A Pen And A Napkin Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #311 Nick Thompson

A Pen And A Napkin Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #311 Nick Thompson

Author: Martin Plum January 29, 2026 Duration: 1:22:03

Episode #311 features Nick Thompson, the head boys basketball coach at Elkhorn (NE). Coach comes from a lineage of great coaches and has learned from some of the best coaches in the state of Nebraska. Coach discusses his journey, being selective in the jobs he applied for, why Elkhorn was the job for him, growing as a coach, building a fundamentally sound program, the importance of defense and more! This was a fun conversation with one of Nebraska's best up and coming coaches!


Imagine a whiteboard session after a big game, the kind where strategy gets scribbled on whatever's handy. That's the spirit of A Pen And A Napkin. This weekly conversation lives at the crossroads of sport and creative thinking, diving deep into the art of coaching basketball. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a gym office, listening to the nuanced discussions about player development, offensive sets, defensive adjustments, and the philosophy behind building a team. It’s less about Xs and Os in a vacuum and more about the why-the human elements and the creative problem-solving that define the craft. You’ll hear authentic breakdowns of game situations, reflections on leadership, and practical ideas that often start with a simple sketch. Think of it as a portable mentors’ roundtable, a clinic distilled into conversation, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re on the sidelines or just appreciate the deeper layers of the game. Tune in for a podcast that captures the ongoing, ever-evolving dialogue at the heart of coaching.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A Pen And A Napkin
Podcast Episodes
Busting Brackets with A Pen And A Napkin! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:57
It's the best weekend of the year for hoops heads, so let's not just break down one bracket, but both! I brought in Nate Wall and Jacob Brindle from "The Greatest Coaches" podcast and we coaxed Mr. Tony D. Vis out of ret…
A Pen And A Napkin Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #315 Jamie Parish [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:24
Jamie Parish, the longtime head girls basketball coach at Sioux Falls Washington, jumps on the podcast to discuss a variety of topics in a really fun conversation! Coach Parish and I discuss growing his program through c…
The Notebook-Volume IX [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:00
We're back with another edition of "The Notebook"! We talk about . . . *Bracket previews for both Men's and Women's College Basketball and the tiers they fall in*A crazy weekend in hoops*Is it okay to criticize players p…
The Greatest Teams Podcast Volume XIII-The 1985-86 Boston Celtics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:40
What many people consider to be one of the greatest teams of all-time, if not THE greatest team of all time, the 1985-86 Boston Celtics featured NINE Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers in various ways, including "Ol…