Michael Jagacki

Master the art of Defensive Closeouts with multiple techniques, insights and drills from the leader in Defensive Development.

• Learn the techniques and mechanics to effectively close down space and arrive on the catch.
• Learn the little known concepts and cues to have greater impact on shots: challenging at the point of release, distance of impact and more.
• Learn the drills and progressions to improve closeouts and take away shots and drives!

Closeouts have become one of the most important aspects of successful half court defense. With the emphasis now on spacing and 3pt shooting, the ability to go from off-ball to on-ball is a skill executed more than any other on the defensive end. The effectiveness of this skill will determine the shooting percentage of your opponent, the dribble penetration/blow bys on closeouts and the scrabble situations your team finds itself in. The better your closeout defense is, the better your team defense will become!

In this 37 minute clinic, Coach Mike Jagacki covers in extreme detail the techniques of great closeouts and the drills and teaching cues to instill these techniques into our players. The clinic is set up into 3 parts: lower body technique, upper body technique and drills & concepts for elite closeouts. 

After over a decade of studying defensive technique, training athletes at every level and coaching teams, Coach Mike shares the insights he's learn to create effective closeouts. Watch the same drills, progressions and teaching points Coach Mike uses with athletes and teams of all levels.

At Hofstra University he helped the women's program lead the conference in Defensive Efficiency and Steals per game, in back-to-back years. Producing 2 All-Defense team selections in that time.

At Combine Academy Coach Jagacki had the chance to train and develop 4 D1 prospects. Now at the Division 1 level, three of those players rank in the top percentiles in Synergy's Closeout Category. Rudy Fitzbiggons ranks in top 85% in Closeout Effectiveness, Rodney Carson ranks in the top 83%, and Sean East II ranks in the top 66%.

If you are looking to transform your team's defense and develop lockdown defenders, start by improving the one skill that occurs the most on defense: closeouts. Impact more shots, put an end to scramble situations and limit dribble penetration. This clinic provides you with a must-have coaching reference that will immediately improve your team. 

37 minutes.

The better our on-ball defenders, the better our team defense. Often as coaches we look from the inside out. Focusing on help rotation, positioning and scrambles - and although these aspect are important, the time we invest in developing our individual defenders will greatly prevent these worst-case scenerios. And give our Defense the chance to be elite.

In this course, Coach Mike Jagacki covers the drills, concepts and teaching points he uses to train and develop great on-ball defenders. The clinic is set up in 4 parts: Creating a Scheme, Stance Technique, Drills and Concepts, plus Advanced Tips and Teaching. Coach Jagacki introduces an advanced way of evaluting your defensive system and offers in-depth thought of how to create a scheme that will always put defenders in position to succeed on the ball. Next you will see a deep dive breakdown on the techniques found from analyizing elite defenders and how these can be applied to our defensive teaching. Finally we will get into the drills and concepts to teach these techniques to our defenders and help them become, elite. Defense is about more than just effort.

At Hofstra University Coach Jagacki's impact was felt as the Pride went from a 352nd ranked D1 Defense to Top 30: leading their conference for 2 consecutive years in Defensive Efficency and Steals. Before Hofstra, at Combine Academy Coach Jagacki had the chance to train and develop 4 D1 prospects. Now at the Division 1 level, each rank in the top percentiles in Synergy Defensive Categories. Sean East II ranks in the top 89% for Isolation Defense, Rudy Fitzbiggons ranks in top 87% in Man to Man Defense, Rodney Carson ranks in the top 83% at Closeout Effectiveness, and Jovan Zelenbaba tops 80% for Isolation Defense.

Found out more at https://www.lockdownhoops.com

This clinic is jam packed with 90 minutes of switching defense instruction. Coach Mike discusses building a switching defensive scheme, needed adjustments and practice drills and tips for installing this style of defense. One of the most versatile and effective schemes at neutralizing advantages, taking away 3s and disrupting offensive flow.

Comments and Reviews from the Live Virtual Clinic:

"One of the most thorough defensive system clinics I've seen. From executing the coverage to building the scheme and system, plus the drills that go beyond the technique and into needed skills for this style of defense. We will definitely be using this! Thanks coach!"

"I thought it was a little pricey at first... but after watching... I would have easily paid double or triple for this content. Thank you so much coach!"

"You've done it again. Another masterclass in defense. I learn something new every time from you."

Part 1 focuses on the important techniques and tactical basics of installing and implementing a switching scheme. The notion that switching defense is lazy will be quickly disproven as the aim of this scheme is to use "switching as a weapon." Highlighting ways to disrupt the flow of an offense and prevent typical looks against a switching defense.

