The Realities of Coaching a 1A School – Coach Connor Patten - Tintic High School

In this episode of Making the Team, Erik Soderborg sits down with Connor Patten, head basketball coach at Tintic High School, a small-town program in Eureka, Utah.Tintic is a 1A school - the smallest classification of high schools in the state. Coach Patten opens up about what it’s really like to lead a basketball team in a community where every player matters, every season is personal, and resources are limited — but passion runs deep.🎙 Topics include:Coaching challenges at a small high schoolHow to build a strong team culture with a small rosterBalancing mentorship, leadership, and developmentThe emotional highs and lows of rural coachingWhy small schools still matter in the world of high school sportsIf you’re a coach, player, or sports fan who believes in the power of heart over hype, this conversation will inspire and motivate you.👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews from Making the Team – where we highlight athletes and coaches shaping the game from the ground up.Be sure to follow Coach Patten's journey on his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/coach.patten/Follow Tintic basketball here: https://www.instagram.com/thsbbasketball/Please consider following us on social:https://www.youtube.com/@MakingTheTeamPodcast?sub_confirmation=1https://www.instagram.com/making_the_team/https://www.tiktok.com/@making.the.team⏰ TIME CODES ⏰0:00 Intro Teaser0:20 1A Realities2:38 What Tryouts Are Like3:59 Player Development5:47 Youth Development Pre High School8:30 Hopes and Dreams of 1A Players11:01 Picking a Staff14:15 Travel & Rivalries in 1A16:43 Swag and Fundraising18:43 Rural Economic Drivers22:44 Building a Culture of Winning Now26:25 Scouting Other Teams30:23 Connor's Coaching Journey37:18 Coaches and their Spouses38:43 This Upcoming Year43:20 Coaching Hard is Caring45:33 Entertainment in a Small Town48:36 School Boundaries49:35 Multi-Sport Athletes52:12 Connor Outside Basketball53:08 Message For Players and Parents58:08 No Quit Mentality#basketball #podcast #basketballpodcast #makingtheteam #smalltownsports