we’re centering around those players and how we can help develop them on and off the floor. And so obviously building relationships with them, building relationships within our coaching staff and then building relationships with, with everybody involved.
And that’s, that’s the parents as well I think in today’s. Day and age, if you think you can just that’s not a part of the program, then, then you’re crazy. You know, I think it’s very important that parents feel involved and want to be involved. And we all have a role within this program.
And so you know, once people feel like they can trust you with their kids that’s a very important step in a program to getting everybody on the same page. Again, number one, I feel like it’s just build those relationships with everybody within the program. And then too, we’ve gotta be very proactive with what we do and not be reactive.
I think the people that are the best at what they do, no matter what they do, if it’s a business world, if it’s the NBA, if it’s anything that you’re doing learn to be proactive in decision-making learn to be proactive and moving forward with, with a program instead of trying to react to everything.
And so setting our expectations with our players and our coaches and what we want to be. And beginning to work what that’s gonna look like each day and in the last two or three weeks, I really feel like our team’s grown a ton on the floor. And the way we’re wanting to play ostensively and defensively, but that takes a lot of time.
I’m a guy that’s you know, I’m a, I’m a Jay Wright Villanova guy with how we’re going to play and, and mix in a little NBA with the five wide stuff. And so when you’re going to play that way are you, there’s a lot of breakdown to it.
There’s a lot of work, a lot of footwork. Lots of shot fakes, lots of jabs, lots of two-foot finish. And that’s a lot of breakdown drills. But everybody knows you’ve got to play this game too. So I think it’s, it’s very important that they get time. We’re playing four on four or five on five as well.
And so Rome wasn’t built in a day but each day we just want to take a step forward. Think it’s very important that we keep an eye on the process and take a step forward each day. And so that’s the things that we’re working on right now, for sure.
[00:27:29] Mike Klinzing: How much time have you spent, did you spend watching film of your players from last year to get a feel of kind of what you had coming back from a talent standpoint and that obviously when you’re out on the floor with them and you’re working on the things that you just talked about, you’re getting to see them firsthand.
So how have you kind of looked at, Hey, what do we have here on the roster? In terms of how we’re going to play, what the, what the philosophy is going to be moving forward based on the roster construction, what your kids can and can’t do. How much have you watched film and then how much have you kind of using your judgment as you’re seeing them as you’re getting them more on the floor?
[00:28:08] Kyle Pennington: Right. Watched film from day one, still watching film you know, watched full game film. We have hudl and hudl assist and we have the hudl focus camera. So got lots of resources to watch the film. And so then here lately, this last about week and a half, I’ve been breaking down each players you know, shots with the huddle assist And where, where they’ve shot the ball well from watching the film and then looking at the shot chart and then where they may struggle a little bit. And then And then to you know, assists and steals and turnovers And you, you can basically look at any stat you want to. And so just trying to get a feel for each player breaking down those, those stats. And then again, now that we’re on the floor you know, seeing where they’re at right now, and again, there’s room for growth and, and we’re in early may here.
And so yes, I’m, I’m getting a feel for each player, but I think you also, it’s important that they, they know you have a. For them not just as a team, but individually you got guys that want to continue to play college basketball. You got guys that you know, want to win a state championship in high school basketball, or want to be successful part, want to grow want to move on from playing JV to play on varsity.
You know, everybody has their own goals and aspirations. And so you know, for me, it’s let’s align this, these, this vision for each player to better our team, but also let’s better these guys individually. And so you know, that’s, we’ve got time here in May, June and July to continue to grow as a team.
And, and for these guys to grow individually
[00:29:59] Mike Klinzing: At Russellville, how did you get those goals and aspirations for the players to fit in with the goals and aspirations that you have for the team? Because obviously. When your players get better and are striving to be the best they can be. That can be good for your team, but occasionally players can have goals that maybe aren’t realistic, or maybe they just don’t mesh quite as well with sort of the vision that you have for the teams.
