B.J. Dunne - MIT Men's Basketball Head Coach - Episode 1196

B. J. Dunne is in his first year as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at MIT. He spent the past seven years at Gettysburg College, where he put together an 89-68 overall record (.567) and saw his teams advance to four straight Centennial Conference semifinals over the past four seasons. In 2024-25, he helped guide Gettysburg to the program's first 20-win season since 2007-08 and its highest national ranking in program history at No. 8, as the Bullets earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round before falling to top-seeded Wesleyan (Conn.) in the second round. Prior to Gettysburg, Dunne guided the Vassar College men’s basketball program for five seasons. In his first season as head coach, Dunne became the youngest head coach in the NCAA at all levels at the time, and in 2016, he was one of two Division III Coaches named to the Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team. Before his time at Vassar, Dunne spent a year as the men’s basketball top assistant coach at Emerson College in 2011-12 under Jim O’Brien, the former head coach at Ohio State University. He was also an assistant coach at Babson College in 2010-11. Dunne is a 2010 graduate from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He was a three-year letter winner and served as a student-assistant coach as a senior for the Bobcats. On this episode Mike and B.J. discuss the standards and expectations that Dunne seeks to establish both on and off the court in his first season at MIT, emphasizing the importance of fostering a cohesive team culture. Moreover, we explore the complexities of transitioning from a successful tenure at Gettysburg College to a prestigious institution such as MIT, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges associated with such a significant career move. Dunne shares his vision of cultivating an elite basketball program that mirrors the academic excellence synonymous with MIT, while also addressing the need for adaptability in coaching style and strategy. Ultimately, this episode provides a profound insight into the journey of rebuilding a program, underscoring the values of commitment, resilience, and community that are integral when taking over a new program. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Be prepared to take some notes as you listen to this episode with B.J. Dunne, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at MIT. Website - https://mitathletics.com/sports/mbball Email - [email protected] Twitter - @CoachBJDunne Visit our Sponsors! Give With Hoops Give With Hoops is a groundbreaking initiative that fuses basketball analytics with modern sponsorship. Built for teams who see data as opportunity, from AAU programs to college powerhouses. By tying on-court performance directly to community and sponsor engagement, Give With Hoops help programs raise more while deepening support from those who believe in the game. D3 Direct Recruiting Playbook Hoop Heads Listeners currently get 25% off! Your step-by-step guide to getting recruited as a college athlete at the NCAA Division 3 level. This course is designed by former D3 Athletes to take you from zero interest from college coaches to securing your first offer and putting you on the path to committing. The Coaching Portfolio Your first impression is everything when applying for a new coaching job. A professional coaching portfolio is the tool that highlights your coaching achievements and philosophies and, most of all, helps separate you and your abilities from the other applicants. Special Price of just $25 for all Hoop Heads Listeners. Wealth4Coaches Empowering athletic coaches with financial education, strategic planning, and practical tools to build lasting wealth—on and off the court. If you listen to and love the Hoop Heads Podcast, please consider giving us a small tip that will help in our quest to become the #1 basketball coaching podcast. https://hoop-heads.captivate.fm/support Twitter/X Podcast - @hoopheadspod Mike - @hdstarthoops Jason - @jsunkle Instagram @hoopheadspod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hoopheadspod/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDoVTtvpgwwOVL4QVswqMLQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.