Coaching Crossover Ep 5: Buck Pierce and Jesse Mermuys

In episode 5 of Coaching Crossover, we merge the CFL and the NBA with our two fantastic guests, Buck Pierce and Jesse Mermuys.

Buck Pierce is the Head Coach of the BC Lions and one of the Canadian Football League's most respected offensive minds. A former CFL quarterback, Pierce began his playing career with the Lions before going on to win a Grey Cup championship with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019. Pierce held the position of offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a team that went to four straight Grey Cups, winning in 2019 and 2021. Now heading into his second season leading the Lions, he has the franchise positioned as a competitive force in the West Division.

Jesse Mermuys is an Assistant Coach with the Phoenix Suns and a veteran NBA coach known for his defensive expertise and player development work. A mainstay on NBA coaching staffs since 2008, Mermuys has built a strong résumé across the league with roles for the Toronto Raptors, LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and currently the Suns, which he joined in July of 2025. For the 2015-2016 season, Mermuys served as the Raptors 905 D-League team as their Head Coach and Assistant General Manager.

Today we'll talk about being an assistant coach and what is expected of you of your head coach, building a foundation of a team, overcoaching and using analytics.