The Voice of the Scots, Heath Dunkel, sat down to talk with new head men's basketball coach Mark Sansone. Below is the transcript. You can also view the video below.
Heath Dunkel:
Hey, Scots Nation! This is Heath Dunkel with Tartan Talk, and today I'm joined by a very special guest—the new head coach of Maryville College men's basketball, Mark Sansone. Coach, thanks for being here. We're excited to have you.
Mark Sansone:
I appreciate you having me.
Dunkel:
Absolutely. Welcome to the family, Coach. To start, let's help our fans get to know you. Tell us a little about your story.
Sansone:
Basketball has always been an important part of my life. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a college coach. I was realistic—I knew I wasn't going to play in the NBA—but I was fortunate to be impacted by a lot of great coaches growing up. I fell in love with teaching the game and wanted to stay involved in a way that made a difference.
My high school coach, Darren Berkeley, played a huge role in my development, and I still talk to him today. That kind of 25-year relationship is really special. My college coach was also incredibly influential—I spoke with him just the other day. I've been fortunate to have so many people pour into me, and now I want to pay that forward. I want future Scots to have those same meaningful experiences and relationships.
Dunkel:
One thing you've had a lot of success with in your career is recruiting. As you step into Maryville, how do you build on that success?
Sansone:
Recruiting is essential—it's the foundation of any successful program. At its core, recruiting is about relationships, and that's where everything starts for me.
We're going to target the right fits for Maryville College. It's not always about the most talented players—it's about finding the right people. We want guys who represent the campus community with pride, who are good students, good citizens, and committed teammates. When you get the right people in the right environment, that's when success follows.
Dunkel:
You mentioned a philosophy earlier—something you've used before: "It's not about me, it's about we." Tell us more about that.
Sansone:
Absolutely. That idea is central to everything we do. Simply put, self-importance is our greatest enemy. It's never about one individual—it's about the group.
When everyone in the program buys into that mindset—whether it's 15 players or more—that it's about "we" every single day, that's when you build something special.
Dunkel:
Let's take a moment to reflect. In the last year, you've won a national championship and now earned your first head coaching opportunity. What does that mean to you?
Sansone:
It's humbling. It's surreal. When you get into coaching, of course you dream of winning championships, being part of March Madness, and eventually becoming a head coach. But I never chased those things individually.
I focused on doing my job the right way—being the best version of myself for the program I was in. To now have these opportunities is a blessing. I've been surrounded by great coaches and great players, and I'm incredibly fortunate. I'm excited to be here and continue the strong tradition at Maryville.
Dunkel:
You've already had a chance to meet with the team. What was your message to the players?
Sansone:
First, I acknowledged that this is a difficult transition. Coaching changes bring uncertainty. Coach Lambert means a lot to this program and community, and that doesn't change.
My message was simple: while they didn't choose me, I chose them. They're a big reason I wanted to be here. They're talented players and great people.
Now that I'm here, they're my guys. We're going to build relationships, starting right away. We'll have individual meetings, get to know each other, understand their goals—both academically and athletically—and just be honest and authentic with each other.
Dunkel:
For the fans who have grown accustomed to the previous staff, what can they expect from you?
Sansone:
They can expect someone who will pour everything into this program. I'm going to give 100% of myself every single day.
I'll push our players to be the best versions of themselves—as people, students, and athletes. I'm also excited to connect with the campus and the community, share our story, and highlight the great things our players are doing.
I'll be their biggest supporter and advocate. I just can't wait to get started and fully immerse myself in Maryville.
Dunkel:
Coach, we like to say it means a lot to be a Scot. We're excited to see what you'll do with this program, and we're glad to have you here.
Sansone:
Thank you. I'm excited to be here.
