IBCA Podcast · Iowa Basketball Coaches Association

Loren De Jong -- Siouxland Christian

July 7, 2025·49 min·4 clips

Loren De Jong almost quit coaching after a devastating season until a mentor's advice changed everything.

This episode features veteran high school basketball coach Loren De Jong, reflecting on his 35-year career after winning a 3A state championship at MOC Floyd Valley and moving to Siouxland Christian. Host Derek leads a conversation exploring De Jong's philosophy and the practical lessons from his championship season. De Jong credits mentors like Jim Eekhoff, Chris Korver, and Larry Korver for shaping his approach to coaching and player development. He emphasizes the principle of meeting players where they are, from "A to Z," and focusing on being a "giver" rather than a judge. De Jong explains that core values for his teams include transforming boys to men, demanding best effort, and using the "power of words" to build up teammates. He describes the need to adapt his coaching style over decades, moving from a "Bobby Knight mentality" to building relationships and explaining the "why" behind instructions. His championship team at MOC Floyd Valley was defined by toughness, defense, and players who understood and celebrated their specific roles. De Jong shares that he instills toughness by not calling fouls in practice and putting players in difficult drills designed to create "shared suffering." He tailored his defense to his personnel, building a half-court man defense around a standout defender nicknamed "A-Money." A surprising insight is that De Jong felt his team peaked too early in mid-January and intentionally made practices harder to simulate adversity before the postseason. He believes selfish and prideful teams are "bad teams" and connects on-court success to cultivating humility and a service-oriented mindset. The tone is reflective and instructional, blending personal stories with actionable coaching advice. Listeners interested in coaching philosophy, team culture, and practical high school basketball strategies will find great value. Those seeking only game analysis or fast-paced entertainment might find the pace deliberate.

As heard by us

A steady coaching conversation about humility, toughness, and the habits behind a championship team.

IBCA's conversation with Lorne DeYoung centers on basketball thinking that starts with who a team is before it gets to what it runs. The opening pass through coaching background and favorite players gives it a steady old-school feel, and the strongest stretch comes when that…

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Why you'd press play

A coach's-eye look at how toughness and humility shape a team identity.

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