When you’re having conversations with players about, I want to move out from JV to be a varsity starter, and maybe it’s a kid who that’s at this point in their career, that’s not realistic for them. So just one of those conversations, like where you want to help your players grow, you want them to be striving to get better and have goals on an individual level, but yet ultimately.
You want the individual to fit in with the team vision that you have. So how do you balance those two?
[00:31:00] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. You know, that’s a great question. I think that’s a work in progress and, and teaching, teaching each kid that, that it is a process. This isn’t just something we say. You know, we were just trying to take a step forward each day And if these are your goals, there are certain ways to get there.
You know, if, if you’re just practicing, when you come into the gym to practice with our team and you don’t spend extra time on your own or with a trainer or you know, on your summer team I think it’s you know, that that’s, that’s the first conversation is how much time are you spending to get better at this game.
And so that’s a big piece of it. And then, I think it’s important to be upfront and be. Be truthful with players about where they’re at. But also again, know that they, that they need to know you believe in them and that you can help them grow to where they want to go.
As long as they’re willing to put in that work. And so that’s, that’s things we’ve done in the past and, and then just having a growth mind. You know you know, are you getting one step better each day? And, and do you see the positive outlook? And there’s so much to that. Not all in this game of basketball, but in life is do you have a growth mindset or are you too, do you have a fixed mindset?
And we want to have a growth mindset in everything we do. And we want to model the traits that we want to see out of our team. You know, all the coaches, we want to model the traits that we want to see out of the individuals and, and out of the team and, and then reinforce those, you know the huge there’s a huge part of winning is, is just becoming a true team.
A huge part is sacrificing your personal wants and needs for the betterment of the team. And so again, individual skill work and, and and things to get guys better individually to attain their goals to play at the next level. And then at times as a team, what is best for this team to win.
And I think that that’s, that’s an important part of of winning and, and for the coaches, not as well as we gotta make sure that everybody’s on the same page. You know we’ve had some, some tough conversations in the past and conversations that I call heart to heart conversations where teams in a locker room or are sharing what they, what they think is within this team is going well and things that we need to get better at it.
Those tough conversations, help you continue to grow as a team and help you to build real lifelong relationships. And those things are very important to the chemistry of the team. And then I think trust in your people and that comes with time and coaches, coaching coaches, trust in coaches coach coaches, trust in players and then players.
Trusting the coaches and then players trust each other, you know? And so believing in each other do, do you believe in the vision that set before you, do you believe you know, believe in yourself and believe in your coaches and believe in your teammates and great things are going to happen?
That’s, that’s what we’ve, we’ve said a on and, and I believe those things. And if, if we can continue to do that then we’re going to be successful.
[00:34:40] Mike Klinzing: How long did it take you at Russellville to build that kind of trust and those types of relationships where, when you were having the types of conversations like you’re talking about when you’re in the locker room or in a meeting room or watching cell where you can have those honest conversations and kids are really opening up and sharing things about themselves, making themselves vulnerable, because we all know that if you are a player or a coach for that matter, And you haven’t been in that kind of environment that the first time a question or a conversation like that comes up, there’s a lot of people looking out of the side of their eyes at each other going, well, I’m not going to say anything.
Are you going to say anything? What are we going to do? How long does it take for you to kind of get your team used to the way you want them to communicate?
[00:35:32] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. I don’t think there’s any set time. But I’ll tell you this. It, it takes quite a while, you know? I don’t think my first year at Russellville, it took almost the whole year.
You know, we got to second semester before those conversations were being had. And, and once they were we took off because again there’s trust in that locker room. But. It takes, it takes time for sure. In each team, it takes a different amount of time. And I think not to force that as well.
You know, I think they gotta trust you, but part of that is everybody’s been through something. Everybody has something they could, they can share or bring to the table and help somebody else. And I think that starts with the coaches, you know you know, this coaching staff that we have here at Little Rock Christian there’s, each of them can, can reach kids and in a way that is very powerful just by sharing a time where adversity hits.
Whatever that adversity might be whether there was as a player or a coach or whatever, And sharing that we’re real people and, and I think again building relationships with people you know, if, if I’ve said that once I’ve said it a hundred times on this podcast, but it’s true.