Part 2 dives into Coach Mike's favorite drills to teach and install the fundamentals of the switching scheme as well as ways to build the importance of communication and defensive awareness. 

Part 3 concludes with the switching toolbox: multiple adjustments you can use to prevent mismatches, manage mismatches or attack problems. These are crucial adjustments a switching coach should know to prepare and make in-game adjustments to keep the advantage of the defense.

This is the perfect clinic for a coach looking to develop a switching scheme and take advantage of his defensive roster.

The Lockdown Conversation about defensive communication - about a 2 hours in length. Starting with a mini-clinic by Coach Mike followed by a Q&A, sharing philosophies and open discussion about all things defense with various guest/particiapnts on the zoom call. 

Transition Defense has become a crucial building block to any defensive team. With the emphasis of pace and space, the ability to establish your defense, defend in disadvantage scenarios and organize your team in chaos, has become a necessity to build winning defenses. Coach Mike Jagacki covers the Mindset Drills to flip the advantage in transition, individual techniques for recovering defenders, and discusses the two main philosophies to build a transition defense system.

Mike Jagacki
Assistant Coach Hofstra University
former Associate Head Coach Combine Academy: 3 Nationally Ranked Wins
former Associate Head Coach Middlesex High School
former Owner of True Hoops AAU

Details: 33 minute video, 7 Drills, 4 Individual Techniques, 2 Transition Systems

Found out more at https://www.lockdownhoops.com

Master the art of On-Ball Pressure Defense with multiple techniques, insights and drills from the leader in Defensive Development.

• Learn the techniques that separate the best defenders from average defenders, including stance, footwork and recovery concepts.
• Learn the drills and teaching cues to help develop elite defenders.
• Discover little known concepts to improve steal attempts and create disruptive control!

No more wasted athleticism or wasted hustle. Learn how to develop these athletes into elite on-ball defenders with the drills, techniques and concepts proven over a decade of training and study. At a time when space and pace are the calling cards of offense, defenders that can guard on islands, apply pressure and disrupt at the point of attack will make all the difference.

In this 39 minute clinic you will see the techniques, concepts and drills that have helped so many athletes develop into elite defenders. The clinic is set up into 3 parts: Forward Stance Technique, Drills and Concepts, Advanced Tips and Teaching.

After over 10 years of studying defensive technique, training athletes at every level and coaching teams, Coach Mike shares the insights he's learn to develop pressure defenders. Watch the same drills, progressions and teaching points Coach Mike uses with athletes and teams of all levels.

At Hofstra University he helped the women's program lead the conference in Defensive Efficiency and Steals per game, in back-to-back years. Producing 2 All-Defense team selections in that time.

At Combine Academy Coach Mike had the chance to train and develop 4 D1 prospects. Now at the Division 1 level, each rank in the top percentiles in Defensive Categories. Sean East II ranks in the top 89% for Isolation Defense, Rudy Fitzbiggons ranks in top 87% in Man to Man Defense, Rodney Carson ranks in the top 83% at Closeout Effectiveness, and Jovan Zelenbaba tops 80% for Isolation Defense.

If you are looking to transform your on-ball defense, smothering opponents and get the most out of your defenders, this clinic provides you with a must-have coaching reference that will immediately improve your team. 

Review:

"The On-Ball Pressure Defense video is a fantastic resource for coaches of all levels. The techniques are thoroughly explained with examples from videos and relevant connections to other sports. Coach Jagacki provides detailed demonstrations of drills to develop the stance from introduction to live play practice scenarios. Additionally, tips and other techniques are given to finely tune the teaching of the stance for a coach of any level and skill. The video presentation is well done and provides great value. I feel confident using the information presented to implement a pressure based defensive system with my players. I highly recommend this video to any coach looking to do so as well, or for those coaches looking to improve their own teaching of fundamental one on one defense." - Josef Keller

39 minutes.

Toughness is becoming less and less apart of the game. This unfortunate trend in today's game gives the program willing to commit to the principles of toughness an even larger competitive advantage. From the coaching of Lee Deforest, Mike Jagacki breaks down the drills and philosophies that have propelled Deforest's teams to be some of the toughest you'll ever play. Discussed in this 35 minute clinic: how to shift a player's mindset to toughness, the drills that set the standard of physicality and sacrifice, plus extra tips to make toughness a habit instead of a rare occurrence. Also included are Deforest and Jagacki's approach to "Ball Toughness" and the ability to bring toughness to the offensive end to limit turnovers.

Mike Jagacki
Assistant Coach Hofstra University
former Associate Head Coach Combine Academy: 3 Nationally Ranked Wins
former Associate Head Coach Middlesex High School
former Owner of True Hoops AAU

"They were such a pain in the ass to play against."