Welcome 2 The 🐶 house with special guest Stephen Quillens

The Spaces features Coach Steve, host of Underdog Voices and a veteran youth coach, reflecting on his underdog ethos and development-first approach after an exhausting week of back-to-back games. He defines DOG as dedication, attitude, work ethic, and grit, and describes how he moved from football to basketball coaching through relentless learning, guided by mentors who were tough yet respectful. Steve prioritizes character over talent, choosing overlooked athletes with hustle and training them slowly and systematically on fundamentals until mastery, while tailoring toughness to each player’s temperament—echoing Gino Auriemma’s “coach ballplayers” philosophy. He critiques AAU team-hopping, hype, and participation trophies, urging athletes to seek feedback, stick with development, and detox from social media. His podcast gives young athletes a platform to tell their truth, build confidence, and reach nationwide. In Q&A, parents and hosts discuss mental toughness versus skills, balancing next-level discipline with keeping sports fun, and multi-sport benefits. Steve advises parents to research teams, be patient, avoid early specialization, and coaches to be transformative, not transactional—measuring wins by the people athletes become, not plastic trophies.

Dog House Twitter Spaces: Underdogs, Youth Coaching, and Whole-Person Development (Guest: Coach Steve)

Setting and Context

• Coach Steve opened by sharing he’s exhausted after a rough team weekend and a packed game slate: a Friday rivalry game, then an early Saturday “private vs. public” showcase (private schools vs. public schools at one venue), followed by a Wednesday game. He’s pacing himself with a game coming up the next day.
• The session took place on the Dog House Twitter Spaces, with a rotating crew of hosts and community members (including Correct, Kelly, Nikki, Candy), and shout-outs to Aiden, KP, E. Mac, Love, Ariel Beauty, and Dr. Hawkins.

What It Means to Be a “Dog”

• Coach Steve defines “dog” through the DAWG acronym: Dedication, Attitude, Work ethic, and Grit.
• In his teams and academy, DAWG is an operational standard—being fearless, relentless, and prepared for any situation without giving up.

Who Is Coach Steve Beyond the Title

• Family-first: his children are grown; his youngest daughter is about to graduate high school.
• Character-centric: he emphasizes doing the right thing, owning mistakes, and constant self-improvement.
• Balanced personality: serious about standards and accountability but approachable and fun.

Journey Into Coaching

• Origin: Over 20 years ago, he began helping his son’s football team. He refused to “Madden-coach” (copying video game plays) and instead committed to studying the game deeply, especially line play, upon quickly becoming a head coach.
• Transition to basketball: Though football came first in coaching, basketball was his first love. Prompted by his daughter’s interest, he moved into youth basketball, doubling down on development. He continues to study relentlessly—his home is full of basketball books and materials.

Mentors Who Shaped His Mindset

• Coach Herman (Bentlow) and Coach Blue—foundational influences in basketball.
• Coach White—football coach who pushed him into demanding roles (e.g., nose guard) despite his size in high school.
• Shared traits: tough yet respectful; no degrading athletes; high standards with dignity.

Adversity, Doubt, and Potential Pivot

• Regularly wrestles with whether to remain a sideline coach or shift into his academy and podcast full-time. He recounted a recent meeting with a parent that went smoothly because he prioritized listening—parents often want to be heard.
• His son’s perspective: “Baltimore is too small for you; more people need to hear and see what you do.” Steve is considering retirement from team coaching to focus on his academy and Underdog Voices podcast, while continuing mentorship off the sideline.

Identifying and Developing Underdogs

• Talent ID approach: Looks past superstars to the 6th–12th players—those who hustle and have something to prove. He prefers athletes who need development over athletes already scoring 20+ per game.
• AAU relationships: He often receives athletes cut from other programs because he’s known for development. He does not chase plastic trophies; he prioritizes turning overlooked athletes into complete players.
• Results: His first AAU team had 12 girls; 8 were previously bench players. Many ultimately played college basketball. During COVID, they trained outside and in gyms; by 11th grade, they were hard to beat. He frequently trains without charging.

Philosophy on Discipline, Accountability, and Confidence

• Standards-centric: Clear standards build confidence. Confidence and skill are both taught; neither is assumed.
• Modern context: Many kids spend less time outside and more time with screens, impacting social skills and confidence. Coaching must address both athletic and personal development.
• Whole-person development: His academy’s work spills into life—trusting oneself, building discipline, and mindset training are integral.

Coaching Toughness Without Breaking Confidence

• Individualized coaching: You cannot coach everyone the same. He coaches girls and boys as “ballplayers,” adapting to each athlete’s needs.
• Geno Auriemma influence: “I don’t coach girls; I coach ballplayers.” He calibrates intensity based on athlete goals: those aiming for college get coached at college standards; those playing for fun get scaled expectations without compromising growth.
• Emotional acuity: Recognizes that some athletes can handle hard coaching; others need a different approach. The coach’s job is to understand and respond effectively to each athlete.

Underdog Voices Podcast: Purpose, Format, and Reach

• Motivation: Tired of adults crowding the conversation; wanted to platform kids—especially underdogs—for their truths, experiences in AAU, ambitions, and what “underdog” means to them.
• Format: Real conversations with backstories, confidence themes, and a “Fun Fire Round” (fun team questions, NBA player preferences). He encourages honest talk about parents, pressure, and expectations, which often helps parents understand their kids better.
• Reach: Primarily virtual, connecting with kids nationwide (TX, CA, IL, etc.), plus an in-home studio for local interviews. Some families travel in person; one drove from North Carolina for a studio session. He finds potential guests on Instagram by observing work ethic and inviting overlooked kids.