It’s what I believe in. And, and I think it’s what leads to the ultimate success.
[00:37:06] Mike Klinzing: What’s a story that you shared from your personal life with your players, that Little Rock Christian to do exactly what you just said to help them to see you as a well-rounded human being and not just as their coach and to sort of model for them what you.
Hope and expect will be there for communication.
[00:37:27] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. So I haven’t shared a ton yet with Little Rock Christian players, but what I’ve got is I’ve got pictures on my desk and those pictures all have a, have a deep meaning. And there’s, there’s a bunch of different pictures and I’ll give you one example is there’s a picture of a little house that my dad and his five siblings, my dad’s one of six siblings and he’s right in the middle or he’s number three.
They grew up in a little house, actually in Little Rock on north Taylor street, just, just north of war Memorial stadium. And they lived with their mom. Dad was, was an alcoholic. You know, they, it, it, wasn’t always the best of times when it came to money. And it’s very important to show them that, that Hey, here’s where I, where I’m going with.
This is you know, my father and his siblings and where they’re at today and the success that they’ve had comes from that little house and, and their mother paving away from them. And I think about that and almost get emotional here about how my dad raised me and, and, and where I’m at today and where I wouldn’t be without him.
And and that all goes back to that, that little house on north Taylor street in Little Rock Arkansas. And so I’m very grateful. For my grandmother and the way that she raised those six children, I’m very grateful for the way that, that my father raised me. And that you can come from anything humble beginnings however you want to talk about it to get to where you want to go.
It’s, it’s just, how hard are you willing to work? And what how big is your heart And who do you want to be in life? And so you know, that’s just one little story of that picture. So I have, I have probably seven or eight picture frames around that. Each of them have a story to, to share, you know?
And so I think it’s important again, just to show, show who you are and, and, and show that that you’re going to that that’s, that’s helped you get to where you’re at today.
[00:39:49] Mike Klinzing: Being able to share those personal stories and using a photograph. It’s an interesting technique. I know, as a teacher, when I was back in the classroom many, many years ago, that that was one of the things I’d like to do when I was trying to teach writing is just show the kids a picture, say, Hey, tell the story.
And I’m sure that as the kids come in and sit in on your desk and they’re looking at the pictures and becomes organic when they ask, Hey, what’s this a picture of it? What’s this? Why is this picture important to you? And it allows you to tell that story of your dad and where he grew up. And obviously then there’s lessons that you can incorporate all throughout your interactions with your players.
And to me, when you’re doing that, now you’re having an impact well beyond the basketball court, which I know is something that is important to you. And that, that you’ve tried to have an effect on your kids’ lives, not just as basketball players, but as human beings as well. And by opening yourself up and telling those stories and sharing, I think that.
Gives you an opportunity to have a bigger impact with them? Well, on and off the basketball court. So let’s get back to on the court stuff moving forward. When you think about what you’re going to do this summer and what you’ve done thus far in the spring, how much do you balance out individual skill development versus them getting up and down and playing five on five and starting to put things in that you’re going to use next fall.
Just where do you see the design of your summer program? What does that going to look like?
[00:41:21] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, so we we’ve got a summer calendar, all ready for the guys and, and kind of our plan. Of attack to get better. And for the month of May right now we’re lifting in the weight room and we’re doing some team skill work.
I would say there’s individual skill work involved within our team, bright down on offensively and defensively. But it’s, it’s ultimately building up to the team and that’s, that’s going into early June. You know, we’ve got a few team camps that we’re going to, or going down to, to Ole miss team camp in early June and to continue to, to grow as a team and I think that trip will be a great shirt stay in one night overnight in the dorms and hopefully continuing to to build a team chemistry there and we’re coming back the next week and play.
Team camp at, at Hendrix college here. And it’s in Conway, just north of Little Rock it’s. And it’s called the big red team camp and a team camp that you know, is, is probably the best one in the state of Arkansas. You know, a lot of the great teams within the state are in that team camp. And so another chance for us to, to go compete against other teams.
