This edition of Quick Hitters is with Blake Nicols. Blake is the Head Coach at Andover High School (MN) as well as Minnesota Fury 2026 Blue. Thanks for giving so much back to the game Blake, and continued success at the High School level into the playoffs this season, and as you tip off another year with Fury in April. Thanks for your time to join me!

 

1) Favorite opposing HS gym to coach at?

St Michael Albertville 

 

2) Coolest venue you've been to for an AAU event?

Spooky Nook in Pennsylvania 

 

3) Name of favorite play to run at Andover? 

Chin

 

4) What is your favorite season? 

Summer

 

5) Between HS and AAU about how many games do you coach in a calendar year? 

Close to 100, crazy even typing that

 

6) Go-to food on game days: 

Energy drink (bad habit), and a protein bar

 

7) Favorite sports movie: 

Warrior or Coach Carter

 

8) Who is a coach you'd like to coach against, but haven't yet? 

HS- Kent Hamre AAU- Gerard Coury

 

9) 1st Paid Coaching Job: 

13u boys AAU coach for Wear Out the Net

 

10) First coaching win was against who? 

When I was a boys head coach at New Prague vs Burnsville high school

 

11) Off the court, how do you spend your free time? 

Watching movies, being on the water, golfing

 

12) The coach you've learned the most from: 

Tim Ellefson

 

13) In your career which Zone D have you used the most? 

1-2-2 

 

14) Dream Vacation: 

Hawaii 

 

15) Most famous person you've met through basketball: 

Tom Izzo

 

16) Sneaky good basketball site to find coaching information: Twitter, lots of good coaches posting things

 

17) Name a player you've never coached, but would love to: 

Addi Mack

 

18) Favorite Social Media: 

Twitter

 

19) Fastest player baseline to baseline at Andover: 

Morgan Miller or Anna Vaaler

 

20) An underappreciated attribute you love in a player: 

Do they truly love the game of basketball