Training Methodology and Case Study

• Approach: Slow, steady, basics-first. He emphasizes repetition, mastery, then counters—no flash (e.g., behind-the-back, step-backs) until fundamentals are solid.
• Expectation-setting: Training is “supposed to be boring” because repetition builds skill. Timelines vary (6 months to a year) based on frequency and commitment.
• Case study: A volleyball athlete (left-handed shooter) trained with him from morning through afternoon alongside AAU athletes. In ~6 months, she averaged 14 ppg in rec league with a polished one-dribble pull-up—built on fundamentals and consistent work.

Common Mistakes by Young Athletes and Parents

• Team-hopping (the “AAU transfer portal”): Athletes bounce teams seeking more minutes without addressing root issues (work ethic, trustworthiness, handling pressure, left-hand layups). You bring the same baggage to the next team.
• Actionable alternative: Ask the coach, “What do I need to do to earn more playing time?” Do the work. If you improve and still aren’t trusted/played, then it may be the wrong environment.
• Parental missteps: Falling for brand/hype and “shiny things” (big-name programs with 12+ players), which often limits development and minutes. Prioritize fit and growth over reputation.
• Example discussed: A high-profile transfer scenario as cautionary tale—choosing hype over long-term development.

Guidance to Overlooked or Underestimated Athletes

• Ignore social media comparisons; most hype is noise. Keep your head down and work.
• The marathon, not a sprint: Patient grinders surpass “next big thing” athletes over time.
• Dual-sport value: Many strong women’s basketball players excel in volleyball/soccer (e.g., Ashlyn Watkins, Joyce Edwards). Multi-sport participation builds athleticism, competitiveness, and resilience.
• On his team: His best overall athlete (first sport is tennis; also plays volleyball and basketball) hustles relentlessly and outworks others—her impact outweighs pure scoring.

Managing Attitudes and Parental Influence

• Non-negotiables: He does not tolerate poor character or corrosive attitudes, regardless of talent.
• Example: Cut three players over the summer—one specifically for attitude; in another case, he identified “performance anxiety” driven by a parent’s courtside reactions (athlete looking to parent after makes/misses). Protects team culture first.

Winning vs. Participation Trophies; Defining a “Win”

• Strong stance against participation or lower-place trophies (e.g., 2nd, 7th place ribbons). He believes they teach entitlement and dilute competitive spirit.
• True wins: Championships matter but are not the end-all. His deepest “wins” are enduring relationships—athletes who continue to call, visit, and share life milestones. He values the person they become over any plastic trophy.

Mental Training Over More Drills

• Core insight: Without mental toughness and preparation, skills collapse under game pressure (traps, bright lights, unfamiliar opponents). Many are “practice players” who struggle in games.
• Travel ball: Competing outside home regions introduces different physicality and “dog” levels—mental readiness determines performance.
• Parent (Nikki) affirmed: Out-of-state tournaments (e.g., Run for the Roses) revealed different levels of hustle and physicality; mental training was pivotal.

Parent Q&A: Injured HS Football Player (Age 15)

• Scenario: Parent (Kelly) described a son who dislocated/fractured a hip and now adheres strictly to diet and training—so disciplined he risks losing some teenage joy.
• Guidance: Commend the discipline—high school is the stage where next-level ambition becomes “a job.” Nutrition and program adherence matter. Also stoke joy: encourage pickup games with friends, non-structured play, and moments to be a kid. When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.

Sports Talk: Fandom and Predictions

• Fandom: Steve is more a “favorite player” fan than a team loyalist (e.g., Michael Vick; Julio Jones). Co-host banter spanned Seahawks vs. Patriots/Eagles, with jokes about league conspiracies and schedule strength.
• Women’s Final Four picks (Steve): UConn, South Carolina, LSU, and either UCLA or Iowa State as possibilities.
• Player admiration: Praised a dominant post player’s simple, efficient scoring and elite footwork (South Carolina’s bigs were cited in conversation). He uses such film study as teaching exemplars for his athletes.

Identity: The “Dog” Type

• If Steve were a dog: A pit bull—direct, intense, “go for the neck.” He wants his teams to “come straight at you.” An opposing coach once said, “I heard you come after people,” to which Steve replied: “I sure do.”

Final Takeaways for Parents and Coaches

• Parents:
  • Be smart and patient; make great decisions. Do research on teams; watch them before placing your child.
  • Avoid programs obsessed purely with winning at the expense of development.
  • Embrace the marathon view; let kids explore multiple sports when young—no early specialization.
  • Prioritize environments that build confidence, standards, and trust.
• Coaches:
  • Shift from transactional to transformative—see the athlete as more than a stat line.
  • Teach standards and belief, not just drills. Tailor toughness to the individual.
  • Protect team culture; do not let talent trump character.

How to Follow Coach Steve

• Underdog Voices: Instagram handle “underdogs voice” (with an “s” at the end). Linktree consolidates all platforms.
• Podcast availability: Spotify, Apple, and other major platforms.
• Primary activity hub: Instagram is where he posts and engages most.

Community and Vibe

• Dog House crew hosts weekly with a mix of sports talk, hoops pop-ups (Wells), financial conversations (KP’s Monetize & Money Moves), and fun social shows (sipping and paint). The session was lively, supportive, and full of humor, applause, and authentic exchange.