And then you know, last couple of weeks of June before the dead period, there’s a two week dead period here in the state of Arkansas where no contact and kids can’t be on school campus, kind of give them those two weeks off. Those next two weeks will be where we focus. We’re getting back on focusing individually and then when we come back from the two week dead period in early July you know, we’ll, we’ll really hit our weight program horde through July and into August.
And, and the second portion of that will be our skill development individually we’ll have a couple of you know, summer league nights that we’ll play. But for the month of July, it’ll be a lot of individual sayings that they need to get, you know better at for us but ultimately for them and the things that they want to grow.
And again, when everybody has a vision for themselves and we want to help help that make become a reality. So that’s, that’s kind of what the summer looks like within our approach.
[00:43:48] Mike Klinzing: Moving from a public school to a private school, obviously has an impact on how you develop younger players that are eventually going to be part of your high school program.
And talk a little bit about the idea at a private school of being able to attract more players where the quality of what you’re trying to do in your program. Obviously you’re in a public school, you are limited to the kids that live at your public school district. When you are at a private school, you have a wider reach to be able to draw student athletes from areas outside of the city in which your school resides.
So just talk a little bit about how you plan to be able to be attractive to. Players, both from a school standpoint and a basketball standpoint, what are the conversations look like around that idea?
[00:44:53] Kyle Pennington: Yeah I think number one is here in the state of Arkansas there’s very strict or rules when it comes to recruiting.
And obviously, there’s a stigma there that private schools all recruit And we’re, we’re not going to get into the recruiting world. You know, we’re obviously we’ve got guys that are going to be kind of homegrown within our private school as well that they grow up through the school.
It is a K through 12, actually pre-K through 12 school and I believe it’s the largest, if not top two largest private schools in the state of Arkansas. And so I’m so much stubble from, but yeah, I think private schools in general just from the academic side Little Rock Christian, the things that are, that are offered academically have a draw for, for students.
And I think you know, sometimes students might be a football player or basketball player or whatever. And so I think the school being being the number, one thing that man, the academics are very the very rigorous at Little Rock Christian. So I think parents really want to help their help their students get, get where they want to go in college and ultimate in their career.
And so you know, on the basketball stamp side of it Again, we’re just going to build our program and do it the way that we know is the right way to do it. And, and all those other things kind of take care of themselves. That’s, that’s kind of the way that, that, that we’re going to go about it.
[00:46:32] Mike Klinzing: What’s been the most pleasant surprise that you’ve experienced since you’ve been there, maybe something that you didn’t expect and you’re like, wow, this is even better than what I thought or, well, I didn’t expect that this would be in as good as shape. This is really going to help us as there been something that stands out in that respect.
[00:46:53] Kyle Pennington: Yeah. Two things. One within the school community itself a very tight knit community you know, at Little Rock Christian, a very almost a small town feel within, within this Little Rock Christian community with the parents and the teachers and the, and the students and, and student athletes and coaches.
And so really the support within the school and the program are really think is, is, is going to be great. I think we can get this thing rolling and get those stands rocking. And I think that it’s an opportunity where here at this school, where that could absolutely happen. You know, it’s not, it’s not a thing where you’re, you’re just going to have the parents there and some students how I really think.
It’s a community. And I think people will come out to be supportive of, of our, our, our young guys. And and then all the basketball floors, there’s, there’s there’s a lot of talent here. We’ve, we’ve got a wide range of talent and again name Landrum blockers, a junior forest that is gonna be a heck of a player.
And we have a senior Ben Fox. Who’s another guy that there is going to be a great player, chorus, Williamson Jr. Jamil Wesley, the second you know, JJ, Andrews is a guy that’s going into the ninth grade. And for Jack’s very highly, we’ve got guys that play and, you know Eydl teams and we’ve got guys at clown, local AAU teams and again, we’ve, we’ve got a wide range but a lot of talented kids I just named a few there, but we’ve got so many young, talented kids you know, even in the seventh, eighth and ninth grade.
And then guys on our JV program that, that we know are talented, they’re going to work hard and, and continue to get better to eventually play at the, at the varsity level. And so you know, I just really believed that the talent level within the program is in a good spot and it’s not good in a great spot and will only continue to get better.
And so I’m very excited about that and excited about all of these players and and just continuing to get to know them and, And just best serve them as we can.
[00:49:25] Mike Klinzing: Let’s go back to the community piece and look at what you, as the head coach, as the face of the program, what can you do?
What do you plans do? What did you do at Russellville to try to engage the greater student body? The faculty members of Russellville. You’re talking about people who are community members who live in Little Rock Christian. It’s a little bit different. You’re talking about the school community rather than just a specific within the city limits, but just how do you as the head coach, how do you go about generating excitement about the program to get more people to come through the turnstiles on Friday night when you start playing next fall?
[00:50:10] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think there’s a, there’s a few things. Yeah. One within our program, let’s build those relationships too. On the outside the social media is a big part, Twitter, Instagram all those things making sure that you’re putting content out there for the community to see and as the season gets closer, what that content looks like whether a kinda some you know, beginning of the year pictures or countdown towards the season into, you know you know, a game graphic you know, on game days and all those things with social media, I think that’s an important piece.
And then I think with, within the school community is making sure that, that our faces are saying as coaches and players at other school events, whether that be football games or baseball games, or you know, anything You know, band concerts making sure that us as coaches are in the lunch room, talking to kids other than just our, our basketball players and that, that we’re entrenched in, in the school community, I think that gone or support, and then ultimately winning basketball games I think continues to, to start that buzz and, and people want to put, put in a great product out there on the floor, a team that people can get behind.
And I think that we have that with these, with these players, we’ve got a bunch of players with high character that are, that are good basketball players. And so just, just building that as it goes. And I think once we get to late first semester and then early second semester, I really think this community will, will come out and be very supportive for this.
[00:52:04] Mike Klinzing: Looking ahead to the season. How are you going to define success? Come next March when the season ends and you look back, how are you going to define whether or not it was a successful season?
[00:52:19] Kyle Pennington: You know, I think that’s a loaded question as well, but there’s, there’s a. You know, there’s all different types of success.
And you know I think to that you know, the last day has documentary with, with Jordan that leadership has a price. You know, winning has a price. And that’s a lot of hard work between now and then as far as winning goes but the winning’s gonna come if we do all the other things correctly, that scoreboard takes care of itself.
And that’s a lot of hard work to be put in by our guys. And then you know, I think too is just continuing to build a team. Are we a true team? You know, do we care about each other? Are we playing for each other? Are we playing for warriors across our chest? Where the Little Rock Christian warriors are we playing for the warriors?
Do we have a ton of pride implying for that? And I know a team is successful by the last game of the season and the last game of the season, whether you win or lose. If those guys are in that locker room with tears in their eyes, hugging each other, though, whatever, then you then you’ve been successful.
So long story short there, I think that last locker room is, is how I see, Hey, this journey, this journey I think it’s very important to that process and journey to fall in love with it. And if you did, then that last locker room you know, whether it’s win or lose is going to be is going to be tears and, and hugs and, and those things between, between everybody.
And that’s a special moment for sure.
[00:54:06] Mike Klinzing: That’s a great definition of success. I think it really sums up what the team is all about. And I love how you said whether it’s win or lose when the season’s over. Everybody looks around the locker room and says, and I wish this could keep going on forever. Then you know that you’ve done something right?
Regardless of what’s happening on a score, because ultimately we’re all judged by wins and losses in some way, shape or form by the outside public. But the reality is that the relationships you build you and I both know that as athletes, as coaches, that when you look back on your experiences, you don’t remember what the score was of every single game.
You don’t remember your record from every single season. What will you do remember are those special moments that you had with your teammates or with your coaching staff, and that’s really ultimately where you find what success is. And of course, if you do that well, I think it translates to wins and losses that translates to those wins on the scoreboard, but ultimately.
