Unveiling the Winning Formula with Matt Sayman of Grapevine Faith
Jordan Green
Chief Experience Officer
Jordan has spent years traveling the globe growing the game of basketball through organizations such as Athletes in Action and Nike. He has had a decorated basketball career as a three-year starter at Texas A&M University, where he was a two-time team captain and left a legacy of excellence with a statue on the university’s campus. He went on playing professionally with the Spurs organization for 3 years, winning a championship in the inaugural year of the G-League in 2018, and gained international playing experience in France for one season. As the CXO, Jordan drives product development and strategic content to grow Ballogy’s overall reach with today’s athletes. He was responsible for leading the research and development of the Ballogy Skills Assessment. Prior to Ballogy, he spent two years in business development at Ernst & Young as a Service Quality Manager. Jordan’s passions lie in leaving the game of basketball better than he found it and spending time with his wife and son.
Matt Sayman, is currently the head basketball coach at Grapevine Faith Christian School in Texas where he has led his team to the state semifinals on multiple occasions. We caught up with Coach Sayman to get his insights on the Ballogy app, his formula for winning, and how he inspires athletes through hard work, dedication, and a determination to work harder than the next guy.
Q: Coach Sayman, could you highlight a memorable success story or achievement in your coaching career?
A: One standout accomplishment was when our team made 25 threes in a game — a testament to the effective training facilitated by the app. Additionally, Dalton Standish, one of our players, made 435 threes in four years, ranking sixth in Texas history. The app, combined with our coaching philosophy, made coaching players like Dalton an enjoyable experience.
Q: Coach, with over 3600 threes made by your players in 10 seasons, what strategies do you employ to promote accountability and consistent shooting abilities?
A: Accountability is key, and we achieve it through charting shooting games, and daily routines. By tracking progress, players can see their improvement over time, fostering a competitive nature. We focus on role identification and shot selection, making it a natural part of the players’ understanding. For instance, if a guy on the team scores a 35 on the BSA and another guy scores a 70 every time, in a game we understand where the ball needs to go. The Ballogy app enhances this process, providing a platform for accountability, celebrating achievements and fostering open dialogue.
Q: Can you share your initial thoughts on the Ballogy app concept and how it integrates with basketball skill development?
A: When I first heard about the Ballogy app at a coaches clinic, it was a light bulb moment for me. Integrating basketball skill development with technology that players love, like their phones, was exactly what I’d been looking for. It adds accountability by requiring players to record their drills, eliminating guesswork for coaches, and clearly defining expectations. We can text our players great workouts, but if they don’t really know what those drills are they can’t remember what to do. I’m not saying our players will ever lie or fib to us, but there’s accountability with this (Ballogy) with the fact that the athletes have to record themselves and it shows up for me to be able to view it. I just saw so much potential with it and love the fact that you guys love what you are doing.
Q: How did your players respond to the Ballogy app, and how did you incorporate it into your coaching during the season?
A: Well, I think the first thing for coaches is we’re jealous of our time and so we don’t want to do anything that is a waste of time, meaning it’s not going to actually help our players get better. And one, the f even the four-minute BSA, it’s a good workout. I was sitting there watching you take them through and thought, ok, this is something like, forget the camera, forget, the scoring of it. This is something I have my players do anyway. It’s a good use of time.
Players embraced it because it turned workouts into a competitive and accountable experience. The app’s four-minute session, with its conditioning component and competitive nature, made it a valuable use of time. We incorporated it into our Saturday practices, offering a fun and rewarding activity that players looked forward to. It became a tool for celebration on social media, boosting team spirit. I asked my players after we went through it, “What do you think? Is it something you would do again?”, there wasn’t one player that said no. If there was hesitancy it’s because maybe the athlete struggled with their performance outcome and it highlighted some deficiencies, but again that’s what we (coaches) want.
Q: Finally, for coaches considering the Ballogy app, what advice do you have based on your experience with it?
A: Embrace the app’s power in both the off-season and during the season. Use it as a guide to provide players with a plan, fostering accountability and celebrating their progress. The competitive and fun aspects make it a valuable addition to any coaching program.
Matt Sayman is the head boys basketball coach at Grapevine Faith Christian School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He played college basketball at Baylor University from 2000-2004. Matt authored the book, “The Leftovers: Betrayal, Baylor, and Beyond,” which takes you through one of the biggest tragedies and scandals in college basketball history. He also hosts JAMODI (Just A Matter Of Doing It) podcast, in which he interviews coaches and leaders to explore the reasons behind their successes.