Basketball Coach News features Coach Irvin Harris and Peter Mingils interview Landmark College Basketball Coach Marcus Thurman
Neurodiversity and Basketball and College? Listen to this!
This episode of the Basketball Coach News Segment is brought to you by Coach Irvin Harris on his Basketball Coach News Radio Show, alongside co-host Peter Mingils, broadcasting live on the Building Fortunes Radio Network.
In this featured segment, Coach Irvin and Peter sit down with a remarkable leader who is making a profound impact on his players, his campus, and the broader community: Marc Thurman, Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Director of the Centers of Diversity and Inclusion at Landmark College.
Highlights from Show Intro & Welcome
“Welcome back to the Basketball Coach News Segment on Building Fortunes Radio. I’m Irvin Harris, here with my co-host Peter Mingils. Today we’re joined by a coach who’s making an impact on and off the court — Marc Thurman of Landmark College in Vermont.
Marc is the Director of the Centers of Diversity and Inclusion, Head Mentor of the ‘Reach One, Teach One’ mentorship program, and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Landmark College. Born in Newark and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, Marc brings a passion for basketball and an even deeper commitment to helping students connect with who they really are. His mission: empower them to see their potential and reach for greatness beyond what society expects.
Coach Thurman, welcome to Building Fortunes Radio.”
Interview Questions covered with Coach Marc Thurman
(Interview length: 30–40 minutes. Hosts will select 8–10 questions from the sections below.)
Coaching & Basketball
- Landmark College Basketball: For listeners who aren’t familiar, tell us about the men’s basketball program at Landmark. What’s the culture you’re building there?
- Coaching Philosophy: You’ve said you believe in the power of connecting with students to help them discover their true selves. How does that show up in how you coach on the court?
- Player Development: What does “greatness beyond societal expectations” look like for one of your players? Can you share a story without using names?
Reach One, Teach One & Mentorship
- Origin Story: What inspired you to start the Reach One, Teach One mentorship program, and what gap were you trying to fill?
- How it Works: Walk us through what a student experiences in the program. Who are the mentors, and what kind of outcomes are you seeing?
- Impact: How has mentorship changed the trajectory for students at Landmark, especially those who might not have seen college as an option?
Diversity, Inclusion & Community Services
- Centers of Diversity and Inclusion: As Director, what services does Landmark College offer the broader Vermont community, not just enrolled students?
- Community Partnerships: How does Landmark engage with local high schools, youth programs, or organizations in Vermont? Any basketball tie-ins?
- Barriers: What are the biggest barriers you see for students from underrepresented backgrounds getting to college and succeeding, and how is Landmark addressing them?
Vision & Goals
- Goals for the Program: Looking ahead 3-5 years, what are your objectives for the basketball program, Reach One, Teach One, and the Centers of Diversity and Inclusion?
- How to Help: If someone listening wants to support the work you’re doing — whether through volunteering, donations, or partnerships — what’s the best way?
- Newark to Vermont: You’re a Jersey guy leading in Vermont. How has that journey shaped how you lead and mentor today?
Wrap-Up Advice
- To the Next Generation: What would you say to a young coach listening right now who wants to make an impact beyond wins and losses?
10-Minute Leadership Deep Dive
Defining Leadership: You talk about helping students discover their true selves. How do you define leadership for a 19-year-old who’s never thought of himself as a leader?Follow-up: Is leadership different on the court vs. in the classroom vs. in life?
- Jersey Roots to Vermont: You were born in Newark and raised in Morristown. What leadership lessons from your own upbringing in New Jersey do you pass on to your players and mentees today?
- Reach One, Teach One Model: The name itself is leadership. How do you teach young men to ‘reach back’ while they’re still climbing themselves? What does that look like in practice?
- Tough Moments: Every leader hits adversity. Can you take us inside a moment where you had to lead through conflict, loss, or a player who was ready to quit — and what you learned? (No names needed, just the lesson.)
- Diversity and Inclusion as Leadership: As Director of the Centers of Diversity and Inclusion, how do you get people to lead inclusively when they haven’t lived someone else’s experience?
- Accountability vs. Empowerment: Coaches are known for discipline. Mentors are known for support. How do you balance holding students accountable with empowering them to believe in their potential?
- Measuring Success: Wins are easy to count. Leadership isn’t. A year after a student leaves Landmark, how do you know your leadership with them actually worked?
- Legacy: When your players and mentees are 40, and they’re describing Coach Marc Thurman to their kids, what do you hope they say about the kind of leader you were?
“Coach, that’s powerful. Leadership isn’t a title — it’s what you do when nobody’s keeping score. You’re showing these young men how to lead themselves first, and that’s how you change communities.”
Closing Statement from Coach Irvin Harris
“That was Marc Thurman — Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Director of the Centers of Diversity and Inclusion, and Head Mentor of Reach One, Teach One at Landmark College in Vermont. Coach, your commitment to helping students discover their true selves and strive for greatness beyond expectations is exactly what this Basketball Coach News Segment is about.
To our listeners: if you want to learn more about Landmark College’s programs, mentorship, or how to support their work in the community, we’ll drop links on the Building Fortunes Radio page.
The Basketball Coach News Radio Show Hosted by Irvin Harris can also be found on BasketballCoach.news
For more information:
https://www.landmark.edu/student-life/centers-for-diversity-inclusion
https://www.landmark.edu/directory/marc-thurman
https://www.landmark.edu/student-life/athletics-fitness-and-recreation/athletics/mens-basketball
