Current head coach for the University of Hartford, Aaron Toomey joins this week's episode of "Not Even D2". Before Toomey was a coach he was one of the best players in college basketball- playing at Amherst College. Toomey won a National Championship and in the same year won Associated Press (AP) National Player of the Year. As a coach, Toomey is the first coach to lead Hartford post-transition from Division 1 to Division 3. Hear about what Toomey's experience of playing at Amherst and under Coach Hixon was like, how his playing career influenced his coaching career, how he created the Nerd Team (TBT), and the future of the Hartford program.

This episode is available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to the podcasts YouTube channel @ Not Even D2 for more Division 3 content.

Enjoy the episode!

Intro- 00:00-07:49

NBA Talk- 07:49-09:57

Growing up in North Carolina- 09:57-11:18

Recruitment Process to Amherst- 11:18-12:42

Amherst National Championship + AP National POTY- 12:42-14:47

Amherst Culture under Coach Hixon- 14:47-16:12

Playing Against Duncan Robinson/Williams- 16:12-17:42

Amherst Vs. Williams Dynamic- 17:42-19:15

Overseas Basketball Journey- 19:15-22:13

Individual Playing Career Impact on Coaching Career- 22:13-23:50

Relationship with Coach Hixon- 23:50-27:34

What Separated Coach Hixon from Other Coaches- 27:34-28:56

Break- 28:56-29:05

Coaching at UofR and in the UAA- 29:05-31:11

Coach Toomey Player Development Workouts- 31:11-33:27

Hartford Transitioning D1 to D3- 33:27-35:47

Philosophies to Develop the Hartford Program- 35:47-37:35

Coaching a Young/New Team- 37:35-38:55

Competing in the CCC- 38:55-40:33

Closing Games this Past Season- 40:33-41:14

Creating the Nerd Team (TBT)- 41:14-44:10

Keeping the Nerd Team Ivy League Only?- 44:10-45:47

Imploring Student-Athletes to Focus on things Bigger than Basketball- 45:47-47:16

Rapid Fire- 47:38-50:14

Starting 5: Best Shooters- 50:14-54:54

Outro- 54:54-55:40