Those memories and that relationships that really provide meaning to what we do. So when you think about that as your definition of success in order to get there, and I’m sure you’ve thought about this, what are some of the roadblocks that could potentially derail you from getting to that success? When you think about what are the things that could potentially get in the way of you being able to get to that moment where you have that ultimate success?
[00:55:50] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think it’s just everybody that, that word sacrifice comes back to my mind. Hearing you ask that question is everybody has to sacrifice something for the team to be. That doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing shots necessarily off if you’re, if you’re a player it, doesn’t always, when you hear the word sacrifice that, that makes all humans kind of take a step back a little bit, right.
Because that’s who we are as human beings is, it’s hard to sacrifice, you know? And, but I think, and this team coming together. Sacrificing for each other, working for each other. And those are things that need to happen. And again, that’s a process. It takes a lot, a lot of time to get that.
And so just being very intentional every day And making sure that that we have the right guys in the right seat. And so I don’t think as much about the things that derail is, the things that they can keep it on the rails. And I think, again, that’s a growth mindset, that’s a positive mindset.
Definitely know the things that you know, however you want to call it selfishness. You know the me, me, me mentality the focusing on all the wrong things you know, outside noise, getting in, in the team that you know, that maybe. Telling guys the wrong things, you know? And so again that all comes back to do we trust each other in this within this program that we did, the players trust the coaches, the coaches trust to players, the coaches trust the coaches and the players, coach trust the players.
And I think that that’s something that gotta be very intentional with building each day. So, so that doesn’t happen
[00:57:45] Mike Klinzing: On a personal level. I’m going to ask you to self evaluate and you think about the personal characteristics of you as a person, as a coach. If you had to pick out one or two things about yourself that you feel have been critical to your success, what would those character traits be?
That you feel have allowed you to have success at Russellville and are going to allow you to have success moving forward at Little Rock Krish?
[00:58:21] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, I think there’s three things that have been very pivotal. And the success of our programs. That’s one is having a positive growth mindset. You know, that’s, that’s not a, that’s not a fake positivity is just there are you taking a step forward and then on a day that you’re not, are you gonna, are you gonna punch that mouse?
And punch that day in the mouth. The next day to take two steps forward and having that, having that positive outlook and having that growth mindset is very important to that. And then number two, I think is, is trusting the people around you within your program. And some of that early on in our program as blond trust as the head coach, to be honest and, and trusting people that, that they’re going to do their jobs.
And then number three is, is holding people accountable to, to doing their jobs players, coaches and myself holding myself accountable, having the coaches hold me accountable, you know? And, and so I think, I think those things. Are very, very important to the success of the program. And then lastly is just you know, building those relationships, building meaningful relationships with everybody within the program, being intentional about that and being true to yourself, you know if there’s anything that anybody needs to hear out here is be true to who you are.
You’ve had so many people influence your life personally, on a personal level. And then as a coach And what you want to be about and who you want to be be true to yourself and, and let those things fall into place.
[01:00:18] Mike Klinzing: What’s been the coolest part about having a former NBA player on your staff?
[01:00:21] Kyle Pennington: You know, I’m still building a relationship with Corliss. He’s a great guy. So many men, so much wisdom not just in basketball, but man I got, I got this staff where I’ve got these older guys. And I’m going to come back to your question, but it just reminded me. I’ve got, I’ve got these guys that are, that are older than me, all my staff.
And just their wisdom is as dads like you know, I’ve got two young children and just where they’re at with their, their kids. And I try to soak up anything and everything again, I’m going to learn every day, something from somebody. And so that’s been cool. But to get back to your question about Corliss, the ultimate professional.
The ultimate professional you know, shows up early, leaves late, a guy that’s going to do everything the right way and an ultimate professional. Very, very blessed To have him a part of our program and to you know, he’s, he not only played in the NBA, he coached in the NBA he was a head coach at division one college basketball.
