SIOUX FALLS — Dan Bisaccio’s path to becoming the head coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce is eerily similar to one of his key mentors.
Bisaccio originally joined the Heat organization as a video intern in 2014 before quickly being promoted to assistant video coordinator in 2015 and head video coordinator in 2019.
Sound familiar? It’s almost the same path as current Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra before he took over as the NBA franchise’s head coach in 2008, a position he’s held ever since.
Now in his second season as coach of the Skyforce, Bisaccio continues to lean on guidance from his mentors, which include people like Spoelstra and longtime NBA coach Pat Riley.
“One of the things I think people, when I work with them, I’m sure they get annoyed with plenty of times is I love to call people and ask for questions, ask for advice,” Bisaccio said. “… The Heat culture is amazing with that.
“Coach Spoe has been amazing since I walked in the building as a video intern. Of course, we want to run a lot of the same stuff. We want to run similar concepts and actions so we can continue when there’s an assignment player or a two-way [player], but he’s done an amazing job of giving the staff space to operate and learn and grow on our own.”
Skyforce coach Dan Bisaccio instructs his players during a drill at practice Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
Coming off a 2024-25 campaign that included an appearance in the championship game of the Tip-Off Tournament, Bisaccio aims to further build on last year’s 18-16 mark with the G League team in Sioux Falls.
“I thought we had an amazing season,” Bisaccio said. “We really enjoyed the journey of going into the showcase and making it all the way to the finals, but one of the biggest things you always understand is that there’s a lot of adversity you get hit with, ups and downs and wins and losses.
“It’s just about continuing to kind of work towards playing winning basketball and bringing energy every single day.”
This year’s 18-man roster is headlined by a trio of two-way players in center Vladislav Goldin, guard Jahmir Young and forward Myron Gardner.
At 7-foot-1, Goldin averaged 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during the 2025 NBA Summer League.
“He’s just a tremendous worker,” Bisaccio said about Goldin. “That’s the thing I love about him as a two-way is he comes here in the G League and he’s ready to work. He’s ready to get in the trenches with these guys, so we’re just really excited for him to get out there and play.”
Skyforce coach Dan Bisaccio rests his hand on the back of center Vladislav Goldin during practice Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
As a two-way player, Goldin’s future in Sioux Falls carries a certain level of uncertainty. At any given moment, he could be called up to the Miami roster, and vice versa. For the time being, though, he says he’s enjoying his time in Sioux Falls.
“It’s been great,” said Goldin, a Michigan graduate who hails from Russia. “The gym is very beautiful, and you can feel the history in this gym.
“As a basketball player, that excites me the most.”
Last season, Young played six games for the Chicago Bulls before being waived on July 20. In August, he was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract before it was converted to a two-way deal on Oct. 18.
Young brings a competitive edge to the backcourt for the Skyforce following a training camp stint in which he impressed the front office.
“He was guarding on the other end, and he was really disruptive in the passing lanes, but all of that was a culmination of everything he was doing behind the scenes,” Bisaccio said about Young, who averaged 17.3 ppg during his five-year college career at Charlotte (2019-22) and Maryland (2022-24). “He was working hard — night shooting, morning sessions, practice. He was going before practice and after practice doing everything he possibly could just to continue to improve his game, and that’s something that’s just showcasing. I’m just excited for him to be here.”
Skyforce guard Gabe Madsen is defended by teammate Micah Parrish during practice Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
A 6-6 wing who played his final two college seasons at Arkansas-Little Rock, Gardner was part of an Osceola Magic team that made it to the G League Finals in 2024-25.
Bisaccio has been most impressed by Gardner’s energy on the court, which allows him to excel particularly well on the glass.
“He focuses on defense, but he’s never looking for his own touches and his own shots,” Bisaccio said. “He’s worried about how he can make an impact on the floor. And I think that’s the thing our front office and us as a coaching staff really noticed right away.”
Ethan Thompson, a 6-5 guard, joins the Heat after a two-way stint last season with the Orlando Magic, during which he averaged 17.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in Osceola.
Thompson says the early practices have been chocked full of work in order to get everyone on the same page, but he’s thrilled with the direction the team is already headed.
“We’re far from our best basketball, but from what I can tell, it’s coming together nicely,” said Thompson, who was a four-year collegiate starter at Oregon State. “We’ve got a lot of talented guys on the team and a lot of guys with good IQ as well, so being able to take the information that the coaching staff gives to us and then applying it on the court and then also still having that competitive advantage throughout the whole season is big for us.”
Skyforce guard Ethan Thompson follows through on his 3-point shot attempt during practice Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live
Trevor Keels, who was selected by the New York Knicks with the 42nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and Alex Fudge, who was acquired via an offseason trade after competing as a two-way player for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers in 2023-24, are a pair of highly touted forwards who are expected to play key roles for the Skyforce.
Meanwhile, this year’s NBA G League Draft class is headlined by guard Cam Carter, who was chosen with the sixth overall pick.
Other 2025 draftees are center Josh Cohen, guard Tyler Hawkins, guard Darius Maddox and forward Dischon Thomas, while forward Steve Settle, guard Gabe Madsen, guard Bez Mbeng and center Dain Dainja are affiliate players for the Skyforce.
Sioux Falls opens its 2025-26 season Friday and Saturday when it travels to take on the Motor City Cruise in Detroit. The Skyforce will then return for their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 12, versus the Noblesville Boom at the Sanford Pentagon.
While winning is certainly an objective, Bisaccio is mostly looking forward to overall progression. If that happens, he believes the wins will follow.
“I want to go in winning, coming back 2-0 from Motor City, but I don’t want to sacrifice our habits in building this team continuity, building this team’s habits in the same thing,” Bisaccio said. “The biggest thing I want to see is continued growth this weekend, continuous with the habits, winning basketball.
“The most important thing is just bringing a competitive edge. If we do that stuff, generally speaking, we like our odds of coming out with a win.”