Learn from 3x NAIA National Champion and Indiana Wesleyan University head coach Greg Tonagel, who is the youngest coach ever at any level of college basketball to reach 500 wins. Get an in-depth look behind the scenes of what goes on at a top college basketball program. This is better than a clinic as you will feel like you are in the gym with an elite coach.
Greg Tonagel is the head men's basketball coach at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), where he has built one of the most successful and respected programs in college basketball. Since taking the reins in 2005 at just 24 years old, Tonagel has transformed IWU into a national powerhouse, earning a reputation as one of the most accomplished coaches in NAIA history. Under his leadership, the Wildcats have captured three NAIA National Championships—in 2014, 2016, and 2018—and have consistently ranked among the top teams in the country, including four seasons as the No. 1-ranked team in NAIA Division II.
Tonagel’s teams have produced 27 NAIA All-Americans and earned 13 Crossroads League Regular Season Championships and five Tournament Championships. His coaching has also helped develop standout players like Kyle Mangas, a two-time NAIA National Player of the Year and the 2020 Small College Basketball Player of the Year. With over 528 wins and a winning percentage nearing .800, Tonagel is the winningest coach in IWU history and holds program records for most national tournament victories, appearances, and conference titles.
Beyond the accolades, Tonagel’s coaching philosophy—centered on the 'I Am Third' principle—has become a defining feature of his program. This mindset, which prioritizes God first, others second, and self third, reflects his commitment to cultivating selfless leadership and character-driven teams. He views coaching not merely as a profession, but as a platform for discipleship and personal transformation. His approach has earned him national recognition, including three NABC/NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year honors and the 2021 Fellowship of Christian Athletes John Lotz “Barnabas” Award.
Tonagel’s journey began as a standout point guard at Valparaiso University, where he led the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances and served as team captain and chaplain. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching as the Director of Basketball Operations at Valparaiso before accepting the head coaching role at IWU. His rapid ascent and sustained excellence have placed him in elite company; in 2023, he became the youngest coach in college basketball history to reach 500 wins, achieving the milestone faster than legendary Division I coaches like Roy Williams, Bill Self, and John Calipari.
Today, Greg Tonagel continues to lead with vision, humility, and purpose. His impact extends far beyond the court, inspiring a generation of coaches and athletes to pursue excellence through service, faith, and community.
In Mic’d Up 1, you’ll watch as Coach Tonagel guides players through competitive drills focused on defensive closeouts and rotations. Coaches will want to pay particular attention to Coach Tonagel’s teaching style and practice design as drills are built progressively from small-sided games and progress to 5-on-5 play where players get a chance to apply and connect principles learned earlier in practice.
Some of the games and concepts covered in this video include:
In Mic’d Up 2, coaches will get to see an early morning (6:00am) practice session that features aspects of building team culture, skill development, and 5-on-5 game teaching. There’s plenty of best practices that coaches can adopt and adapt for their own team needs.
The Mic’d Up 3 video gives coaches a look at a practice that emphasizes toughness, rim protection, and decision-making through progressive drills, breakdowns, and film integration. The session challenges players—especially bigs—to take ownership of the paint while reinforcing the value of winning plays across all positions.
There are so many impactful teaching concepts at work in this video:
Mic’d Up 4 offers more great examples of teaching and practice design in action. There’s plenty of emphasis on decision-making on both sides of the ball as well as technical and tactical instruction for both offensive and defensive situations. By constructing game-like drills that include 5-on-5 play, players get to work on skill-development on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball at the same time. This efficient use of practice time maximizes time on task and learning opportunities for the players.
Some of the situations worked on include:
