Ross Hodge surrounds himself with a coaching staff built on trust—trust earned over years of battles in practice gyms, shared game-day strategies, long recruiting trips, and the highs and lows of collegiate basketball. As Hodge takes the reins of his first head coaching role, his selections aren’t about resumes stacked with flashy titles or power conference affiliations. They’re about chemistry, communication, and an unwavering belief in shared vision. His staff isn’t just experienced—they’re tested, proven, and aligned.
Hodge’s lead assistant, Brandon Chambers, isn’t a stranger to his coaching playbook or personality. Chambers and Hodge crossed paths years ago at a summer basketball camp, and the connection stuck. Their philosophies on defensive intensity and player development clicked from day one. Chambers is known for his tireless scouting habits and one-on-one work with guards, turning raw talent into disciplined, high-IQ players. Hodge trusts him not just to read opponents, but to read the room—knowing when to challenge a player, and when to put an arm around his shoulder.
On the other side of the bench is Anthony Goldwire, the team’s player development guru. A former pro with international credentials, Goldwire brings a worldliness that grounds the program. He and Hodge share an obsession with detail. Hodge, always pragmatic, leans on Goldwire to inject creativity into drills, to add professional polish to workouts. In pregame meetings, Goldwire doesn’t just talk about what the players can do—he talks about what they will do, with the right habits. That confidence permeates the gym.
Then there’s Marcus Hill, the quiet enforcer of the group. Hill is a defensive savant and the emotional barometer of the team. Hodge recruited Hill away from a rising mid-major where he’d built one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. They had collaborated before on clinics and summer recruiting circuits, but this was the first time their synergy would be tested over the grind of a full season. Hill’s voice might be soft, but when he speaks, players listen—and so does Hodge.
Their synergy isn’t accidental. Each member of the staff has spent years earning Hodge’s trust, not just by agreeing with him, but by challenging him. They’ve debated strategy over midnight film sessions and stood shoulder to shoulder on courts from junior colleges to Division I arenas. This is a staff with shared memories—of heartbreak losses, improbable upsets, and quiet victories in living rooms during recruiting visits.
In his first season, Ross Hodge isn’t guessing. He’s betting on continuity. He’s surrounding himself with men who know what he wants before he says it, who see the game the way he does but offer perspectives he values. This staff isn’t just familiar—it’s foundational. Together, they’re not building a program. They’re building a culture.