He’s done a lot. And so just blessed to have him in our program and just being able to You know, bounce things off of them, you know each day at the end of practice, just bouncing two or three things off of him as been great and, and the same thing with our other guys I’ve got a lot of respect for, for our assistant coaches and who we have in place and, and all our coaches.
And so bouncing things off those guys and, and letting them you know, again, one, each, each one of them is very important. And, and they play a vital role in the success of our program. And so but yeah, for me personally, man, just being able to learn, learn from them as well out there learning, learning things for me.
And I’m definitely learning things from them.
[01:02:28] Mike Klinzing: What’s brought you the most joy to this point?
[01:02:29] Kyle Pennington: I think there’s two things. One off the floor is the way that everything’s worked out the way my wife is, is happy with the move. Our family’s happy with the move. How accommodating people have been to help us with this transition.
You know, another God thing is just how quickly our house sold how it’s sold as a whole nother story and how our how we found the house here. You know, again is when, when you’re in the right place, things fall into place. And so off the floor just, just that part and really helping helping ease the transition for me and my family.
And then on the phone. Watching these guys have little successes each day and then help them see those things. You know, I think it’s so easy for us as coaches to pinpoint the things we have to get better at. And that’s a great part too, because that’s our job. But you know, letting these kids see their, their successes, even if it’s as tiny step forward and see them start to believe in themselves and then believe in the program that we’re building.
Man, it’s, it’s fun to watch kids S that light bulb start to come on. And in the last two or three weeks, I’m starting to see that with these guys and their belief in each other, their belief in our coaching staff and where we’re headed. So, man, that gives me a ton of joy and kind of fires me up tonight for sure.
[01:04:02] Mike Klinzing: Before we wrap things up. I want to give you an opportunity to share how people can find out more about your program, whether you want to share social media, email, website, whatever you feel comfortable with. And also if there’s anything about the transition that I didn’t ask or that we didn’t hit on, that you wanted to make sure that get in there, he’s go ahead and do that.
And then after you go ahead and share that I’ll jump back in and wrap things up.
[01:04:29] Kyle Pennington: Yeah, for sure. You know, our, our program on Twitter is @LRCA_Hoops. That is our Little Rock Christian warrior basketball Twitter page. My personal one is @AKPennington. And just we always are sharing things about our program, sharing things about our players.
You know, it’s a big part of, of the recruiting process now, social media and making sure we’re getting content out there. And obviously see some of the things that we’re doing and how we promote those things within our program. You know, and then me personally, too, if you ever want to email me, my email is kyle.Pennington@littlerockchristian.com.
Again, want to help grow this game any way I can. And I want to I want to grow myself. More within the game. So always loved to connect with people. The coach told me a long time ago that that ball has magic in it. And the place itself it’ll take you and, and, and the people that you will meet and, and come in contact with you know, it’s amazing.
And so you know, that’s, I’m always willing to share, and I’m always an ear to listen and learn myself. So you know, that’s, that’s how you contact us or our program or, or me, and for sure excited about this. Thank you again for, for having me on for this second time. Hope this this was insightful for people as far as kind of a transition and how it works.
You know our story and how that’s worked for us at this point. And again, can’t thank you guys enough at Hoop Heads what you do to grow this game And excited, hopefully to come on and share some more success from Little Rock Christian in the future,
[01:06:26] Mike Klinzing: Appreciate those kind words. It’s certainly something that we take our responsibility and our privilege to be able to share.
We don’t take that lightly. So thank you for those kind words. It’s fun to have you as a member of our two timers club and being able to be a part of that and have you back on it, just learn a little bit more about what you’ve been able to do in this transition from one coaching job to another. We know it’s a spot that a lot of coaches will be in at some point in their career, going from one program to another.
And I think you provided a lot of insight as to how to go about doing that and just some ideas for coaches to think about as they transition from one job to another. So again, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time out of your schedule to jump out with us, to share with our audience and to just let people know what it is that you’ve been trying to do and how you’ve gone about making the transition.
So thank you and to everyone out there, we appreciate you listening and we will catch you on our next episode. Thanks.