Dalmar Ali, the newly appointed head coach of the Somalia National Basketball Team and an assistant coach at LIU, joins Adrian Wojnarowski to discuss his new international challenge, his roots, and the unique realities of of building a competitive program. The International Blueprint: Ali discusses modeling the Somalia National Team's structure after successful nation-building efforts in Africa, including the work of Masai Ujiri's Giants of Africa and Luol Deng's South Sudan program, leveraging their influence and pride. The Somali Basketball Community: He shares insights into the passionate and large Somali basketball community, particularly in Toronto and Minnesota, and the significant role it plays in developing talent. Coaching at LIU: Ali opens up about working with head coach Rod Strickland and the staff's remarkable success in the Northeast Conference (NEC) with limited resources. He explains their unique recruiting strategy that prioritizes relationships and vision over NIL funding. The Future of Mid-Majors: Ali expresses his concern over the sustainability of smaller conferences due to the transfer portal and NIL landscape, and how LIU managed to retain top talent by building a positive and impactful program culture. Mentorship and Learning: He reflects on the invaluable experience of learning program building from two Division I legends, Rod Strickland and his former boss, Leonard Hamilton. We’ll see you next week for episode six of The Program. Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's #1 Sports Prediction Market, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds in over 35 states! Learn more at ⁠https://novig.us/woj and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility. Thanks to Chime. Join the millions who are already banking fee-free today. Head to chime.com/woj to learn more. Finally, thanks to Rula. Take control of your mental health at rula.com/woj For Sponsorship Inquiries: sponsorship@inthearenastudios.com  For Press Inquiries: Press@inthearenastudios.com  For General Inquiries: Inquiries@inthearenastudios.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices