UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

NOVA, Virginia, and UVA Legends Podcasts are interviews with the best of Virginia and DC Area homegrown talent and with sources that provide insightful information about local and statewide sports. I talk to national figures like Grant Hill, Tommy Amaker, and Jill Ellis but also terrific local athletes, coaches and even business/legal leaders. Hundreds more interviews available on NOVA Legends Podcast's Youtube channel.

UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts® is a sports podcast hosted by Julian Brown, with 196 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Julian Brown hosts UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®, a sports show with 196 episodes published.

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  UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

  Vincent Ordenes: From DeMatha & Hayfield to CIAA Football

  Oct 1, 202626 min

  Virginia State wide receiver Vincent Ordenes joins NOVA Legends to talk about his football journey from DeMatha and Hayfield to becoming an immediate contributor with the Trojans.Vincent breaks down what Division II football is really like, why he chose not to redshirt, and the competition inside a Virginia State program with championship ambitions. He talks about quarterback Rahsaan Matthews, Coach Henry Frazier’s player‑led approach, and the difference he saw when Virginia State faced Division I South Carolina State.We also revisit his DMV story — growing up admiring Sean Taylor, competing in football and basketball, attending DeMatha, then transferring to Hayfield to play for Darryl Overton. Vincent speaks candidly about the controversy surrounding that Hayfield team, missing the chance to compete in the playoffs, and why he still has no regrets.He reflects on playing basketball for Carlos Poindexter, his friendship with Virginia Tech standout Jeff Overton, and what it has meant to experience HBCU life as a Bolivian‑American student‑athlete — from Virginia State’s traditions to the culture of the CIAA.Now with Virginia State off to a strong start, Vincent discusses the program’s expectations, his own future, and why his focus remains on succeeding where he is rather than constantly searching for the next opportunity.He’s also a Mass Communications major with ambitions in sports broadcasting — so this may not be the last time he’s behind a microphone.NOVA Legends® Podcast is proudly sponsored by Foley Mechanical, the DMV’s elite HVAC company.

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  UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

  Tim Ellison Comes Home to Edison — and What He’s Learned About Developing Players

  Sep 28, 202654 min

  Tim Ellison is coming home.The 2007 Edison graduate returns to lead the Eagles after a basketball journey that took him from Edison to UDC, professional stops in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and most recently the Hayfield sidelines, where he helped develop players and contributed to two state titles.Ellison explains why he’s ready to be a head coach, what he learned working alongside Carlos Poindexter, and how he approaches player development. He also reflects on his own career — becoming a 1,000‑point scorer at UDC and transforming himself from a slasher who “couldn’t shoot” into a shooter through relentless repetition.We talk about the great Hayfield teams, Braylon Wheeler, Greg Jones, Andy Ramirez, John Awoke, the coaches who shaped him, what parents sometimes misunderstand about individual training, and what Edison fans can expect from his first team.Nearly 20 years after graduating, Ellison is walking the same hallways again — this time as the man entrusted with leading the program.

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  UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

  Mike Pflugrath: Woodson, South County & One of NOVA Hoop’s Great Coaching Trees

  Sep 28, 20261h 12m

  Former Woodson and South County coach Mike Pflugrath joins NOVA Legends to reflect on a career that spans Army service, coaching, teaching and school leadership.An Oakton graduate and JMU ROTC alum, Coach Pflugrath served as an Army platoon leader in Panama, Somalia and Guantanamo Bay. He explains how leading soldiers shaped the calm, steady leadership style he later brought to coaching.Pflugrath also built one of Northern Virginia’s great coaching trees — eleven former assistants became head coaches. He discusses lessons from Red Jenkins, Charlie Thompson and Tom Casey, and why empowering assistants became central to his approach.We revisit his Woodson years, the Jose Olivero teams and a memorable regional run, then follow his move to help build South County’s athletic culture.Pflugrath also talks about Mike Robinson, South County’s rise, the importance of coaches being educators, and his transition to administration — culminating in his tenure as principal at Osbourn High School, where he focused on removing barriers and improving graduation outcomes.A conversation about basketball, leadership and the lasting influence of a coach.

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  UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

  Justin Powers: Why Gainesville Could Make Another State Run

  Sep 24, 20261h 7m

  Gainesville boys basketball coach Justin Powers joins me to discuss the rise of the Cardinals, last season’s unexpected run to the Virginia state playoffs, and why Gainesville may be ready for another deep push in 2026–27.Powers has coached across Northern Virginia — from South County and Robinson to Freedom, where he helped turn a struggling program into a state contender. His 2019 Freedom team entered the postseason as a five seed after a 12–10 regular season and still reached the state championship game.We discuss the changing basketball landscape in Prince William County, player movement between schools, the emphasis on exposure and recruiting, and the differences between coaching in Loudoun and Prince William. Powers also recalls opening Gainesville High School and building a basketball culture from scratch — even teaching students how to create a student section before the first home game.Powers breaks down Gainesville’s state tournament run last season and why this year’s team may be even better despite losing two players to private schools. He discusses Christian Brown, Cam Lee and other emerging Cardinals, as well as Grant Polk’s path from Gainesville to St. Albans and South Carolina.We also talk scouting and postseason preparation, the Cedar Run District, Patriot and Battlefield, the changing regional hierarchy, and why old-school post play still has a place in modern basketball.NOVA Legends® Podcast is proudly sponsored by Foley Mechanical, the DMV’s elite HVAC company.

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  UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

  David Bishop: Why Loudoun Valley Football Expects to Win

  Sep 24, 202650 min

  Loudoun Valley head coach David Bishop joins NOVA Legends with the Vikings off to a 4–0 start after a 10–2 season in 2025. He explains how the program built a culture where “the kids expect to win,” what last year’s breakthrough meant, and why the standard has only risen.Bishop talks Purcellville’s sports culture, rivalries with Woodgrove and Loudoun County, and why developing players from freshman and JV is central to Valley’s identity. He also shares his coaching journey and why being a head coach is more leadership and management than X’s and O’s.He describes how feedback from seniors led him to eliminate Saturday practices, previews this year’s roster — Zach Detweiler, Ethan LaFollette, Aiden Oliver, Braeden Mandichak, and rising young players — and reflects on two‑way All‑State standout Mack Gaffney.Bishop looks ahead to Potomac Falls, explains why the Millbrook win matters, and makes a confession Washington Commanders' fans may not appreciate.NOVA Legends® Podcast is proudly sponsored by Foley Mechanical, the DMV’s elite HVAC company.

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