We use shell every day. It’s our #1 teacher for defensive rotations. We layer in actions/constraints for the O and get tons of reps guarding.
We also play live a lot out of it. O stays with a basket, D only gets to O with rebounds or turnovers.
Is the Shell Drill the end all and be all?
No. But it’s a great tool to build defensive habits, break down & teach situations, and enforce max effort.
Here’s Ben McCollum using it in practice.
Coach McCollum had the best defense at the D2 level for about a 10 year span and is proving it again at the D1 level.
What do you think?
2 National Championships
4 Final Fours
10 Big 12 tournament championships
18 Big 12 Reg season championships
4x National Coach of the Year
6x Big 12 Coach of the year
2017 Basketball HOF inductee
841-272 all time record
52-24 tournament record
342-22 at home
An absolute LEGEND.
"The teachers that I loved back in fifth grade and fourth grade allow you to watch. Right?
The really good teachers allow you to watch games during school." - Travis Steele
Are you willing to do what it takes to get what you want? Saying it is easy. Doing it is hard. It’s supposed to be hard. Ask how bad you truly want it. I don’t care if it’s money, a job, or losing weight. It’s always and forever going to be you versus you. Believe you can.
Why Coaching Is Harder Than People Think (A Holiday Reminder)…
Because coaching isn’t just about plays, drills, or game nights.
It’s about people.
It’s about walking into practice every day and managing emotions you didn’t create but are responsible for.
Your own.
Your players.
Your assistants.
Parents.
Administrators.
Fans.
It’s about teaching kids who are all at different stages.
Different maturity levels.
Different confidence levels.
Different home situations.
And somehow holding them to the same standards while still meeting them where they are.
It’s about decisions that look simple from the stands but feel heavy from the sideline.
Who plays.
When.
Why.
How you communicate it.
And how that decision might land on a 16-year-old who ties their identity to minutes.
It’s about losing sleep over kids who won’t buy in.
Over conversations you need to have.
Over mistakes you replay in your head long after everyone else moved on.
It’s about being judged by people who see the outcome, not the process.
The scoreboard, not the hours.
The result, not the relationships.
And yet, you show up again.
You plan. You teach. You model. You care.
As the season slows and the holidays arrive, this is the reminder:
What you do matters.
Even when it goes unseen.
Even when it feels heavy.
Even when it’s hard.
Coaching is about influence. And influence lasts longer than any season.
That’s why coaching is harder than people think. And also why it matters so much.
As the year winds down, I hope you find a little rest, a little perspective, and a lot of pride in the work you’re doing.
🎄Happy Holidays, Coach.